The State of Illinois and the City of Chicago Issued New Requirements Effective 2023 for Residential Smoke Detectors

This includes smoke detectors in high-rise condominium communities such as Park Tower.

As we reported in January of 2023, the purpose of these rules was to do away with the old removable battery-powered smoke detectors and replace them with more reliable alternatives, and specifically those with the minimum 10 year unremovable lithium battery. To comply, as our team conducts the Life Safety Inspections, any remaining smoke detectors throughout the building are being replaced. We keep them in stock and only charge cost (rounded up) for $25, with no labor fee. The end result is the presence of more reliable devices, and a safer community.

As of January 1, 2023, the following requirements are in effect in both the State of Illinois and City of Chicago:

•  All condos which still use battery-powered smoke detectors (within units or in common areas) must begin using detectors with self-contained, non-removable, long-term batteries. This means the older model smoke detectors, which use removal 9v batteries, must be replaced with newer-model detectors with non-removable, sealed, long-term batteries (i.e., batteries that last up to 10 years). Several years ago, this was already done as a building wide project in the common areas. We’ve also only kept the 10 year smoke detectors in stock.
• We are not required to remove and replace the “old” smoke detector models immediately – the law requires that the “old” removal battery models be replaced when:
  • The “old” models are more than ten (10) years past their date of manufacture; or
  • The “old” models fail to respond to operation tests or start to malfunction.

The fact is, most old removable battery smoke detectors are greater than 10 years of age. So this needs to be done for Park Tower homes to be in compliance. While this is being done as our team conducts the scheduled life safety checks, Owners are welcome to contact our team anytime to schedule a work ticket for this to be done.

If you have an old removable battery operated smoke detector, and would like this to be replaced sooner rather than later, please e-mail us a request at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com.