Illinois Accessibility Code Strobe Requirements

The Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC) is the state version of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It’s not just amendments to the ADA. For lack of a better term, it is the ADA for Illinois. The Illinois Capitol Development Board (CDB) issued a new version in late 2018 to be applied to contracts for planning [Read More]

Are Fire Alarm Strobes Required in the City of Chicago?

Update 8/1/20: With the adoption of the new Chicago Building Code effective August 1, 2020, as well as an update of the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC) in October 2018, strobes are now required in fire alarm installations in Chicago. There are no longer Class I or Class II type fire alarm systems in Chicago. The [Read More]

What Are The Changes In The New Chicago Fire Code?

We’ve been asked by many design firms and installers whether the adoption of the new Chicago Building Code (CBC) will affect the existing requirements for fire alarm systems. The actual changes to the Chicago Fire Code won’t be adopted until 2021, but there are changes in the new CBC that can affect fire alarms systems [Read More]

Is it appropriate to put a fire alarm panel in an unconditioned space?

It can be hard to find a good home for the fire alarm panel. If the owner doesn’t want the panel in the entrance and there isn’t space in an electrical room, it tends to be put in a ‘back of the house’ location. What if the best choice is an unconditioned space (no temperature [Read More]