CO alarm activation=ring fire brigade..?

C_Mababejive

If a CO alarm fully activates,should one not ring the fire brigade and evacuate the premises?

Fire_Fox

I would have said you need to open the windows, turn the boiler off completely and inform your landlord if renting. CO is a health hazard not an explosion risk like a gas leak.

lemontart

If your alarm goes off continuously do not call the fire brigade, they will only call the gas emergency service to attend - the best advice is turn the gas off at the meter open doors and windows to ventilate the property, turn off all gas appliances until checked by an engineer and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999 (I work for the gas emergency service) It is not standard advice to evacuate but if you feel safer doing so be sure and tell the emergency call handler this and where you will be as the engineer will need access to your property within 2 hrs - he will not go looking for you to gain access so if you can be at a close neighbours say which house number or wait in the car outside the property. But as I said it is not standard to ask you to evacuate in these circumstances,

If bleeping first check the power supply and batteries as guided to do so in the instructions - which you should be doing on a regular basis for your own safety along with those in your smoke alarms. If it is still bleeping after eliminating the batteries power then call the emergency service to come and make you safe until you can get a gas safe engineer to test your appliances.

The National Grid gas emergency service (no such company as Transco for at least 4 yrs ) will send one out free to make you safe and you will then need to get a gas safe registered engineer qualified in combustion analysis to come and test any gas appliances www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Yes it may up costing you but what price do you put on your and your loved ones lives, and on that note please please check the batteries regularly.

C_Mababejive

But if the CO alarm is giving a positive alarm then surely there is a real possibility that the atmosphere within the building is toxic and harmful to human life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide

The CO source may be in your premise or a neighbouring premise. Who is to know?

The safest thing surely is to evacuate immediately.

Who to ring?

The fire brigade of course.

Why?

Because there is a potential chemical/hazardous incident involving a substance which is toxic and harmful to human life.

Why ring "Transco"? The engineer does not have the necessary equipment to test for CO in the atmosphere and further,wouldnt he be foolish to put himself at risk by entering a toxic atmosphere?

What actions could he take to be sure that;
(a) There was/was not CO in the atmposphere
(b) the further risk of CO had been negated by his visit?

Surely Fire Brigade need to attend,enter premises in breathing apparatus,ventilate/make safe/do tests

lemontart

C_Mababejive wrote: »

But if the CO alarm is giving a positive alarm then surely there is a real possibility that the atmosphere within the building is toxic and harmful to human life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide

The CO source may be in your premise or a neighbouring premise. Who is to know?

The safest thing surely is to evacuate immediately.

Who to ring?

The fire brigade of course.

Why?

Because there is a potential chemical/hazardous incident involving a substance which is toxic and harmful to human life.

Why ring "Transco"? The engineer does not have the necessary equipment to test for CO in the atmosphere and further,wouldnt he be foolish to put himself at risk by entering a toxic atmosphere?

What actions could he take to be sure that;
(a) There was/was not CO in the atmposphere
(b) the further risk of CO had been negated by his visit?

Surely Fire Brigade need to attend,enter premises in breathing apparatus,ventilate/make safe/do tests

The fire brigade will as a matter of course call the gas emergency service, they do not always attend themselves as well, any report of the alarm going off to either fire brigade, police or gas supplier will trigger a call to the gas emergency service who's purpose is to make you safe, and the advice I gave in my original post is approved by the health and safety executive if you wish to call the fire brigade that of course is your prerogative but if the gas emergency service is called out they are unlikely to call the fire brigade unless the attending engineer feels it absolutely necessary.

