Carbn Mnxide Safety Many peple have purchased r are cnsidering the purchase f a Carbn Mnxide detectr. Here are sme basic facts regarding CO and CO detectrs. What is carbn mnxide (CO) and hw is it prduced in the hme? CO is a clrless, drless, txic gas. It is prduced by the incmplete cmbustin f slid, liquid and gaseus fuels. Appliances fueled with gas, il, kersene, r wd may prduce CO. If such appliances are nt installed, maintained, and used prperly, CO may accumulate t dangerus levels. What are the symptms f CO pisning and why are these symptms particularly dangerus? Breathing CO causes symptms such as headaches, dizziness, and weakness in healthy peple. CO als causes sleepiness, nausea, vmiting, cnfusin and disrientatin. At very high levels, it causes lss f cnsciusness and death. This is particularly dangerus because CO effects ften are nt recgnized. CO is drless and sme f the symptms f CO pisning are similar t the flu r ther cmmn illnesses. CO Preventin Hw can prductin f dangerus levels f CO be prevented? Dangerus levels f CO can be prevented by prper appliance maintenance, installatin, and use. Maintenance: A qualified service technician shuld check yur hme's central and rm heating appliances (including water heaters and gas dryers) annually. The technician shuld lk at the electrical and mechanical cmpnents f appliances, such as thermstat cntrls and autmatic safety devices. Chimneys and flues shuld be checked fr blckages, crrsin, and lse cnnectins. Individual appliances shuld be serviced regularly. Kersene and gas space heaters (vented and unvented) shuld be cleaned and inspected t insure prper peratin.
Installatin: Prper installatin is critical t the safe peratin f cmbustin appliances. All new appliances have installatin instructins that shuld be fllwed exactly. Lcal building cdes shuld be fllwed as well. Vented appliances shuld be vented prperly, accrding t manufacturers instructins. Adequate cmbustin air shuld be prvided t assure cmplete cmbustin. All cmbustin appliances shuld be installed by prfessinals. Appliance Use: Fllw manufacturer's directins fr safe peratin. Make sure the rm where an unvented gas r kersene space heater is used is well ventilated; drs leading t anther rm shuld be pen t insure prper ventilatin. Never use an unvented cmbustin heater vernight r in a rm where yu are sleeping. What are the signs that might indicate imprper appliance peratin? Decreasing ht water supply Furnace unable t heat huse r runs cnstantly Sting, especially n appliances Unfamiliar r burning dr Increased cndensatin inside windws What are sme visible signs that might indicate a CO prblem? Imprper cnnectins n vents and chimneys Visible rust r stains n vents and chimneys An appliance that makes unusual sunds r emits an unusual smell An appliance that keeps shutting ff (Many new appliances have safety cmpnents attached that prevent peratin if an unsafe cnditin exists. If an appliance stps perating, it may be because a safety device is preventing a dangerus cnditin. Therefre, dn't try t perate an appliance that keeps shutting ff; call a service persn instead.) What are sme ther ways t prevent CO pisning? Never use a range r ven t heat the living areas f the hme Never use a charcal grill r hibachi in the hme Never keep a car running in an attached garage
CO Detectin Can CO be detected? Yes, CO can be detected with CO detectrs that meet the requirements f Underwriters Labratries (UL) standard 2034. Since the txic effect f CO is dependent upn bth CO cncentratin and length f expsure, lng-term expsure t a lw cncentratin can prduce effects similar t shrt term expsure t a high cncentratin. Detectrs that meet the UL standard measure bth high CO cncentratins ver shrt perids f time and lw CO cncentratins ver lng perids f time. The effects f CO can be cumulative ver time. Detectrs sund an alarm befre the level f CO in a persn's bld wuld becme crippling. Detectrs that meet the UL 2034 standard currently cst between $35 and $80. Where shuld the detectr be installed? CO gases distribute evenly and fairly quickly thrughut the huse; therefre, a CO detectr shuld be installed n the wall r ceiling in sleeping area/s but utside individual bedrms t alert ccupants wh are sleeping. Aren't there safety devices already n sme appliances? And if s, why is a CO detectr needed? Vent safety shutff systems have been required n furnaces and vented heaters since the late 1980 s. They prtect against blcked r discnnected vents r chimneys. Oxygen depletin sensrs (ODS) have als been installed n unvented gas space heaters since the 1980 s. ODS prtect against the prductin f CO caused by insufficient xygen fr prper cmbustin. These devices (ODS s and vent safety shutff systems) are nt a substitute fr regular prfessinal servicing, and many lder, ptentially CO-prducing appliances may nt have such devices. Therefre, a CO detectr is still imprtant in any hme as anther line f defense. Are there ther CO detectrs that are less expensive? There are inexpensive cardbard r plastic detectrs that change clr and d nt sund an alarm and have a limited useful life. They require the ccupant t lk at the device t determine if CO is present. CO cncentratins can build up rapidly while ccupants are asleep, and these devices wuld nt sund an alarm t wake them.
