In Illinois there are a few different laws at the state level that influence the installation requirements of smoke alarms. This post hopes to provide clarification of those requirements.

Long Term Battery Update to the Smoke Detector Act

Illinois Public Act 100-0200 as of January 1, 2023, requires that any new smoke alarms being installed within a single or multi-family home with only battery power, no 120V (Volt), are required to be featured with a 10-year sealed battery. Based on that law the following inspection and permit scenarios are detailed below.

Existing building – no work being done (Property Maintenance & Sale Inspections): existing smoke alarms may remain in place until they exceed 10 years from the manufactured date or stop functioning properly. Once this point is reached, they must be replaced with units containing a 10-year sealed battery unless provided with power from normal power (120V).

Existing building – minor permit work: Permitted work on the exterior of the home such as re-siding, roofing, concrete work, fences, sheds, would not require the smoke alarms to be inspected. It would be the owners responsibility to ensure any out of date smoke alarms are updated with the 10 year batteries when necessary. The exception would be when a permit involving electrical work is issued (generator, solar, new panel etc.), it comes with the requirement that smoke alarms (locations and types) must be brought up to code throughout the entire home. This would be an example of when you are not required to open up ceilings to add hardwired units, but any new alarms added to fulfil the location requirements must now have a 10-year sealed battery.

Existing building – remodel/alteration/ additions: In the case where a large part of the home is being remodeled, any room where smoke alarms are required and the ceiling is opened up must be equipped with hardwired and interconnected units. The rest of the home that is not being altered must still be brought up to code for smoke alarm coverage, but 10-year sealed battery units are allowed instead of providing normal power (120V).

New construction: In the case of new homes, all smoke alarms must be hardwired with backup batteries and interconnected. In the case of an addition, all required alarms in the new addition must be hardwired with backup batteries and interconnected.