Dec 12, 2011

Carbon Monoxide Detector

A carbon monoxide detector is used to detect the presence of elevated levels of carbon monoxide inside homes and office buildings. Many states mandate the use of such detectors in schools, hospitals and other public buildings. A growing number of states and local communities also strongly recommend or even mandate the use of a carbon monoxide detector near sleeping areas in homes and apartment complexes.

Carbon Monoxide Risks

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can be lethal when inhaled in sufficient quantity. Trace amounts of the gas is often found in most homes, especially in areas such as the garage, in the basement or near the furnace room. The gas can sometimes rise to dangerous levels without the occupants of the home or commercial building even noticing it. Such a situation typically results when the gas starts leaking from poorly maintained fuel-burning stoves, furnaces and ovens. Exposure to high-levels of carbon monoxide for a sustained period of time can have serious repercussions on your health and, in some cases, may even result in death.

Maximum Exposure Levels

A carbon monoxide detector can reduce the risk of such poisoning by raising an alarm when the amount of carbon monoxide in a particular area rises above a certain level. CO levels are measured in terms of the number of carbon monoxide particles present per million parts of air (ppm). Generally, CO levels of 50 ppm or higher for a sustained period of time, is considered dangerous.

US Standards for CO Alerting

A carbon monoxide detector is designed to detect and alert when the air contains more than a predetermined level of the gas within a specific area over a specific time. In the US, a carbon monoxide detector will sound an alarm if it detects the presence of 30 ppm or more of CO for more than 30 days. The device will sound an alarm if it detects 70 ppm or more of carbon monoxide for more than four hours at a stretch. The alarm will be triggered within 45 minutes if the device detects more than 150 ppm of CO, and in less than 15 minutes if more than 400 ppm of the gas is present in an area.

Proper Installation of CO Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors can be potentially life-saving devices, but care needs to be taken to install them properly. If you are planning on installing CO detectors in your home, consider the following tips:

For maximum safety, place a carbon monoxide detector no more than 15 feet away from all sleeping areas in your home, just like installing a fire alarm system.
The detector should, ideally, be attached to a wall at a height of about 5 feet above the floor. It should not be installed over, or close to, any fuel-burning appliance.
If you are going to be installing just one detector per floor in your home, make sure to set the alert to its loudest level so that it is audible throughout the house.
Carbon monoxide detectors are available as hard-wired models, or as battery-powered devices. If you decide to install battery-powered detectors, make sure to check and replace the batteries on a regular basis.
Test the alarms at least one per month if the detector is hardwired, and at least once a week if it is battery powered.
Carbon monoxide detectors are also a standard service offered by most home security systems.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous but often underestimated threat to individual health and safety. A carbon monoxide detector offers a relatively easy and inexpensive way to mitigate this threat.

Home Security News

Installing a Home Security System?

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