Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that can kill. Appliances that burn fossil fuels, such as gas, can produce carbon monoxide if they have not been properly installed or regularly serviced. All such appliances should be in rooms or locations with adequate ventilation and/or flues.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a chemical compound of carbon and oxygen. It has no colour, taste or smell and is extremely poisonous. CO is formed whenever carbon, such as gas, coal, wood or oil, are burned with an insufficient air supply. This is called incomplete combustion. When CO is inhaled it prevents absorption of oxygen into the body and can result in oxygen starvation. This can have disastrous results, including death, depending on the concentration of CO in the body.
What are the signs to look out for?
Fortunately, although you can’t see or smell the gas, it’s easy to see when there is a strong risk of it being produced. Simply look at your gas or heating appliances.
You can tell if a gas appliance is working correctly by looking at the flame. If it’s bright blue, it’s healthy. If it’s yellowy orange, this is evidence of a possible carbon monoxide presence.
Other signs to look for include brownish-yellow stains around the appliance, pilot lights that frequently blow out and heavy condensation in the room where the appliance is installed.
What can you do to help prevent carbon monoxide accidents?
- Get your gas appliances serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- All appliances should be checked for safety at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you are responsible for your gas appliances (this is likely to be the case if you own your home), npower can arrange for a gas safety check, which in some cases may be undertaken free of charge. See below if you qualify for a free gas safety check.
- Make sure rooms and heaters are well ventilated.
- Have your chimneys and flues checked regularly.
If you do smell gas, then call 0800 111 999 for England, Scotland and Wales.
COCAA
The Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA) was established in response to the All Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group Report on an inquiry into carbon monoxide awareness published in September 2006.
Since then, the Alliance has undergone an intense period of recruitment and consolidation, enabling it to now claim strong representation from all the major energy retailers, industries across different fuel types, victim support charities and carbon monoxide alarm manufacturers. With this support, COCAA can now more effectively pursue its objective of becoming the leading authority on carbon monoxide poisoning, awareness and campaigning.
You may be entitled to a free gas safety check.
A free gas safety check applies to home owners on means tested benefits:
(i) with at least one child under 5;
(ii) who are pensioners, disabled or chronically sick who live (a) alone; (b) with someone under 18; or (c) with others who are all disabled, pensioners or chronically sick.
You must have requested a safety check and shouldn’t have had one within the previous 12 months.
The free gas safety check will be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer; it will include checks on the safety of gas appliances and other gas fittings.
