You may have heard that Illinois has changed their smoke alarm law. These recent revisions to Illinois’ Smoke Detector Act will require many residents to install new smoke detectors with 10-year sealed batteries by January 1, 2023.

What is the Updated Illinois Smoke Alarm Law?
• Since 1988, all dwellings in Illinois have been required to have smoke alarms.
• In 2017, Public Act 200 was passed to update the Illinois Smoke Detector Act to reflect advances in technology.
• Come January 1, 2023, single and multi-family homes that are still using smoke alarms with removable batteries are required to install new alarms that feature 10-year sealed battery alarms.

Exemptions
• Homes built after 1988 that already have hardwired smoke alarms.
• Homes with wireless integrated alarms that use low-power radio frequency communications, Wi-Fi, or other Wireless Local Area Networking capability.
If you have hardwired smoke alarms and want to be worry-free, there are 10-year sealed hardwired alarms available. No need to change a battery for 10 years!

What to do with the old smoke alarms?
It depends on what type of smoke alarm you have. Look on the back. If it says “Photoelectric”, you can throw the old smoke alarm out with your regular trash. If it says “Ionization” or it’s a combination of both Photoelectric and Ionization, it should NOT go in the trash. These contain a small amount of radioactive material. You can contact the manufacturer of the alarm, and some will take back the old ones.

Are You Protected? 3 of every 5 home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms!
• Install smoke alarms on every level and in every bedroom.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Alarms don’t last forever, remember to replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.
• Plan and practice your escape route with your family at least twice a year.
• If your smoke alarm does sound, leave the home immediately and call 9-1-1.

For People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• Install strobe light smoke alarms or other smoke alarm accessories such as pillow or bed shakers, transmitters, and receivers.
• Research the products and select the ones that best meet your needs.

Where To Find Equipment
Search home improvement store websites or use a general search engine to look for strobe light smoke
alarms. BRK/First Alert, Gentex, and Kidde brands offer this type of smoke alarm. Find smoke alarm accessories such as pillow or bed shakers, transmitters, and receivers at lifetonesafety.com, safeawake.com and silentcall.com. Choose devices that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

Need help changing your smoke alarms? Contact the fire station and schedule an appointment by calling the non-emergent number, (815) 478 – 3197.