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The following are common symptoms related to carbon monoxide poisoning, based on
healthy adults, and should be discussed with all members of the household:
• Mild Exposure: Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (often described as “Flu-
like” symptoms).
•
Medium Exposure: Severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, fast heat rate.
•
Extreme Exposure: Unconsciousness, cardiorespiratory failure, death.
The dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning vary with the concentration of CO in the
air and the duration of exposure. As a result of this, the Standard EN 50291-1:2018
governing domestic carbon monoxide alarms defines the following alarm response
requirements:
30ppm
Without alarm before 120 minutes
50ppm
Alarm triggered between 60 to 90 minutes
100ppm Alarm triggered between 10 to 40 minutes
300ppm Alarm triggered less than 3 minutes
