Scroll back in time through our archives for previous CO News links.
We can learn from others mistakes and efforts
to prevent poisoning.
"Turn! Turn! Turn!" - The Byrds - music link
Who is responsible?
“I
would have had my combustion system checked if there was a law that said I had
to do it.” Something like this has been quoted lately by someone who was
responsible for the system that was inside a public building and a person died
and many more were affected by the poison carbon monoxide (CO). (Watch and
listen to it for yourself in a news link below if you wish.)
There
are many public business owners who might take heed of this, and take responsibility,
do the right thing and get the heating systems they are responsible for checked
out and inspected as soon as possible. But you know many won’t. And even if
they do, how well done are the inspections?
The
manufacturer’s instructions and mechanical codes cover it all, but does each
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) company perform with consistency, and measure that all performance criteria
has been verified through testing and best practices? No they don’t and not
many seem to. Do code officials require verification that the equipment is
performing to manufacturer specifications? No, it is up to each technician and
the company doing the work.
There
are many heating technicians and engineers that install and service gas furnaces as an
example, who do not do a very thorough job when it comes to heating system
analysis and inspections. Many do not check for gas leaks on every job, nor do
they use a simple manometer to measure the fuel pressure to the burner, a vital
performance measurement. A furnace that is over fired or under fired can
produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide and does not need to produce the
poison.
An
adjustment of fuel pressure while measuring the hot, combustion gasses for
carbon monoxide and oxygen can assist the technician in establishing a safe and
efficient burn. The measurement of the exhaust pressures during this process
can help assure the system will vent or exhaust the gasses thoroughly out of
the system and building.
If
the vent pressure is monitored through measurement during additional tests when other mechanical
exhaust fans are on and running, and the air delivery duct and building
pressures are included in the performance safety test of the process, there are
more assurances the system will run safely. This more complete process doesn’t
take a lot of time for the knowledgeable and practicing technician.
HVAC
business owners ask yourselves, “How good a job are my people doing in the
field? Are they using combustion analysis and full performance testing
procedures on every system we get paid to work on? Are we giving the customer
what they think they are paying for?”
Instructors
of HVAC technicians also have to be knowledgeable to teach these simple
practices and have the means to do this in their school testing labs.
Instructors ask yourselves, “How good a job am I doing to prepare my
technicians? How much time do they get in individual practice in testing a
combustion system thoroughly? What is the quality of their testing devices that
the school provides? Do you have enough working systems to make it a quality
program?”
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning to yourself and others.
Measure carbon monoxide for safety and knowledge. The more you test the more
you learn. Measurement is education at its best. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
CO and Air Quality News Links
Brothers die from carbon monoxide poisoning in Chehalis KING5.com
CHEHALIS, Wash. -- Twin 80-year-old brothers were apparently overcome by carbon monoxide while working on an antique car in a closed garage in ...
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Possible Cause For Family Death In Pocatello
KMVT ( KMVT-TV / KSVT-TV )
Pocatello, Idaho - Police in Pocatello are investigating the deaths of multiple persons this Monday morning. Authorities say the ...
Carbon monoxide victims survive; apparently ran out of LP gas
WEAU
Investigators say all of the victims of carbon monoxide-related injuries at a home near Arcadia have survived. They made the comments ...
LI lawmakers seek mandatory carbon monoxide detectors in state
Newsday
Long Island lawmakers are calling for the mandatory installation of carbon monoxide detectors at businesses statewide following a leak at a ...
Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning
WALB-TV
Carbon monoxide gas killed a man and injured dozens of others at a New York restaurant. But there are ways to detect it and prevent it from leaking ...
Weak Government Regulations Made Me Do It, Legal Sea Foods CEO Claims About Carbon ...
Hit & Run ⋅ Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Over the weekend, a carbon monoxide leak in a Long Island Legal Sea Foods restaurant resulted in 27 hospitalizations and one death. Now the head ...
Update
Victim in apparent carbon monoxide death identified
Maryville Daily Times
The Blount County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation in the death of a woman from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning…
Who is responsible for
the air you breathe?
The
lowest U.L. 2034
& CSA 6.19 carbon monoxide alarm test point is:
- 70 PPM to 149 PPM –resist one hour, must alarm before 4 hours
Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions. Know when your fire department and emergency responders begin wearing their breathing apparatus and what their civilian evacuation levels are for carbon monoxide; it may be before 70 PPM. It is for pregnant women, infants & children, the elderly and all people of vulnerable health. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
Consider low level protection for carbon monoxide and smoldering fire detection problems; don't leave anyone behind.
These following links may be of some use to you:
- 70 PPM to 149 PPM –resist one hour, must alarm before 4 hours
Please read the alarm information on the package and in the instructions. Know when your fire department and emergency responders begin wearing their breathing apparatus and what their civilian evacuation levels are for carbon monoxide; it may be before 70 PPM. It is for pregnant women, infants & children, the elderly and all people of vulnerable health. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
Consider low level protection for carbon monoxide and smoldering fire detection problems; don't leave anyone behind.
These following links may be of some use to you:
- The
World Clock - Time Zones
- Google Maps -
- Earthquake Map
World population counter
- American Red Cross
- Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
- Heart Rescue using an (AED)
- Current Data for Atmospheric CO2
- Federal Aviation Administration CO warning
- Carbon monoxide toxicity-Emergency Medicine Ireland
- Carbon Monoxide Survivor- Views from those who have been poisoned.
- Carbon Monoxide detection- National Fire Protection Association
Increased education, awareness can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning Minnesota Department of Commerce
- Google Maps -
- Earthquake Map
World population counter
- American Red Cross
- Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
- Heart Rescue using an (AED)
- Current Data for Atmospheric CO2
- Federal Aviation Administration CO warning
- Carbon monoxide toxicity-Emergency Medicine Ireland
- Carbon Monoxide Survivor- Views from those who have been poisoned.
- Carbon Monoxide detection- National Fire Protection Association
Increased education, awareness can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning Minnesota Department of Commerce
· Please take CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CARE during all holiday and everyday activities.
National Conference of State Legislatures
Carbon Monoxide Detectors State Statutes
Twenty-seven U.S. states have statutes that require carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential buildings. Updated Nov. 2011 Alaska | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Florida |Georgia | Illinois | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts| Michigan
|Minnesota | Montana | New
Jersey | New
Hampshire | New
York
|North
Carolina | Oregon | Rhode
Island | Texas | Utah
| Vermont |Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | West
Virginia
The following companies are acknowledged for their continued support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for.
Fieldpiece Instruments
The Energy Conservatory
IntelliTec Colleges CO Experts CO-Experts Model 2014 Brochure
Masimo (See the non-invasive RAD-57)
Mahugh Fire & Safety
ESCO Institute
TPI - Test Products International
Red Cross - Typhoon
Appeal continues in the
Philippines. Another please, with hopes of another thank you. Bob Dwyer, CSME
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Red Cross - Disaster
Relief to safely assist
law enforcement, fire department, utility company, city, county and state
authorities as repair and rebuilding moves forward. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon
Monoxide Safety
Nationally, the Red Cross
provides food and shelter to people affected by as many as 70,000 fires
annually, or about one fire every eight minutes.
The following companies are acknowledged for their continued support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for.
Fieldpiece Instruments
The Energy Conservatory
IntelliTec Colleges CO Experts CO-Experts Model 2014 Brochure
Masimo (See the non-invasive RAD-57)
Mahugh Fire & Safety
ESCO Institute
TPI - Test Products International
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