Carbon Monoxide & Safety

¹Keeping your home warm is essential. Unfortunately, heating appliances are often the cause of injury and death in the home as a result of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning.

More than 50 home deaths result every year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning caused by faulty heating appliances. Please note this is not just a problem with rented accommodation (where it is now a legal requirement for landlords to have annual gas safety checks), many problems also occur in owner occupied properties.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It can be given off by appliances that burn fossil fuels (eg gas, coal, wood or oil).

Why is it so dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic substance, you can’t smell it, see it or taste it, which makes it very difficult to detect. However, its effects are deadly.

What are the main causes of CO poisoning?

Most cases of carbon monoxide poisoning are due to inadequate ventilation or poor maintenance of appliances, blocked or leaky flues and chimneys. A blocked chimney/flue can lead to carbon monoxide leaking into your home.

Who is most at risk?

Some people mistakenly think that it is only gas-fuelled heating systems which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning - in fact, it can happen with any fossil fuel system if the system is faulty, not maintained/serviced regularly or if the room is not properly ventilated.

Symptoms of CO poisoning

Mild carbon monoxide poisoning causes:

Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Drowsiness
Poor co-ordination.

Most people who develop mild carbon monoxide poisoning recover quickly when moved into fresh air.

Moderate or severe carbon monoxide poisoning causes:

Confusion
Unconsciousness
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Coma
Death.

Thus, most victims are unable to move themselves and must be rescued. Severe poisoning is often fatal. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because a person may not recognise drowsiness as a symptom of poisoning. This compounds the problem; the victim becomes drowsy, falls asleep, and doesn't wake up again.

Pointers that may help in diagnosis are:

If more than one person in the house is affected
Symptoms improve when away from home and recur on return
May be more noticeable when cooking if the oven is the culprit
May be more noticeable in winter if the heating is faulty.

Carbon monoxide safety

Carbon monoxide may be present if there are any of the following danger signs:

Gas flames that normally burn blue, burn orange or yellow instead
Sooty stains appear on or just above appliances, regardless of the fuel being burnt
Coal or wood fires burn slowly or go out
The fire is difficult to light
The room is not properly ventilated
The chimney or flue is blocked - watch out for smoke in the room.

Key safety messages & facts

Carbon monoxide can result from burning all fossil fuels - not just gas fires and boilers.
It is important to ensure rooms are ventilated - never block vents. If double-glazing or draught proofing is fitted, make sure there is still enough air circulating for any heaters in the room.
Portable heaters still need good ventilation.
Make sure that all chimneys and flues are regularly swept by a competent sweep and kept clear. This includes chimneys being used as flues for gas fires, but is particularly important for solid fuel appliances.
Boilers, heating systems and appliances should be installed, maintained and regularly serviced by a competent Gas Safe Registered engineer.
If you have recently moved, check when your boiler or heating appliances were last serviced.
If you are a tenant, check that your landlord has had all appliances maintained and regularly serviced by a competent Gas Safe Registered Engineer. The landlord must do this annually by law.
Gas flames burning orange or yellow instead of blue may indicate the presence of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide detectors should comply with British Standard BS 7860 - but remember they are only warning devices. Never rely on them entirely and do not use them as a substitute for regular servicing.
Never cook on a barbecue indoors - the charcoal gives off carbon monoxide.
If you develop any of the following unexplained symptoms - drowsiness, headaches, chest pains, giddiness, sickness, diarrhoea, stomach pains - you could be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Rented accommodation and gas appliances

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 place a duty on landlords to make sure that appliances and flues are kept in good order and checked for safety at least once every 12 months. Landlords must also keep a record of previous safety checks and issue the current record to the tenant. If the Landlord refuses to carry out the necessary checks, the tenant should contact the Health and Safety Executive (see number below) which must enforce safety requirements.
Tenants moving into new accommodation should:

Ask to see a copy of the current record of safety checks carried out.
Ensure that safety checks were carried out by a competent Gas Safe Registered engineer.
Not use any gas appliances which they think may be faulty.

If you are looking for private rented accommodation we would strongly recommend that you find your accommodation through the University Accommodation Office. The Accommodation Office maintains a database of available private sector accommodation. All properties will be Accredited - a scheme which guarantees that the landlord has demonstrated that the property meets legal safety standards. For more information, please check Accreditation Scheme in Accommodation

What to do in an emergency

There are three basic steps: Evacuate > Ventilate > Investigate

Evacuate - move the affected person to fresh air
Seek medical help
If the person is not breathing, perform artificial respiration until help arrives
Ventilate the area - turn of the appliance, open windows, doors
Investigate - seek professional help to investigate the source of carbon monoxide and make any necessary repairs.

If you suspect that your gas appliances may be faulty ensure adequate ventilation, open your windows even if it is cold. Ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately. Tell them that you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.

Contacts

Contact The National Grid or phone the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 for gas escapes Alternatively you can contact: A Gas Safe Registered engineer. For details of registered installers contact 01256 372200 or The Environmental Health Department; or The Health and Safety Executive Helpline 0800 300 363.