Kidde Fyrnetics advocates the adoption of hard wired CO alarms in the Building Regulations as is the case in much of the USA & Canada. Additionally legislation should be introduced requiring the installation of hard wired smoke & CO alarms in all rented property.

Fitting a CO alarm does not reduce the need for regular maintenance of all fossil fuelled appliances. Tenants in rented dwellings have to
have their gas appliances annually checked under the Gas Safety Regs, by a Gas Safe certified gas installer (UK Mainland). 
CORGI  retain responsibility in Northern Ireland & Channel Isles.

See Kidde's letter in March 07 Gas Installer Magazine on subject. Click on magazine image.

Typical CO Sources

Siting Recommendation for Hard Wired CO Alarms

            Check the News Section for a listing of recent CO news.

 In the USA & Canada many local Buidling Codes require the fitting of CO alarms, either in New Homes or all Domestic residences.
Kidde is working with regulatory bodies and safety groups to progress their adoption into Building Regulations here.

 Hard wired CO alarms are powered off your properties mains wiring; in the event of a power failure the integral rechargeable Lithium Back up will operate the alarm.
Battery CO alarms can be useful if you have concerns about gas safety, on a foreign holiday for example. Being battery, they are fully portable. Plug in Mains alarms
are a 3rd option to consider.

Properties that have traditionally suffered above average levels of CO incidents, include Rented Accomodation, HMO's, Student Accommodation.
In UK all rented property is subject to an Annual Gas Safety inspection, by a duly competent Gas Safe fitter. However this normally excludes the tenant's own appliances such as a cooker, portable LPG heater.
Owner occupiers are subject to no requirement for Annual Gas Safety Checks.

   

Carbon Monoxide: Is it CO or CO2??

CO2 is Carbon Dioxide
CO2 is what we exhale
CO is Carbon Monoxide

CO is a by product of incomplete combustion
Emitted by All fossil fuels: eg.,
oil/gas/paraffin/coal/wood.

High/Most at Risk Groups:

• Those at home long periods Housebound & those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen
• Elderly/infirmed may stay in one room/take little exercise/block vents in cold weather months
• Pregnant mums/ children/ those with heart + respiratory problems/pets
  Pets often show 1st signs of CO poisoning if they sleep in kitchen
  

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  European Holiday Tragedies
  
  There have been too many instances of holidaymakers losing their lives to CO poisoning, especially in parts of Europe.
  It should be remembered many other other countries do not have such rigorous gas safety legislation as operate in UK.
  Gas boilers/cookers etc may have not been correctly installed and/or been subject to regular maintenance & safety checks.
  
  On 30/10/06 CORGI, The Gas Installer's professional body recommended all Costa Del Sol bound holidaymakers equip themselves with a Kitemarked Electronic CO Alarm
  if there is not one listed in your accommdation details. (Click on Corgi link above).

• Starts with mild headache, progressing through to nausea then unconsciousness
  If not detected victim falls into deep coma will never wake up
  
  Even if found loss of brain cells may cause permanent disability
  Remember too that the appliance may not even be inside the property; deaths have occurred
  where the appliance was outside or next door but CO permeated through the walls.
  

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  Effects of CO:
  
  If not discovered, CO can kill you, or leave you permanently disabled.
  (Victims of poisoning should click on the CO-Awareness link on left)
  Only an electronic alarm gives an audible warning, as CO builds up to alert you.
  Chemical CO patches (sometimes wrongly called Detectors) merely change colour;
  unless you are watching constantly they will not protect you and your family.
  
  Typical reasons for CO in Gas appliances
  Substandard fitting/maintenance
  Unqualified non 'Corgi' fitter
  Broken heat exchanger
  Poor/zero maintenance: all appliances should be serviced to manufacturers recommendations
  Cookers + portable LPG heaters rarely serviced
  Blocked vents/chimney eg after building works or householder blocks off ventilation slots in walls
  
  What is Carbon Monoxide?
  
  A colourless/odourless gas which can, in sufficient quantity, kill you.
  It is the by product of incomplete fuel combustion from fossil fuels.
  
  What fuels produce it?
  
  Gas [inc LPG], coal , wood, oil, charcoal: it also is one of the gases from car exhausts.
  Therefore do not leave your car running in an integral garage.
  This applies when your garage is attached to the side of the house, even more so
  if there are bedrooms above.
  
  Carbon Monoxide (CO) Electronic Alarms
  
  Click on links below for more alarm information

CO Alarms:Battery
CO Alarms: Hard Wired
CO Alarms: Plug In Alarms

Testimonial received from grateful Scottish alarm user for Kidde, when it saved her & her baby from CO poisoning from neighbour's appliance. 10/07 
Click for BBC News story

What appliances can cause it?
 
 Gas cookers/camping stoves/central heating boilers/warm air systems
open fires/solid fuel appliances/gas tumble dryers and blocked vents/chimneys.

 
 
Why is it so dangerous?
 
 You can't see/ smell/taste or hear CO, which is why it's often referred to as "the silent killer".
Our body prefers CO to oxygen when given the choice; in fact our red cells combine with CO,
200 times more easily than with oxygen. This creates a condition known as "carboxyhaemoglobin saturation".

 
 What are the effects?
 
 The red blood cells instead of carrying oxygen to our vital organs, carry CO.
As our organ tissue need oxygen the body starts to suffocate.
The body takes longer to eliminate CO than oxygen, & this is another danger.

  
Even all electric homes can suffer CO from attached properties, via dividing walls, shared chimneys etc
    
Why do newer homes seems to have greater risk?
 
 To comply with new legislation, new properties are well insulated & well sealed. Though adequate ventilation is designed in, this may be sealed up by the householder. Without sufficient oxygen the appliances will not achieve complete combustion. Older, draughtier homes had more opportunities for co to escape.

 
What can I do to reduce the dangers?
 
Have any fossil fuelled aqppliance, (Gas/LPG/Oil/Coal) an annual maintenance regime is essential; in rented dwellings this is a legal requirement.
Be aware of the symptoms, have appliances regularly serviced; FIT a Kitemarked electronic CO alarm
on every level of your home. A Cheap CO Patch will not audibly alert you & your family to a CO incident. 
 
Why does CO appear to have become more of an issue of late?
 
 People are much more aware of the dangers now. It is believed that
Florence Nightingale died from CO, due to a faulty charcoal brazier used to heat her room.

 Where should I locate my alarm?
 
 Give priority to areas where people are sleeping, hearing the alarm.
"CO is the No 1 cause of death by accidental poisoning in the UK:"
"Professor John Henry, UK National Poisons Unit"

 See the downloads section for the Hard Wired CO Alarm Installer Manual where you
can get detailed recommendations.

Click on above link