CO alarms now compulsory with wood burning stoves
These pages are where HSfB gives you the opportunity to talk about any subject you are interested in or any that you may specialise in relating to health, safety and the environment.
If you wish to write an article for HSfB or if you would like to publish an article you have written on HSfB, please contact us.
Subscribe to our HSfB Blog RSS Feed to be alerted when a new article is published:
Published on 22 October 2010
The discovery creating fire for the purpose of burning wood is regarded as one of humanity's most important advances. The controlled use of fire was an invention of the Early Stone Age that allowed fire to be used for cooking, making tools and heating for early man.
However, 164,000 years later we now know that burning biomass, or any other fuel, in inappropriate, or badly maintained equipment, or under poor operating conditions can give rise to a number of potential emissions. These can run the risk of dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. The affects of this hidden killer is worryingly similar to a viral cold and flu infections or food poisoning, such as: headache, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, sore throat and dry cough. In children, the symptoms are similar to those of a stomach upset, with nausea and vomiting.
Thankfully from October 1 st 2010 the newly published Building Regulations Approved Document J “Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems” sets out a number of new legal requirements in England and Wales. For the first time carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are mandatory “where a new or replacement fixed solid fuel appliance is installed in a dwelling, a CO alarm should be provided in the room where the appliance is located.”
The regulations specify that the carbon monoxide alarms must comply with BS EN 50291:2001 and have a battery designed to operate for the working life of the alarm. They should also incorporate a warning device to alert users when the working life of the alarm is about to expire. It is vitally important make sure carbon monoxide alarms meet all the requirements of Building Regulation J.
Guidance about the alarm fitting is clarified within Regulation J. CO alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 300mm from any wall. If they have to be located on a wall then the alarm should be positioned as high up as possible, located above doors and windows and 1 to 3m horizontally from the appliance.
This new amendment should ensure a drastic drop in the numbers of deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning from wood burning stoves.
This is article was contributed by FireAngel.