Illinois · Fire code

The fire code in force in Illinois now.

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2015 edition) as adopted with state modifications in 41 Ill. Adm. Code 100 (Fire Prevention and Safety), effective Jan 1, 2020. Enforced by Office of the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire Prevention and Building Safety); local fire officials enforce under OSFM direction or under their own equal-or-higher local codes; public schools (ISBE) and licensed health facilities (IDPH) are inspected by other agencies. Checked on the primary source; the state record was last reviewed 2026-11-12.

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Fire code in Illinois

Checked on the source
In force

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2015 edition) as adopted with state modifications in 41 Ill. Adm. Code 100 (Fire Prevention and Safety), effective Jan 1, 2020

OSFM's page states Part 100 uses the 2015 NFPA 101, replacing the 2000 edition, effective Jan 1, 2020; 41 Ill. Adm. Code 100.9 (added 43 Ill. Reg. 10008, eff. Jan 1, 2020) names the same edition. The proposed-rule-changes page was not read. Local codes (Chicago, home-rule towns) may apply alongside; confirm with the AHJ.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

Office of the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire Prevention and Building Safety); local fire officials enforce under OSFM direction or under their own equal-or-higher local codes; public schools (ISBE) and licensed health facilities (IDPH) are inspected by other agencies

Statewide layer. County and city amendments sit on top; confirm the local office for the address.

What changes next

In force

In force; OSFM page re-read Oct 21, 2026 (2015 NFPA 101, effective Jan 1, 2020) describes no pending change; its separate proposed-rule-changes page not reopened

The federal layer

No federal fire code applies to a private building; OSHA's exit-route, fire-extinguisher and emergency-plan rules (29 CFR 1910 Subparts E and L) apply to every employer alongside the state fire code.

Dated items

Next 24 months
Jan 13, 2027
105th Illinois General Assembly convenes (Ill. Const. art. IV, sec. 5: the General Assembly convenes each year on the second Wednesday of January); watch for building, fire, elevator and lodging billsIllinois General Assembly
Confirmed date

What a building has to do

25 recurring duties

These apply when the building has the equipment or fits the type named. The frequency is the standard one; your local official can set a stricter one, so confirm it for the address.

Annual
Fire alarm system: annual inspection and testNFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed alarm contractor; report to the fire marshal on request · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Sprinkler control valves: inspected monthly when locked or electrically supervised (weekly when only sealed); open, accessible, tamper switch workingNFPA 25, Ch. 13 · Owner or contractor; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Quarterly
Sprinkler system: quarterly inspection (gauges, waterflow and supervisory alarm devices, fire department connection)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Waterflow switches (vane or pressure type) and valve tamper switches: semiannual test, signal confirmed at the panel and the monitoring company (mechanical water motor gongs: quarterly)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13; NFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler or alarm contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Sprinkler system: annual inspection and main drain testNFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Sprinkler piping: internal inspection and obstruction checkNFPA 25, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly or Monthly
Fire pump: no-flow (churn) test. Diesel: weekly, 30 minutes. Electric: monthly, 10 minutes, but weekly when the pump serves a building beyond the fire department’s pumping capacity, has a limited-service controller, is a vertical turbine, or draws from a ground-level tankNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Owner or contractor; readings logged · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire pump: annual flow testNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Standpipes: annual inspection of hose connections, valves, caps and gaskets, piping and signageNFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Owner or licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Standpipes: five-year flow test (manual and dry systems also get a five-year hydrostatic test)NFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly or Quarterly or Twice a year or Annual
Kitchen exhaust (hood, duct, fan): inspected for grease buildup and cleaned when buildup is found. Interval by cooking volume: solid fuel monthly; high volume (24-hour, charbroiling, wok) quarterly; moderate semiannually; low annuallyNFPA 96, Table 12.4 (11.4 in older editions) · Qualified exhaust cleaning company · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Kitchen hood fire-suppression system: inspection and service every six months, tag datedNFPA 17A; NFPA 96, Ch. 11 · Licensed suppression contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly
Generator: weekly inspection (fuel, oil and coolant levels, battery and charger, block heater, alarms, transfer switch in automatic)NFPA 110, Ch. 8 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Generator: monthly exercise under load for at least 30 minutes (diesel: at least 30% of nameplate kW or the manufacturer’s minimum exhaust temperature); transfer switches operated monthlyNFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Generator: annual supplemental load test when the monthly runs do not reach 30% of nameplate: 50% for 30 minutes, then 75% for 60 minutes (1.5 hours)NFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Contractor with a load bank · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 3 years
Generator, Level 1 (life-safety) systems: run for 4 continuous hours, or the system’s class duration if shorter, at least once every 36 monthsNFPA 110, 8.4.9 · Owner or contractor; report kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Emergency lighting and exit signs: monthly 30-second testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Emergency lighting: annual 90-minute testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire extinguishers: monthly visual check, initialedNFPA 10, 7.2 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire extinguishers: annual maintenance and tagNFPA 10, 7.3 · Licensed extinguisher contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire doors and shutters: annual inspection and testNFPA 80, 5.2 · Qualified person; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 4 years
Fire and smoke dampers: operational testNFPA 80, 19.4; NFPA 105 · Qualified contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year or Annual
Smoke control system: operated through each control sequence — semiannually for a dedicated system, annually for a nondedicated system that shares the building’s HVACNFPA 92, Ch. 8; IFC Sec. 909 (periodic testing) · Qualified contractor; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire drills: monthly while in session, documentedFor education. NFPA 101, 14.7.2 and 15.7.2 · Owner; documented · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Occupant load posted; crowd managers for events over 250 peopleFor assembly, retail. NFPA 101, 12.7.6 and 13.7.6 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.

Local layer by county

1 counties
Cook County
  • Chicago is served by the Chicago Fire Department; unincorporated Cook County relies on independent fire protection districts and contracts with neighboring municipalities, not one county fire department.

Questions about the fire code in Illinois

Which fire code applies in Illinois today?

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2015 edition) as adopted with state modifications in 41 Ill. Adm. Code 100 (Fire Prevention and Safety), effective Jan 1, 2020. OSFM's page states Part 100 uses the 2015 NFPA 101, replacing the 2000 edition, effective Jan 1, 2020; 41 Ill. Adm. Code 100.9 (added 43 Ill. Reg. 10008, eff. Jan 1, 2020) names the same edition. The proposed-rule-changes page was not read. Local codes (Chicago, home-rule towns) may apply alongside; confirm with the AHJ.

Who enforces the fire code in Illinois?

Office of the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire Prevention and Building Safety); local fire officials enforce under OSFM direction or under their own equal-or-higher local codes; public schools (ISBE) and licensed health facilities (IDPH) are inspected by other agencies.

What changes next for the fire code in Illinois?

Nothing is scheduled. The rule above stays in force until the state adopts a newer edition or amends the program; AHJ Radar re-checks the source weekly.

Other areas in Illinois

Everything in force in Illinois

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