carbon monoxide alarms

mancitychick

I have decided that I really should of bought one of these before now and am going to order the one from lloyds pharmacy on another thread.

My question is where best to put the alarm. We have an integeral garage (my sons bedroom is above the garage) and our boiler is located in the garage. There is not a door from the utility room into the garage you can only enter the garage from outside.

Do I put it in my sons room or in the utility room - which is at the back of the garage or does it go in the garage?

Sorry so many questions. Hopefully someone can help.

Cheers

EliteHeat

The purpose of CO detectors is (obviously) to detect the presence of carbon monoxide in a living space.

CO is caused by incomplete ignition of gas or other fuels and is usually caused by insufficient oxygen. Complete ignition generates no carbon monoxide whatsoever. A shortage of oxygen is almost always due to a lack of adequate ventilation.

CO detectors are most valuable in living areas fitted with 'open-flued' appliances. O/F appliances use the same air that you breathe to achieve ignition. All oxygen used needs to be replaced immediately and this must always be supplied from outside air. The ratio of oxygen in normal atmosphere is 1:5 or 20%. Therefore, if an appliance uses 1 cubic metre of oxygen it will actually require 5 cubic metres of normal 'air' - this is achieved via purpose built ventilation direct or indirect to the outside of the property.

If 'air' is not replaced whilst the appliance is burning, less and less oxygen is available for the combustion process. As this happens more and more carbon monoxide is generated as a result of incomplete ignition.

This is what kills you.

In your case there are a few important clues that determine if you need a CO detector.

• First, all modern boilers are designated 'room sealed' - this means that they get the oxygen required for ignition from outside the living space. All fanned flue boilers are room sealed, so if yours has a fan then it is R/S, or, safe.

• Second, your boiler is not in a living space and is sealed from all other living spaces.

Therefore, in summary, you do not need a CO detector but if you want absolute assurance just post the make and model of your boiler and someone will tell you if it is room sealed or not.

maninthestreet

You can put it in the garage - then it will give you the earliest warning that your boiler is emitting CO fumes. I assume you will be able to here the alarm from inside the house.

moonrakerz

Make sure that you get a CO ALARM (£30) not a CO detector (£2) !

mancitychick

I thought I had read about a boy who died as the fumes (overtime) can through his wall from the ginnel under his room.

I don't think I would be able to hear the alarm from the garage, as althought its an integeral garage it has no door in to it from the house. The only door being the main up and over door.

The boiler was 2 years old in Oct 07 and it is a Vaillant ecotec (8 something - not sure of top of my head).

Canucklehead

Good morning: Your Vaillant is a room sealed appliance..further advice available here... http://www.trustcorgi.com/carbonmonoxidekills/FitAnAudibleCarbonMonoxideAlarm.htmx

HTH

Canucklehead

seven-day-weekend

We have a CO alarm in the kitchen where there is the boiler and the hob, and these are our only two gas appliances. The boiler vents through the roof (single story kitchen). The boiler is nearly ten years old (Vaillant)

A man from British Gas fitted the alarm when he came to service the boiler.

He has fitted it inside the casement of a velux roof window which is quite near the boiler and hob.

I assume this is the optimum place for it??

ormus

i would fit the alarm in the childs bedroom and install a simple detector in the garage.
my reasoning is that when you open the garage door, any possible danger will disappear. and a detector will tell you if theres a problem.
(assuming you are not in the habit of working in the garage with the doors closed).

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: Best advice is to follow the manufacturer's instructions eg. http://www.diconsafety.co.uk/downloads/2502_a0041.pdf

HTH

Canucklehead

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

We have a CO alarm in the kitchen where there is the boiler and the hob, and these are our only two gas appliances. The boiler vents through the roof (single story kitchen). The boiler is nearly ten years old (Vaillant)

A man from British Gas fitted the alarm when he came to service the boiler.

He has fitted it inside the casement of a velux roof window which is quite near the boiler and hob.

I assume this is the optimum place for it??

kez1234

saw them in lloyds pharmacy today .

seven-day-weekend

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good afternoon: Best advice is to follow the manufacturer's instructions eg. http://www.diconsafety.co.uk/downloads/2502_a0041.pdf

HTH

Canucklehead

Thanks Canucklehead

I haven't actually seen the instructions as this is my UK house which is lived n by my son and two other young men. I live in Spain.

I ordered the CO detector on the internet to be delivered to my UK house and my son mentioned it to the British Gas man when he serviced the boiler, and the gas man installed it.

I assume he's done it correctly!