Carbon Monoxide

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels and appliances are safe to use if correctly installed and maintained. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous. When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.

You can't see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning. HSE Statistics* show every year around 14 people in the UK die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long period. In extreme cases paralysis and brain damage can be caused as a result of prolonged exposure to CO. Increasing public understanding of the risks of CO poisoning and taking sensible precautions could dramatically reduce this risk.

 

Symptoms

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness.

Symptoms to look out for include:

• headaches
• breathlessness
• nausea
• dizziness
• collapse
• loss of consciousness
• tiredness
• drowsiness
• vomiting
• pains in the chest
• stomach pains
• erratic behavior
• visual problems

 

Safety Measures

• Ensure your appliances are correctly installed and serviced annually.

• Ensure that rooms in your home containing heating appliances are properly ventilated – never block vents.

• Make sure all chimneys are regularly swept and kept clear.

• Use appliances only for the purpose for which they were designed, e.g. do not use a cooker to heat a room.

• Never use any appliance if you suspect it might be faulty.

• If undertaking alterations to your home which may affect the safety or efficiency of your heating installation follow this safety advice:
  • Do not block or build around any existing air vents or flues.
  • If creating a new living space, ensure it has ventilation in accordance with Building Regulations.
  • If adding additional radiators ensure that your boiler can cope with the additional capacity.
  • If you are altering or adding appliances to a natural gas or LPG installation, ensure that work is carried out with competent registered installers who have the necessary recognized certification.

Get professional advice on ventilation and flueing before embarking on alterations to your house. Contact your fuel supplier for details of qualified personnel.

 

Detectors

A carbon monoxide detector or CO detector is a device that detects the presence of the carbon monoxide (CO) gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

CO detectors are designed to measure CO levels over time and sound an alarm before dangerous levels of CO accumulate in an environment, giving people adequate warning to safely ventilate the area or evacuate. Some system-connected detectors also alert a monitoring service that can dispatch emergency services if necessary.

While CO detectors do not serve as smoke detectors and vice versa, dual smoke/CO detectors are also sold. Smoke detectors detect the smoke generated by flaming or smoldering fires, whereas CO detectors go into alarm and warn people about dangerous CO buildup caused, for example, by a malfunctioning fuel-burning device.

In the home, some common sources of CO include open flames, space heaters, water heaters, blocked chimneys or running a car inside a garage.

 

What should I look for when buying a detector?

Before purchasing a CO alarm, always ensure it complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark, such as a CE or Kitemark. CO alarms should be installed, checked and serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions. Particular attention should be made of the life span of the unit which can range from 3 to 5 years dependant on the manufacturer and the expected life span of the batteries, some have replaceable/removable units others are sealed in for the life of the unit.

 

For further information contact:

HSENI - Gas Safety Unit;
83 Ladas Drive Belfast BT6 9FR
Tel: 028 9024 3249
Fax: 028 9023 5383
Email: hseni@detini.gov.uk

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland.  Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action.  This guidance draws on several documents and sources including the HSE (GB) for its content.