CARBON MONOXIDE The Silent Killer

What is Carbon Monoxide? Many are killed each year and many more suffer ill health from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is an
invisible, odourless, tasteless and extremely toxic gas. It is produced by appliances burning fuels, such as natural / bottled-
gas , paraffin, wood, petrol, diesel, charcoal etc. Heavy doses of CO will cause a person to collapse and die within
CARBON MONOXIDE
minutes. Lesser doses can cause headaches, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or flu symptoms. CO is absorbed
by red blood cells in the lungs in preference to oxygen - this results in rapid damage to the heart and brain from oxygen
ALARMS
FACTS
starvation.

Sources of Carbon Monoxide Toxic amounts of CO can be produced if there is:-

Inadequate ventilation, so that there is not An appliance not working correctly due to poor

about enough oxygen for the fuel to burn properly.

Cracked / Rusted flues or chimneys.
installation, lack of servicing or chimney / flue blockage.

If a home has any of these potential sources of CO it should have a Carbon Monoxide Alarm installed

CARBON
MONOXIDE GAS APPLIANCE BLOCKED OR
CRACKED
CHIMNEYS
PORTABLE GAS
OR PARAFFIN
HEATERS
GAS/SOLID FUEL
FIRE PLACE
GAS/OIL
BOILER OR
FURNACE
SOLID FUEL /
OIL STOVE
BARBEQUE IN
ENCLOSED
SPACE
(GARAGE/SHED)
CARS IN
GARAGES
Battery Powered Alarm
with Recall Memory Feature
Model: Ei205EN
Battery Powered Alarm
Model: Ei204EN
Mains Powered
Plug-in Alarm
Model: Ei220EN

ON MONOX Where to place CO Alarms or Detectors However, if you have more than one appliance, but only one alarm/detector, you should
RB I take the following into consideration when deciding where best to put the alarm/detector.
CA

DE

Ideally you should have an alarm/detector in or near If there is an appliance in the bedroom, you should put a alarm/detector in that room.
every room that contains a fuel burning appliance
If there is an appliance in a room that you use frequently, e.g. sitting room or kitchen, you
should put it in that room.
Bedroom If you live in a bedsit, put the alarm/detector as far away from the cooking appliances as
ER

H
T

ES L L
KI
IL E N T possible, but near to the place where you sleep.
If the appliance is in a room not normally used (e.g. a boiler room), put the alarm/
Mains Powered Alarm Mains Powered
detector just outside the room so that you will be able to hear the alarm more easily.
with Interconnect & Model: Ei225EN
Sitting Room
Rechargeable Batteries
Kitchen Model: Ei261EN
Table A: Effects of Cumulative CO Exposure
CO Inhalation Time (approx)
ppm and Symptoms Developed

35 The maximum allowable concentration for continuous exposure in any

Protect Your Family
8-hour period according to OSHA**.
150 Slight headache after 1.5 hours.
If they contain or are near a fuel 200 Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after 2-3 hours.
burning appliance
400 Frontal headaches within 1-2 hours, life threatening after 3 hours.

How the CO Alarm gives Warnings 800 Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 minutes.
Unconsciousness within 2 hours. Death within 2-3 hours.
When the alarm detects potentially dangerous levels of CO, it flashes 1,600 Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20minutes. Death within 1 hour.
the red alarm light immediately and then sounds a loud alarm if the CO
3,200 Headache, dizziness and nausea within 5-10 minutes. Death within 25-30 minutes.
persists. At higher levels of CO the alarm turns on sooner. The rate of
flashing of the red light indicates the level of CO. The alarm checks for 6,400 Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1-2 minutes. Death within 10-15 minutes.
CO every 50 seconds.
12,800 Death within 1-3 minutes.
Ei Electronics
Shannon Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co.Clare, Ireland
OSHA ** Occupational ppm
Safety & Health Assocation parts per million
Tel: +353 61 471277 Fax: +353 61 471053
email: eielectronics@eiltd.ie www.eielectronics.com