As residents “fall” back, and turn their clocks back one hour for daylight saving time this Sunday, Nov. 6, the Lombard Fire Department strongly encourages residents to change their smoke alarms to 10-year battery life smoke alarms to help ensure their family and loved ones are properly protected against fire.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 71 percent of smoke alarms which failed to operate in residential fires had missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
The Illinois’ Smoke Detector Act was recently amended to require single and multi-family homes currently using smoke alarms with removable batteries (non-hardwired alarms) to install new smoke detectors with 10-year sealed batteries by January 1, 2023. With a long-term 10-year battery alarm, battery replacement is not necessary; saving the average homeowner between $40-$60 in battery costs over the life of each alarm. These 10-year sealed battery alarms can be purchased at home improvement stores and online.
Exceptions include homes built after 1988 with hardwired smoke alarms; and homes with wireless integrated alarms that use low-power radio frequency communications, Wi-Fi or other Wireless Local Area Networking capabilities. If you currently have hardwired smoke alarms in your home and would like the added benefit, you can purchase hardwired alarms with a 10-year sealed battery backup.
For any home safety concerns or questions, contact the Lombard Fire Prevention Bureau at (630) 620-5750.
