5
WHAT LEVELS OF CO CAUSE AN ALARM?
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Standard UL2034 requires residential CO
Alarms to sound when exposed to levels of CO and exposure times as
described below. CO levels are measured in parts per million (ppm) of
CO over time (in minutes).
UL2034 Required Alarm Points*:
•
If the alarm is exposed to 400 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
BETWEEN 4 and 15 MINUTES
•
If the alarm is exposed to 150 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
BETWEEN 10 and 50 MINUTES.
•
If the alarm is exposed to 70 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
BETWEEN 60 and 240 MINUTES.
*
Approximately 10% COHb exposure at levels of 10% to 95% Relative
Humidity (RH).
The unit is designed not to alarm when exposed to a constant level
of 30 ppm for 30 days.
CO Alarms are designed to alarm before there is an immediate life
threat. Since you cannot see or smell CO, never assume it’s not present.
•
An exposure to 100 ppm of CO for 20 minutes may not affect
average, healthy adults, but after 4 hours the same level may
cause headaches.
•
An exposure to 400 ppm of CO may cause headaches in average,
healthy adults after 35 minutes, but can cause death after 2 hours.
This CO Alarm measures exposure to CO over time. It alarms if CO
levels are extremely high in a short period of time, or if CO levels reach
a certain minimum over a long period of time. The CO Alarm generally
sounds an alarm before the onset of symptoms in average, healthy adults.
Why is this important? Because you need to be warned of a potential
CO problem while you can still react in time. In many reported cases of
CO exposure, victims may be aware that they are not feeling well, but
become disoriented and can no longer react well enough to exit the
building or get help. Also, young children and pets may be the first
affected. The average healthy adult might not feel any symptoms when
the CO Alarm sounds. However, people with cardiac or respiratory
problems, infants, unborn babies, pregnant mothers, or elderly people
can be more quickly and severely affected by CO. If you experience
even mild symptoms of CO poisoning, consult your doctor immediately!
Standards:
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Single and Multiple Station
carbon monoxide alarms UL2034.
According to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034, Section 1-1.2:
“Carbon monoxide alarms covered by these requirements are intended
to respond to the presence of carbon monoxide from sources such as,
but not limited to, exhaust from internal-combustion engines, abnormal
operation of fuel-fired appliances, and fireplaces. CO Alarms are
intended to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that could
cause a loss of ability to react to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide
exposure.” This CO Alarm monitors the air at the Alarm, and is designed
to alarm before CO levels become life threatening. This allows you
precious time to leave the house and correct the problem. This is only
possible if Alarms are located, installed, and maintained as described in
this manual.
Gas Detection at Typical Temperature and Humidity Ranges:
The CO
Alarm is not formulated to detect CO levels below 30 ppm typically.
UL tested for false alarm resistance to Methane (500 ppm), Butane (300
ppm), Heptane (500 ppm), Ethyl Acetate (200 ppm), Isopropyl Alcohol
(200 ppm) and Carbon Dioxide (5000 ppm). Values measure gas and
vapor concentrations in parts per million.
Audible Alarm:
85 dB minimum at 10 feet (3 meters).
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INC. UL2034
Fuel-burning appliances like:
portable heater, gas or wood
burning fireplace, gas kitchen
range or cooktop, gas clothes
dryer.
Damaged or insufficient
venting:
corroded or discon-
nected water heater vent pipe,
leaking chimney pipe or flue,
or cracked heat exchanger,
blocked or clogged chimney
opening.
Improper use of appliance/
device:
operating a barbecue
grill or vehicle in an enclosed
area (like a garage or screened
porch).
Transient CO Problems:
“transient” or on-again-off-again CO problems
can be caused by outdoor conditions and other special circumstances.
The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:
1.
Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel appliances caused by
outdoor conditions such as:
•
Wind direction and/or velocity, including high, gusty winds. Heavy
air in the vent pipes (cold/humid air with extended periods
between cycles).
•
Negative pressure differential resulting from the use of exhaust fans.
•
Several appliances running at the same time competing for limited
fresh air.
•
Vent pipe connections vibrating loose from clothes dryers,
furnaces, or water heaters.
•
Obstructions in or unconventional vent pipe designs which can
amplify the above situations.
2.
Extended operation of unvented fuel burning devices (range, oven,
fireplace).
3.
Temperature inversions, which can trap exhaust close to the ground.
4.
Car idling in an open or closed attached garage, or near a home.
These conditions are dangerous because they can trap exhaust in your
home. Since these conditions can come and go, they are also hard to
recreate during a CO investigation.
POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CO IN THE HOME
This CO Alarm is intended for residential use. It is not intended for
use in industrial applications where Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requirements for carbon monoxide detectors
must be met.
CO Alarms may not waken all individuals.
If children or others do not
readily waken to the sound of the CO Alarm, or if there are infants or
family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is
assigned to assist them in the event of an emergency.
CO Alarms will not work without power.
This CO Alarm requires a con-
tinuous supply of AC power. Plug into an unswitched 120V AC outlet only.
CO Alarms for Solar or Wind Energy users and battery backup
power systems:
AC powered CO Alarms should only be operated with
true or pure sine wave inverters. Operating this CO Alarm with most
battery-powered UPS (uninterruptible power supply) products or square
wave or “quasi sine wave” inverters
will damage the Alarm
. If you are
not sure about your inverter or UPS type, please consult with the
manufacturer to verify.
This CO Alarm will not sense carbon monoxide that does not reach
the sensor.
This CO Alarm will only sense CO at the sensor. CO may be
present in other areas. Doors or other obstructions may affect the rate at
which CO reaches the CO Alarm. For this reason, if bedroom doors are
usually closed at night, we recommend you install a CO Alarm in each
bedroom and in the hallway between them.
CO Alarms may not sense CO on another level of the home.
For
example, a CO Alarm on the second level, near the bedrooms, may not
sense CO in the basement. For this reason, one CO Alarm may not give
adequate warning. Complete coverage is recommended. Place CO
Alarms on each level of the home.
CO Alarms may not be heard.
The alarm horn loudness meets or
exceeds current UL standards of 85 dB at 10 feet (3 meters). However, if
the CO Alarm is installed outside the bedroom, it may not wake up a
sound sleeper or one who has recently used drugs or has been drinking
alcoholic beverages. This is especially true if the door is closed or only
partly open. Even persons who are awake may not hear the alarm horn
if the sound is blocked by distance or closed doors. Noise from traffic,
stereo, radio, television, air conditioner, or other appliances may also
prevent alert persons from hearing the alarm horn. This CO Alarm is not
intended for people who are hearing impaired.
CO Alarms are not a substitute for a smoke alarm.
Although fire is a
source of carbon monoxide, this CO Alarm does not sense smoke or fire.
This CO Alarm senses CO that may be escaping unnoticed from
malfunctioning furnaces, appliances, or other sources. Early warning of
fire requires the installation of smoke alarms.
CO Alarms are not a substitute for life insurance.
Though these CO
Alarms warn against increasing CO levels, BRK Brands, Inc. does not
warrant or imply in any way that they will protect lives from CO poisoning.
Homeowners and renters must still insure their lives.
CO Alarms have a limited life.
Although the CO Alarm and all of its
parts have passed many stringent tests and are designed to be as
reliable as possible, any of these parts could fail at any time. Therefore,
you must test your CO Alarm weekly.
CO Alarms are not foolproof.
Like all other electronic devices, CO
Alarms have limitations. They can only detect CO that reaches their
sensors. They may not give early warning to rising CO levels if the CO
is coming from a remote part of the home, away from the CO Alarm.
GENERAL LIMITATIONS OF CO ALARMS
