Carbon Monoxide Safety Information; General Co Information; Possible Sources - Kidde KN-COPE-DCA User Manual

Carbon Monoxide Safety Information

General CO Information

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless
poison gas that can be fatal when inhaled. CO inhibits the
blood's capacity to carry oxygen.

Possible Sources

CO can be produced when burning any fossil fuel: gasoline,
propane, natural gas, oil and wood. It can be produced by
any fuel-burning appliance that is malfunctioning,
improperly installed, or not ventilated correctly. Possible
sources include furnaces, gas ranges/stoves, gas clothes
dryers, water heaters, portable fuel burning space heaters,
fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and certain swimming pool
heaters. Blocked chimneys or flues, back drafting and
changes in air pressure, corroded or disconnected vent
pipes, and a loose or cracked furnace exchanger can also
cause CO. Vehicles and other combustion engines running
in an attached garage and using a charcoal/gas grill or
hibachi in an enclosed area are all possible sources of CO.
The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:
Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel-burning
appliances caused by outdoor ambient conditions such as:
Wind direction and/or velocity, including high gusts of wind,
heavy air in the vent pipes (cold/humid air with extended
periods between cycles), negative pressure differential
resulting from the use of exhaust fans, simultaneous
operation of several fuel-burning appliances competing for
limited internal air, vent pipe connections vibrating loose
from clothes dryers, furnaces, or water heaters, obstructions
in, or unconventional, vent pipe designs which can amplify
the above situations, extended operation of unvented fuel-
burning devices (range, oven, fireplace, etc.), temperature
inversions which can trap exhaust gasses near the ground,
car idling in an open or closed attached garage, or near a
home.
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