Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jim Moldenhauer / Daily Videte Senior Staff

As of Jan. 1, the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act went into effect for the state of Illinois. The Act states that every dwelling unit must be equipped with an approved and working carbon monoxide detector within 15 feet of rooms used for sleeping purposes.

According to Laura Huisman, housing inspector for the Town of Normal, the Carbon Monoxide Act is a state mandated law that requires detectors in any space that has combustible air. Section 20 of the act exempts any building that does not rely on combustion of fossil fuel for heat, ventilation or hot water and that is not attached to a garage. These buildings also cannot be near any source of carbon monoxide, which is determined by the local building commissioner.

Huisman explained that the town inspects all rental units in the Town of Normal at least once a year and that if someone were to be found not in compliance of the law they could face a class B or A misdemeanor and not only could the landlord be fined, but the tenants as well.

"It is also the tenants' responsibility if they live in a building that uses fossil fuels to make sure there is a detector," Huisman said. "If there isn't one, the realtor should be contacted."

Anthony Bufka, property manager for Young America Realty, explained that the company knew about the law and accomplished the regulations by the time the mandate took effect. "Most of our buildings use electric appliances so it wasn't a big deal to get carbon monoxide detectors in the buildings that needed them," Bufka said. "Only about 25 percent of our buildings are required to have them."

Bufka explained that in the other buildings without detectors there is virtually no possibility of them being affected by carbon monoxide. "There is about a zero chance of the majority of buildings being affected by carbon monoxide because of the use of electric appliances and because they are not close to anything that utilizes gas," Bufka said.

Huisman said that although it is not practical for the town to inspect single family homes, they still need to be in compliance of the law.

"Notifications have been in the paper several times and posted at various businesses and locations along with many stores advertising and recommending the carbon monoxide detectors," Huisman said. "It is unlikely that people have not heard about this."

Bufka said it was not difficult to be in compliance of the law and he does not view the mandate negatively. "We are always willing to get as safe as we can be, we knew this law was going to come into effect, so we went ahead and did it," Bufka said. "We are always pretty proactive with safety issues."

Bufka said the carbon monoxide detectors along with fire detectors will be checked on a regular basis.

Huisman said that as of Jan. 1, every place in Normal that is required to have a detector is in compliance with the mandate. "We haven't had any instances of misdemeanors with the inspections we have done as of January 1, everyone has been in compliance," Huisman said.

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