Beginning January 1, 2007, a new Illinois state law entitled "Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act" goes into effect. The new law requires single family and multiple family residences, with few exceptions, to have at least one approved and operating carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every room used for sleep purposes.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced during incomplete combustion of fuels – for example, natural gas, LP gas, kerosene, oil, wood, and charcoal. The gas is lethal to humans if it builds up in the home.
The law states it is the responsibility of the owner of the structure to supply and install all required alarms, along with written instructions for alarm testing and maintenance. In the case of rental property, it is the responsibility of the tenant to test and to provide general maintenance of the alarm(s), including battery replacement, and to notify the owner of any defects in writing that the tenant cannot correct.
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Carbon monoxide alarms required under the Act may be battery powered, plug-in with battery back-up, or AC hard wired with battery back-up.
Failure to comply with the Act can result in conviction of a Class B misdemeanor; and tampering with an alarm is a Class A misdemeanor for a first conviction or a Class 4 felony for subsequent offenses. Carbon monoxide alarms are widely available in hardware and home improvement stores. Prices start at about $20.
