Europe's Leading Manufacturer
rbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms
3
Service & Availability
At Aico we believe the very best alarm technology should be
accompanied by the very best support possible. We offer
unrivalled product information for specifiers, installers and end users
of our products.
On the ground we have an experienced regionally based
technical sales team, a highly trained customer services
department and a responsive sales office. Our products are
distributed to the trade locally via most electrical wholesalers
throughout the UK. Expert training and on site installation advice is
readily available.
What are the effects of CO poisoning?
Carbon Monoxide poisoning can have a very serious, even fatal,
effect on the body. Unfortunately, most people are unaware that a
relatively low level of CO exposure for a prolonged period can
have the same effect as a high level of CO exposure for a short
period. A major problem is that the symptoms of CO poisoning can
easily be confused with other common illnesses - such as cold and
flu. The table details the effects of cumulative CO exposure.
Is there any evidence of CO in
the home?
In January 2006, the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies at the
University College London, in partnership with Guys & St. Thomas
Hospital, carried out a survey into indoor CO exposure. It was
found that 18% of the homes monitored had CO levels that
exceeded the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) guidelines.
32 Members of Parliament report to
the Government on the dangers of
CO poisoning
The publication of a report by the
House of Commons All Party
Parliamentary Gas Safety Group (APPGSG)
in September
2006 has once again raised serious questions concerning the
dangers of CO poisoning in the home. The report titled “
Shouting
about a silent killer: Raising carbon monoxide awareness” looks
at all aspects of the dangers that CO can create and makes
proposals on what action should be taken to address these
issues. As the title suggests, the main focus is on raising awareness
of CO and its dangers with the general public, but it makes
some very pertinent comments for Landlords to take into serious
consideration:
Excerpts from APPGSG Report 14th September 2006
• Too many people continue to be harmed or even killed as a
result of this entirely preventable problem.
• One death from CO poisoning is one too many.
• Improving CO detection by emergency workers and
increasing the number of reliable CO detectors in the home is
key to the fight to tackle CO poisoning incidents. Every home
should have a CO detector with an audible alarm. We call on
mortgage and insurance companies to investigate whether
requiring all homes to have such an alarm should be part of
granting a mortgage or insurance cover.
CO Parts
per
million
Symptoms
Ei Alarm
Response
time
5 0 p p m
Shortness of breath on
physical exertion, tightness
felt across forehead.
Within 90
mins
1 5 0 p p m
Headache after 1 hr.
Within 40
mins
2 0 0 p p m
Headache, fatigue, dizziness,
nausea after 2-3hrs.
Within 40
mins
4 0 0 p p m
Frontal headache within 1-
2hrs, life threatening after
3hrs.
Within 3
mins
8 0 0 p p m
Dizziness, nausea &
convulsions within 45
minutes. Unconsciousness
Within 3
mins
1,600pp Headache, dizziness & nausea
within 20 minutes. Death
within 1hr.
Within 3
mins
3,200pp Headache, dizziness & nausea
within 5-10 minutes. Death
within 25-30 minutes.
Within 3
mins
6,400pp
Headache, dizziness & nausea
within 1-2 minutes. Death
within 10-15 minutes.
Within 3
mins
• The HSE has an important role to play. We press the HSE to
introduce a zero-fatality target on CO poisoning.
• Stacy Rogers [Dominic Rogers Trust] proposed that CO
detectors should be a mandatory requirement for all rented
accommodation.