Lombard Fire Marshal Advises of Carbon Monoxide Alarm Update

A CO alarm will have three signals--alarm, trouble and end-of-life. Activation for a CO alarm would be a series of four rapid beeps followed by a five second pause and then repeating, Riforgiate said. A trouble signal, indicating some type of fault or low battery, is a ½ second beep every 30 – 60 seconds – just like a low battery on a smoke alarm. The end-of-life signal may be a distinct signal or the same signal as a trouble alarm, providing that there is a visual indicator on the CO alarm to indicate that is an end-of-life alarm. Depending on the manufacturer, some end-of-life signals can be silenced for up to 30 days, others cannot.

“What is important is that when an end-of-life signal is sounded, the CO alarm must be replaced,” Riforgiate cautioned. “This is true if the unit is a standalone CO alarm, or a combination unit with a smoke alarm,” he added.

Since January of 2007, Illinois law has required every dwelling unit to have a working CO alarm. Many CO alarms now in service were made prior to the incorporation of the new requirements and will not have an end-of-life signal. As a result, many of these alarms may not function now as designed. “If your alarm does not have the end-of-life feature, was manufactured prior to August 2009, or you cannot find a manufactured date (located on the outside back of the alarm) consult any paperwork that came with the unit or research the company's website for further information,” Riforgiate advised. “If none can be found, then serious consideration should be given to replacing the CO alarm,” he added.

Illinois law requires that CO alarms must have battery power as the primary or secondary power supply. Power to the alarms cannot be from household electric current alone.

For further information on CO alarms, contact the Lombard Fire Department, Bureau of Fire Prevention at (630) 620-5750.