DeKALB | Illinois residents can sleep better, thanks to a new law that took effect effective Jan. 1.

The Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act states “every dwelling unit will be required to have at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes.”

Residences exempt from the act include those that do not rely on combustion of fossil fuel for heat, ventilation or hot water. Residences that do not have a connected garage and residences that are not sufficiently close to any ventilated source of carbon monoxide are also exempt.

DeKalb fire prevention officer Lieutenant Karl Froehlich said there have been a few calls regarding carbon monoxide. He said some were automobile-related, where carbon monoxide from the car gets into the house.

Carbon monoxide, both colorless and odorless, is dangerous and puts residents at risk for poisoning.

“It’s an asphyxiant,” Froehlich said. “In your blood, red blood cells attract oxygen. Carbon monoxide draws to red blood cells many times quicker and easier. It will drown out the oxygen.”

Some DeKalb rental property owners whose apartments are not excluded from the act have already installed the detectors.

Star Properties have the detectors in all of their 450 units.

“[We installed them] over break in every single one of our apartments,” said Vanessa Beecher, a Star Properties office assistant.

Susan Besinger, president of Horizon Real Estate Management Inc., said the installation occurred in units with gas furnaces.

“[The detectors were installed] usually next to the smoke detectors,” Besinger said. “We had a team of people working on installation. We put in 100. It’s taken about five [work] days.”

Ina Walk, the property manager for College Housing Group, said their unit detectors are already installed.

“We thought it was a great idea,” Walk said. “[Even] if the law hadn’t passed, we were going to put them in. We thought it was about time.”

DeKalb has put plans into motion to inform the community.

“The city building department is putting together a press release,” Froehlich said. “We’ll be doing ads in the paper and, on channel 14 on cable, [we] will have public service announcements.”

There will also be a provision for the new law within the city of DeKalb.

“Right now, with the law being as new as it is, the city of DeKalb is working on the enforcement being written in,” Froehlich said. “New construction will have to be inspected for the presence of carbon monoxide detectors [as well as] remodel permits.”