Carbn Mnxide Actin Levels Standard fr Actin Levels The fllwing actin levels have been defined as minimums fr BPI certified Carbn Mnxide Analysts. Analysts may wrk fr a gvernment agency r business entity that has adpted mre stringent standards than the nes defined in this dcument. As such, CO Analysts may enfrce thse higher standards. Under n circumstances shall a BPI certified CO Analyst recgnize less stringent standards r ignre cnditins in excess f the defined actin levels. The actin levels are cnsidered net indr ambient readings - i.e. - indr ambient minus utdr ambient readings. 0 t 9 parts per millin (ppm) Nrmal - N Actin: Typical frm: utdr surces, fumes frm attached garages, heavy smking, fireplace spillage and peratin f unvented cmbustin appliances. With ambient cnditins in this range, analysts may cntinue testing sequences. 10 t 35 parts per millin (ppm) Marginal: This level culd becme prblematic in sme situatins. Actins: Occupants shuld be advised f a ptential health hazard t small children, elderly peple and persns suffering frm respiratry r heart prblems. If the hme has an attached garage, dcument CO levels in garage. Accept this level as nrmal fr unvented appliances but nt fr vented appliances. If unvented appliances are in peratin, recmmend additinal ventilatin in the areas f peratin. With ambient cnditins in this range, analysts may cntinue testing t lcate the CO surce. 36 t 99 parts per millin (ppm) Excessive: Medical Alert. Cnditins must be mitigated. Actins: Ask ccupants t step utside and query abut health symptms. Advise ccupants t seek medical attentin. If ccupants exhibit any symptms f CO pisning, have smene drive them t a medical facility. Enter the building, pen drs and windws t ventilate the structure. Turn ff all cmbustin appliances until the CO level has been reduced t safe levels. If frced air equipment is available, cntinus peratin f the air handler is recmmended at this time. If the hme has an attached garage, dcument CO levels in garage. Test cmbustin appliances ne at a time t determine the surce f CO prductin. If an appliance is determined t be the surce f CO prductin, it shuld be shut ff and nt used until a qualified technician with prper test equipment can service it. 100-200 parts per millin (ppm) Dangerus: Medical Alert. Emergency cnditins exist. Actins: Evacuate the building
immediately and check ccupants fr health symptms. Advise all ccupants t seek medical attentin. Occupants shuld have smene else drive them t a medical facility. If ccupants exhibit symptms f CO pisning, emergency service persnnel must be called. Evacuatin is imprtant, but Analysts must nt subject themselves t excessive cnditins. Maximum expsure time is 15 minutes. Open all drs and windws that can be dne quickly. If the hme has an attached garage, dcument CO levels in garage. Disable cmbustin appliance peratin. Cntinually mnitr indr ambient levels while mving thrugh the building. Once the atmsphere within the structure has returned t safe levels and the appliances have been turned back n, lcate the surce f CO prductin fr crrective measures. Greater than 200 parts per millin (ppm) Dangerus: Medical Alert. Emergency cnditins exist. Actins: Evacuate the building immediately and check ccupants fr health symptms. Advise all ccupants t seek medical attentin. Occupants shuld have smene else drive them t medical facility. If ccupants exhibit symptms f CO pisning, emergency service persnnel must be called. Evacuatin is imprtant, but analysts must nt subject themselves t these cnditins. D nt stay inside r re-enter the building until cnditins have drpped belw 100 ppm. Open all drs and windws that can be dne quickly withut entering the structure. Call the lcal utility t shut ff gas supply (if applicable and necessary). If the hme has an attached garage, dcument CO levels in garage if pssible t d s withut being subjected t high levels f CO. Once the atmsphere within the structure has returned t safe levels, restre fuel supply t appliances. Operate and test the appliances ne at a time t determine the surce f CO prductin.