New Illinois Law

747

Effective Jan 1, 2007 every dwelling unit will be required to have at least on approved carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every bedroom. The new Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act has been passed by the Illinois General Assembly and Signed by the Governor. Willful failure to install or maintain in operating condition is considered a Class B criminal misdemeanor.

concretemasonry

New construction or upon transfer of title?

Sounds like a good idea if administered properly. I would imagine it is based on building plan dimensions and not a round-about measurement. A hall way location near bedrooms could provide a wide area of protection.

Considering the nature of the CO gas problem and and the number of questionable retrofits of non-complying equipment it could be beneficial.

Yesterday, a local man was cited for suspected DUI when going for help from a "problem" in the house. He was held from 12:30 AM until 3:30 AM and returned since his blood alcohol was very low and a blood test was taken for "future" testing.

The new house had no CO alarm. The family got up in the morning and all had some problems. A son in a basement bedroom (legal?) was found dead.

Just an example. - The same could happen with an unvented gas fireplace without notice.

Dick

747

Thats a excellent question. I had to reread the article. Requires ANY Illinois residence to install carbon monoxide alarms. Also A landlord must ensure that the alarms are operable of the date of initiation of the lease. Also a landlord is required to provide written information to each unit regarding testing and maintance. So the bottom line as i read the article it means every residence in the State must comply. Also landlords have additional things they must provide to tenate concerning the alarm.

Dustball

I heard that on the news too. My question is- who's at fault? The home seller for having faulty equipment or the home buyer for not having it checked out?

concretemasonry

Very unfortunate situation for the family.

It was reportedly a newer home - no word on how new.

According to newscasts, he had to go to the service station at 12:30 AM to make a call and then to do the same in the morning about 6:30 AM. - No phone? Entire family had CO problems.

Could be a new home in an unknown state of completion/occupancy. - Hard to tell since the news is too busy counting/creating Iraq news/olds and not completely reporting on the local situations that can have a direct effect on more people.

Responsibility? - owner?, seller?, builder?, subcontractor?, inspector?, etc.

Dick

dougchips

Like the seatbelt and helmet laws --good ideas but not the job of a governing body to make you smart. They should really have condom laws so no one will spread std's. Maybe only sell beer by the one-pack, drinking more leads to dui's and other criminal acts. Backfill the oceans and lakes so people will not drown.

BTW, I wear my seltbelt, have smoke detectors in every room and have a carbon monoxide detector because I think they are life savers.

mdshunk

I wonder what good a CO detector will be in a home with no fossil fuel burning appliances or fireplace? Seems super silly to require a rather expensive CO detector in a home with a heat pump, for instance.

747

Here is the act. MD there is apparantly a stimpulation in it on that point.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publ...?Name=094-0741

Speedy Petey

NY has had a CO detector law for a while now.


I must ask, why is this in the Electrical forum?

Seriously, this is one of the many misconceptions and sticking points with electrical. Smokes are not covered in the NEC, only how to wire them. Yet it is our responsibility to make sure they are installed properly and in the proper locations.
This is why it is not enough to simply own one code book.

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ABLE1

If you don't mind I question that statement.

Would it not be more true that a LP gas fireplace will have minimal if any CO since the by-product is CO2 and H2O??? With a unvented device and a VERY tight house the bigger concern would be Oxygen depleation. And with out Oxygen the flame will go out and the valve will shut when the the thermocouple cools. And such a condition is NOT going to be picked up by a CO detector.

I know we are talking chemistry here in the electrical but still good knowledge just the same.

Les

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ABLE1