http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Safety/howsafe/
as company National Grid has joined forces with Hollyoaks star James Sutton to help students take action to stay safe after a survey found 70% would not know how to deal with a gas escape.
James, whose Hollyoaks character John Paul McQueen suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in an episode of the hit TV series, is backing National Grid’s campaign to help students avoid a similar fate and to tell them what to do if they smell gas.
And to get students interested, the drive to raise awareness of the issue includes a competition in which students can win a year’s rent money.
Recent research carried out by National Grid found that over 70% of students would not know what to do if they had a gas escape. Nearly 50% did not know how to spot a faulty boiler. So, as the new term begins and around 450,000 new students arrive at university and college – many moving away from home for the first time – National Grid is reminding them of the importance of gas safety.
James explained: “After taking part in last year’s story line where my character was overcome by carbon monoxide, it got me thinking about the importance of recognising the signs of carbon monoxide and what to do if you smell gas.”
He added: “This time of year young people head off to university, many of them moving into rented accommodation. With so many of my mates at Uni, I don’t want them to end up in the same position as my character John Paul. I think it is vital they know what to do and who to call if they smell gas.”

Students are advised to remember these five simple rules if they smell gas:

• Do not smoke or light matches
• Do not turn electrical switches on or off
• Open door and windows
• Turn off the meter at the control valve (unless the smell of gas and the meter are in the cellar, as often this will need a light to be turned on)
• Call the free 24 hour national gas emergency number 0800 111 999* whether the smell is inside or outside the property.
  * Calls are recoded and may be monitored.

Students also need to know how to recognise a faulty gas appliance which could be leaking deadly carbon monoxide, which unlike natural gas has no smell. They should check the landlord has had yearly checks on all gas appliances, and ask to see a safety certificate to show the appliances are in good working order. If the pilot light blows out easily, or if there is a lazy yellow orange flame instead of a blue flame, these are warning signs and the appliance needs to be checked.
”

lemontart

C_Mababejive wrote: »

But if the CO alarm is giving a positive alarm then surely there is a real possibility that the atmosphere within the building is toxic and harmful to human life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide

The CO source may be in your premise or a neighbouring premise. Who is to know?

The safest thing surely is to evacuate immediately.

Who to ring?

The fire brigade of course.

Why?

Because there is a potential chemical/hazardous incident involving a substance which is toxic and harmful to human life.

Why ring "Transco"? The engineer does not have the necessary equipment to test for CO in the atmosphere and further,wouldnt he be foolish to put himself at risk by entering a toxic atmosphere?

What actions could he take to be sure that;
(a) There was/was not CO in the atmposphere
(b) the further risk of CO had been negated by his visit?

Surely Fire Brigade need to attend,enter premises in breathing apparatus,ventilate/make safe/do tests

The fire brigade will as a matter of course call the gas emergency service, they do not always attend themselves as well, any report of the alarm going off to either fire brigade, police or gas supplier will trigger a call to the gas emergency service who's purpose is to make you safe, and the advice I gave in my original post is approved by the health and safety executive if you wish to call the fire brigade that of course is your prerogative but if the gas emergency service is called out they are unlikely to call the fire brigade unless the attending engineer feels it absolutely necessary.

http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Safety/howsafe/
as company National Grid has joined forces with Hollyoaks star James Sutton to help students take action to stay safe after a survey found 70% would not know how to deal with a gas escape.
James, whose Hollyoaks character John Paul McQueen suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in an episode of the hit TV series, is backing National Grid’s campaign to help students avoid a similar fate and to tell them what to do if they smell gas.
And to get students interested, the drive to raise awareness of the issue includes a competition in which students can win a year’s rent money.
Recent research carried out by National Grid found that over 70% of students would not know what to do if they had a gas escape. Nearly 50% did not know how to spot a faulty boiler. So, as the new term begins and around 450,000 new students arrive at university and college – many moving away from home for the first time – National Grid is reminding them of the importance of gas safety.
James explained: “After taking part in last year’s story line where my character was overcome by carbon monoxide, it got me thinking about the importance of recognising the signs of carbon monoxide and what to do if you smell gas.”



