Carbon Monoxide
Faulty heating appliances
Keeping warm is vital. Unfortunately, heating appliances are one of the most common causes of injury and death in the home. The majority of accidents occur because of human behaviour. If users don’t follow simple safety rules, heating appliances can kill.
This section examines one of the major sources of accidental injury in the home caused by heating appliances through Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide
More than 50 home deaths result every year from CO poisoning caused by faulty heating appliances.
What is it?
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It can be given off by appliances that burn fossil fuels such as gas, coal, wood or oil, if they’re not working properly, if the flue is blocked in any way, or if the room is not properly ventilated.
Why is it so dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless and tasteless, which makes it difficult to detect. However its effects are deadly. On average, 50 people a year are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty heating appliances.
What are the main causes of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Most cases of carbon monoxide poisoning are due to inadequate ventilation or poor maintenance of appliances, blocked or leaky flues and chimneys. Chimneys can become blocked for various reasons. It could be as a result of birds nesting on the chimney, or possible degradation of the flue. A blocked 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, which included both the appliance and the flue, is faulty or the room is not properly ventilated. Also, some people associate carbon monoxide poisoning with rented accommodation – in fact, more people are killed in owner-occupied rather than rented properties.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
A typical scenario is a living room with a solid fuel heater. The windows and doors have been draught-proofed and the permanent ventilation has been blocked up (by the victim) to prevent draughts. The chimney and flue have not been swept for years. The victim may not have carried out the regular maintenance of their appliance, like cleaning the throat plate monthly, let alone had the appliance serviced professionally. There may be soot deposits at the appliance outlet, or bits of the flue lining may have broken away and tumbled down to the appliance outlet. The weather is cold and the fire is not drawing well, so the victim opens the fire door to get more heat. This compounds the problem. The victim becomes drowsy, falls asleep, and doesn’t wake up again.
General awareness of the danger of carbon monoxide is reasonably high among the general public, but practical and specific knowledge is low:
- Awareness is largely limited to gas – very few people associate carbon monoxide with other fossil fuels. Over half (56 per cent) think that a coal fire cannot cause carbon monoxide poisoning, or simply do not know.
- One in ten people cannot name any potential sources of carbon monoxide in their home.
- Just one in four (27 per cent) is aware that poor ventilation can result in a build-up of carbon monoxide.
- Over one in three do not know what colour a flame on a gas boiler will burn if there are traces of carbon monoxide (orange or yellow). One in twenty thinks that it actually should burn orange or yellow, rather than blue.
People do not necessarily take the recommended safety precautions to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in their home:
- Three in ten households with a gas boiler or heating system have not had it serviced in the last year. This is a particular problem among owner-occupiers.
- Just one in five households (22 per cent) with a chimney in use has had it swept in the last year, and 58 per cent have not done so in the last four years, including 8 per cent who have never had it swept.
The danger signs
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.
- You develop the following unexplained symptoms:
- tiredness
- drowsiness
- headaches
-
dizziness
-
chest pains
-
nausea
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 do not need a flue, but they 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 and heating systems and appliances should be installed, maintained and regularly serviced by a competent engineer (make sure they are CORGI-registered for gas appliances).
- If you have recently moved, check when your boiler or heating appliances were last serviced.
- 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. Switch off your appliances and see your doctor at once.
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.
Tenants moving into new accommodation should:
- Demand to see a copy of the current record of safety checks carried out.
- Ensure that safety checks were carried by a CORGI-registered engineer.
- Not use any gas appliances which they think may be unsafe.
- Not attempt do-it-yourself work on appliances.
Solid fuel appliances
Tenants should:
- Check that air vents are present and open and not blocked in rooms that have solid fuel appliances
- Check that chimneys and flues have been swept in the last year – even if burning smokeless fuel.
- Ensure that ash has been emptied regularly – if ash is allowed to build up, the fire may not burn properly and this may also damage the appliance. Have appliances regularly serviced by a qualified heating engineer.
75 Marine Terrace
Blyth
Northumberland
NE24 2BX
Phone: 01670 542542