Blog

Submitted by lesenochek on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 21:28

After years of opposition from the American Gas Association and others, the ASRAE Supplement to Standard 62.2-2010 requiring carbon monoxide alarms passes.  Section 6.9 of the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Standard now requires CO alarms to be installed, located and maintained in accordance with NFPA Standard 720 the standard for the installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detection and warning equipment.  CO alarms must be installed within single-family houses and multi-family structures that are three stories or less.  NFPA 720 allows either CO systems or stand-alone alarms to be installed. This supplement can be found on the ASHRAE website. 

There are 30 states with some form of state legislation and 58 municipalities with ordinances requiring the installation of CO alarms. The requirements in some states include multistory buildings, hotels and apartments such as New York, Vermont, New Jersey and Florida. Other states have only requirements for nursing homes such as Texas and Tennessee.  However, most states require CO alarms in single family homes.

Submitted by lesenochek on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 00:54

Are Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Regulations Saving Lives? Data to Quell the Controversy

By Mark K. Goldstein, Ph.D.

The data presented below show that Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are proven to save lives. Regulations to require CO detectors can help prevent death and injuries, and they make sense economically. As long as we continue to use fossil fuels, we will continue to have CO accidents of various types.  Although increased awareness and improved technology has reduced fatalities, CO poisoning continues to be the leading cause of poisoning death (1).  Widespread, CO injuries and health effects are major causes of suffering and economic loss (1-15). 

A look at the evidence of some sample studies indicated the widespread nature of CO health impacts.  Michael Dolan at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, found that 23.6% of those diagnosed by emergency room doctors with the flu actually had CO poisoning (16).  Dr. Paul Heckerling, University of Illinois hospital in Chicago, found 15% of those with headaches had CO poisoning (17).  According to Cobb and Etzel, of the CDC, 56,133 CO fatalities occurred over a 10-year period from 1979 to 1988.  About 15,000 deaths were fire related, 11,547 motor vehicle related and 5,000 residential appliance related (1). Dr.

Submitted by lesenochek on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 19:59

San Diego, CA  –  Thanks to new state laws in the Western USA, homes and structures with a room used for sleeping must have a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm installed within 15 feet of each bedroom.  There are now over thirty five (35) states that have passed some form of legislation to prevent CO deaths.

Carbon monoxide is the number one cause of accidental poisoning death in America. Carbon monoxide cannot be detected by sight, smell, taste or hearing, yet everyone is at risk because it is emitted by anything that burns fuel. Carbon monoxide can come from faulty, disconnected or improperly installed venting systems, clogged chimneys, fuel burning appliances like water heaters, stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, or a car left running in an attached garage.  In addition, CO causes about 60 to 70% of all fire deaths.  Most people died from CO before the fire burns them.

In past years, many people have wisely purchased carbon monoxide detectors for their homes. But because common household cleaning products and laundry detergents contain ingredients that often falsely activated many existing alarm technologies, frustrated consumers frequently disconnected these alarms.  Now, a proven false-alarm free carbon monoxide alarm has been developed and marketed by Quantum Group Inc.

The Quantum Guardian® Carbon Monoxide Alarm utilizes a solid-state infrared design.