What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless, odourless, non-irritating gas produced as a by-product during incomplete combustion of fuels due to there being insufficient oxygen present. Complete combustion occurs when sufficient oxygen is present and leads to the production of carbon dioxide.
Is Carbon Monoxide dangerous?
How does CO harm you? Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning — causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate.
Do I need a Carbon Monoxide Alarm (CO alarm) for my home?
If you have any fuel burning appliance in your home – you should install a CO Alarm. These include a log burner, fire, gas boiler. Or gas oven or hob. The CO Alarm will alert you to the level of CO in the room, and allow you to take action.
What should I do if there is a Carbon Monoxide incident at my home?
You should open windows and doors, and call a qualified gas engineer to check you appliance.
How many CO Alarms do I need ?
You should include a CO Alarm in each room that has a fuel burning appliance.
Are battery powered alarms ok?
Yes the majority are now battery operated – you should look for ones which have a non-removeable lithium battery with a 10 year life – to provide you with peace of mind for a long period.
Where should I mount the alarm?
You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but ideally wall mounted at a similar level to the appliance, within the distance specified by the manufacturer, generally about 5ft (1500mm) away from the appliance. The alarm should be mounted at eye level so that the display can be seen easily.
What does the display show?
The display shows the density of CO in the area (room) in ppm (parts per million).
What does the information on the display mean?
| PPM density of CO |
Effect |
| 35 ppm |
The maximum allowable concentration for continuous exposure for healthy adults in any 8 hour period |
| 200 ppm |
Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after 2-3 hours |
| 400 ppm |
Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours, life threatening after 3 hours |
| 800 ppm |
Dizziness, nausea and covulsions within 45 minutes. Unconsciousness within 2 hours, death within 3 hours |
| 1600 ppm |
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 minutes. Death within 1 hour |
| 6400 ppm |
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1-2 minutes |
Are children and pets most affected by CO leaks?
Children and pets will be the quickest to be and most affected by carbon monoxide.