Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide


EXPOSING AN INVISIBLE KILLER

Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims more than 500 lives and sends another 15,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. The importance of installing carbon monoxide detectors in your home cannot be stressed enough!


UNDERSTANDING THE RISK - WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.


WHERE DOES CARBON MONOXIDE COME FROM?

CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.


WHO IS AT RISK?

Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.


WHAT ACTIONS DO I TAKE IF MY CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM GOES OFF?

What you do depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not.

IF NO ONE IS FEELING ILL:
  1. Silence the alarm.
  2. Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
  3. Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
  4. Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.
IF ILLNESS IS A FACTOR:
  1. Evacuate all occupants immediately.
  2. Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
  3. Call your local emergency number and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
  4. Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
  5. Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM CO POISONING


Install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

View the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Carbon Monoxide Info Sheet

MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 299F.51:

299F.51 REQUIREMENTS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS.
  • Subdivision 1.Generally.Every single family dwelling and every dwelling unit in a multifamily dwelling must have an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes.
  • Subd. 2.Owner's duties.The owner of a multifamily dwelling unit which is required to be equipped with one or more approved carbon monoxide alarms must:
  1. provide and install one approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping; and
  2. replace any required carbon monoxide alarm that has been stolen, removed, found missing, or rendered inoperable during a prior occupancy of the dwelling unit and which has not been replaced by the prior occupant prior to the commencement of a new occupancy of a dwelling unit.
  • Subd. 3.Occupant's duties.The occupant of each dwelling unit in a multifamily dwelling in which an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm has been provided and installed by the owner must:
  1. keep and maintain the device in good repair; and
  2. replace any device that is stolen, removed, missing, or rendered inoperable during the occupancy of the dwelling unit.
  • Subd. 4.Battery removal prohibited.No person shall remove batteries from, or in any way render inoperable, a required carbon monoxide alarm.
  • Subd. 5.Exceptions; certain multifamily dwellings and state-operated facilities.(a) In lieu of requirements of subdivision 1, multifamily dwellings may have approved and operational carbon monoxide alarms installed between 15 and 25 feet of carbon monoxide-producing central fixtures and equipment, provided there is a centralized alarm system or other mechanism for responsible parties to hear the alarm at all times.
  1. An owner of a multifamily dwelling that contains minimal or no sources of carbon monoxide may be exempted from the requirements of subdivision 1, provided that such owner certifies to the commissioner of public safety that such multifamily dwelling poses no foreseeable carbon monoxide risk to the health and safety of the dwelling units.
  2. The requirements of this section do not apply to facilities owned or operated by the state of Minnesota.