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POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CO IN THE HOME
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 disconnected water
heater vent pipe, leaking chimney pipe or flue, or cracked heat exchang-
er, 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.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FAMILY?
A CO Alarm is an excellent means of protection. It monitors the air and
sounds a loud alarm before carbon monoxide levels become threatening
for average, healthy adults.
A CO Alarm is not a substitute for proper maintenance of home
appliances.
To help prevent CO problems and reduce the risk of CO poisoning:
•
Clean chimneys and flues yearly. Keep them free of debris, leaves,
and nests for proper air flow. Also, have a professional check for
rust and corrosion, cracks, or separations. These conditions can
prevent proper air movement and cause backdrafting. Never “cap”
or cover a chimney in any way that would block air flow.
•
Test and maintain all fuel-burning equipment annually. Many
local gas or oil companies and HVAC companies offer appliance
inspections for a nominal fee.
•
Make regular visual inspections of all fuel-burning appliances.
Check appliances for excessive rust and scaling. Also check the
flame on the burner and pilot lights. The flame should be blue.
A yellow flame means fuel is not being burned completely and CO
may be present. Keep the blower door on the furnace closed. Use
vents or fans when they are available on all fuel-burning appliances.
Make sure appliances are vented to the outside. Do not grill or
barbecue indoors, or in garages or on screen porches.
•
Check for exhaust backflow from CO sources. Check the draft hood
on an operating furnace for a backdraft. Look for cracks on furnace
heat exchangers.
•
Check the house or garage on the other side of shared wall.
•
Keep windows and doors open slightly. If you suspect that CO is
escaping into your home, open a window or a door. Opening
windows and doors can significantly decrease CO levels.
In addition, familiarize yourself with all enclosed materials. Read
this manual in its entirety, and make sure you understand what to
do if your CO Alarm sounds.
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INC. UL2034
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 15% 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.
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: 85dB minimum at 10 feet (3 meters).
GENERAL LIMITATIONS OF CO ALARMS
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 continuous
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 invert-
ers. 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 sens-
es 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.