Students are advised to remember these five simple rules if they smell gas:

• Do not smoke or light matches
• Do not turn electrical switches on or off
• Open door and windows
• Turn off the meter at the control valve (unless the smell of gas and the meter are in the cellar, as often this will need a light to be turned on)
• Call the free 24 hour national gas emergency number 0800 111 999* whether the smell is inside or outside the property.
  * Calls are recorded and may be monitored.

Students also need to know how to recognise a faulty gas appliance which could be leaking deadly carbon monoxide, which unlike natural gas has no smell. They should check the landlord has had yearly checks on all gas appliances, and ask to see a safety certificate to show the appliances are in good working order. If the pilot light blows out easily, or if there is a lazy yellow orange flame instead of a blue flame, these are warning signs and the appliance needs to be checked.


A co alarm going off is treated the same as a smell of gas so the advice given is the same

”

Premier_2

If your smoke alarm goes off, would you always call the fire brigade? :rolleyes:

lemontart

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/learn/carbon_monoxide_poisoning.aspx?_$ja=kw:co+alarm|cgn:01.+Carbon+Monoxide|cgid:1250717282|tsid:13549|cn:Safety|cid:39526442|lid:98318732|mt:Phrase|nw:search|crid:3704820992|bku:1&gclid=CIy-l6bWjZ4CFQdl4wodzVheqg

more advice on co

BUT PLEASE CHECK YOUR BATTERY ON CO ALARM AND SMOKE ALARM REGULARLY.

C_Mababejive

But if there may be CO in the atmosphere (as indicated by a positive alarm), then surely it could remain present and when the "Transco" man arrives,surely he should not put himself in danger by entering a potentially hazardous atmosphere and also,surely it would be sheer folly for an occupier to remain in the premises if the alarm has sounded? What would happen if the transco man arrived and refused to enter the premise becuase he suspected that the atmosphere might be toxic?

lemontart

C_Mababejive wrote: »

But if there may be CO in the atmosphere (as indicated by a positive alarm), then surely it could remain present and when the "Transco" man arrives,surely he should not put himself in danger by entering a potentially hazardous atmosphere and also,surely it would be sheer folly for an occupier to remain in the premises if the alarm has sounded? What would happen if the transco man arrived and refused to enter the premise becuase he suspected that the atmosphere might be toxic?

1`.it will not be a transco man - they no longer exist, 2 you have been given advice and links to the correct advice on want to do in the event of your alarm going off by people who's job is to make sure you are safe , what you do with that advise is of course your choice but the national gas emergency will send a highly trained qualified registered engineer to make you safe and at no time will he or she put their selves in danger nor leave you in a an unsafe situation as that who not only risk jail for them selves or the operator taking the call such as myself.

All of us who work for the gas emergency service have to past monthly checks, numerous exams and monitoring to ensure we are working safely in the interest of your safety. in line with current legislation and ensuring the advice we give ensures your safety but we cannot force you to follow it that is your choice, and as such if you wish to call the fire brigade that is your choice but we will be attending be it if you call them or us direct. As already stated by others here the National Gas Emergency service is the first point of contact, to come out and make you safe with the operator taking the call advising you on what you need to do to keep you safe until the engineer arrives within 2 hrs of your call.

The advice given is proven to work to ensure your safety,

C_Mababejive

OK i appreciate all the points made but just to condense my two main concerns..
If a CO alarm activates...thus indicating the possible presence of CO..,and leaving aside procedure etc,.....just having a logical discussion..would i be wrong in saying..

a)As the alarm indicates possible CO presence,it would be folly for the occupier to remain in a potentially hazardous atmosphere
b) As the alarm has activated indicating possible CO presence,it would be folly for the "gasman" to enter a potentially hazardous atmosphere and further,as an employee,he has a duty under gthe Health & Safety at Work Act not to endanger himself in such a way

c) The gasman apparantly doesnt carry any CO detection equipment so even when he left my home,he could not positively state that the potential hazard had been removed and that there was no detectable CO.