Carbon Monoxide Safety Guide

Carbon Monoxide is highly toxic and cannot be smelled or tasted. Normal gas fire or boiler operation produces harmless gases but lack of oxygen can result in Carbon Monoxide production. Carbon Dioxide is the normal output from a boiler but this can be replaced by Carbon Monoxide with reduced ventilation or a blocked flue. Building regulations prescribing ventilation requirements and the widespread availability gas appliance servicing services has reduced the incidence of Carbon Monoxide poisoning although there are still 30 deaths per year.

What are the risks with CO poisoning?

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer so be do not delay if you see any warning signs. There are no second chances with poisoning from this gas so do not delay if you suspect anything. Quick action can save your and your family’s lives. Any member of the family can be affected by carbon monoxide regardless of their age. It is common for pets to be harmed in the same way as humans.

Does carbon monoxide poisoning exhibit any symptoms?

You may observe common flu like symptoms in someone who is actually suffering from Carbon Monoxide inhalation with features like: –
* frequent headaches
* loss of balance
* weariness
* upset stomach and sickness

A CORGI certified gas engineer should be brought in to inspect your gas appliances if you notice these symptoms in your family. Whilst waiting for the engineer to arrive you should ensure that you have opened the windows and everyone has left the house.

What do people do to avoid the chances of Carbon Monoxide inhalation and subsequent illness?

Carbon monoxide is output from a boiler when there is not enough oxygen available for the flame to burn all the gas in the combustion chamber. Gas appliance combustion problems can be avoided by adopting a regular appliance servicing schedule by trained appliance engineers. To guarantee compliance with the gas appliance servicing regulations make sure that the gas engineer you hire to service your appliances has CORGI registration. Carbon monoxide detectors can give a warning of abnormal carbon monoxide levels, models with a loud alarm are the most effective at warning the inhabitants of the home. Gas appliances require adequate ventilation and you should check that this is satisfactory, one particular danger area is the covering up of ventilation vents in the summer through home decorating and the storage of surplus items.. Moving outside your property take a look at all ventilation ducts and air bricks to ensure that they have not been covered by plant growth. And make sure your chimney doesn�t become blocked with birds� nests or other debris. It is important to be aware of the different sounds from your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. In an emergency you need to be are aware of the different sounds so you know which detector was triggered.

What will I see if I have a carbon monoxide issue in my home?

Gas combustion in an oxygen poor atmosphere can produce visible deposits which can discolour gas appliances and the walls surrounding them. Poor ventilation can reduce the volume of oxygen available to burn gas within a boiler resulting in the production of carbon dioxide, in these circumstances a pilot light may change from burning with the usual blue colour to a yellow colouration. If the pilot light in your system starts burning yellow you should have the boiler serviced by a trained engineer without delay.

Are you able to purchase carbon monoxide detectors?

Carbon monoxide detectors can be effective in preventing incidences of carbon monoxide poisoning. You know have a choice of detector types and most of these are available in the shops or online. Carbon monoxide detectors trigger an alarm based on an accumulation of carbon monoxide over time. CO detectors are not yet as reliable as the smoke detectors in your home but the technology is becoming more reliable and they are an important early warning mechanism. You should ensure you have regular servicing of your appliances and treat your carbon monoxide detector as a secondary, backup measure. It is not your first line of defence.

What are the features of a good detector?

Carbon monoxide detectors should have a very loud alarm and be certified to British Standards. These typically have batteries which will last for up to five years and have a loud alarm which goes off when carbon monoxide is detected giving you time to evacuate the room. You should avoid the cheaper detectors which have a coloured spot which will change in colour when high carbon monoxide levels are detected. Chemical detectors have 6 month lifetimes and are not cost effective in the long run as they have to be replaced often. The ability to wake you from your sleep at night is an important advantage that battery detectors have over the more passive chemical detectors. Both types of alarms are now commonly available in DIY stores.

The benefits of installing a Carbon Monoxide detector

Carbon monoxide kills through the ongoing absorption of the gas and the gradual reduction of the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. Fitting carbon monoxide detectors can give your family early warning of rising CO levels so that they can escape to fresh air. Properly installed detectors monitor carbon monoxide levels over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms of poisoning. Unlike smoke detectors, they do not need to be placed near ceiling level. You need a CO detector to wake you whilst sleeping if carbon monoxide is detected so detectors should be sited where the alarm can be heard from the bedrooms.

CO Detectors must be tested regularly

As with all safety equipment a detector should be tested throughout the year to make sure that it is working effectively. The manufacturer�s instructions should give you the outline of how to test or service the detector. A detector should be checked at least once per month to confirm it is working properly, if it fails replace it with a new detector without delay. The ‘test’ feature on many detectors checks the functioning of the alarm and not the status of the detector. Many detectors have a limited lifetime, this can be 48 months or less. Some detectors last up to 5 years and operate off the mains or battery. You will need to select a model that meets your needs. Combination smoke detector and CO detectors are available and should also be installed in accordance with the manufacturer instructions.