May 2013 Blog by Mark K. Goldstein, Ph.D. Top CO Safety Tips (1-10)

1. SOURCES: Carbon monoxide (CO) can be generated from fires, fire places, furnaces, generators, power tools, hot water heaters, cooking equipment charcoal grills, vehicles and other 

2. MEDICAL TREATMENT: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible gas. CO is tasteless, odorless and is extremely toxic. CO combines with hemoglobin in the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin which is abbreviated COHb.  The percent of COHb in your blood is a marker for the amount of poisoning you have.  The medical community has determined that over 10% COHb requires treatment using either pure oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen, which is just oxygen under pressure.  You are placed in a steel chamber that is pressurized with a high oxygen concentration.

3. HOW CO POISONS: CO bonds with hemoglobin approximately 250 times stronger than oxygen, which is why only a small amount of CO can cause such severe problems and death.  The symptoms vary dramatically from one person to the next.  That is why carbon monoxide is known as the great imitator.   We often hear that flu like symptoms is the most common but other symptoms are possible.  It can simulate or be mistaken for giddiness or even drunkenness.

Blog by Mark K Goldstein, Ph.D. March 1, 2013

What do the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ‘s new in-field carbon monoxide (CO) testing requirements mean to the average person with one or more standalone CO alarms? 

You do not need to test your alarms.  Not yet.  Only if you have a system carbon monoxide alarm connected to a central panel.  Then you must be sure your installer tests the alarm(s) after installation and annually thereafter.

What does the NFPA 720 requirement mean for professional installers of system carbon monoxide alarms?

More business and more profit will result if you learn how to run these tests.  Quantum will be offering free training on how to conduct these tests at ISC West 2013, Booth #14,143; the date is April 10, 11 &12, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a non-profit, standards writing organization established in 1896, made up of over 70,000 members of fire protection and other life safety experts that write standards on the installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms along with installation and maintenance of most life safety equipment.  NPFA headquarters is located at 1 Battery March, Quincy, MA 02169-7471 with phone 617-770-3000 and fax 617-770-0700.  NPFA’s mission is to “reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.”

by Phil Wright  

Carbon monoxide poisoning during power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy is responsible for five New Jersey deaths, including a 59-year-old Trenton woman found in a house. The generator was left running overnight in the basement. In addition, seven other family members barely escaped death and were hospitalized with serious injuries.  Carbon monoxide attacks the brain and many people never recover their previous mental capabilities. CO poisoning often leads to delayed brain damage (delayed neurological sequelae) effects and even though this phenomena is not well explained. It is seen over and over again in these types of CO poisoning cases. “It is a big problem stated, said Bill Kramer; New Jersey’s acting Fire Marshal (reference Jon Offredo, The Times of Trenton, Nov.17, 2012 and the New York Times Published Nov. 17, 2017).

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission there were about 600 carbon monoxide deaths between 1999 and 2010. “If you do not wake

Blog by Olga Korchyga

Almost 200 people were poisoned by a deadly gas known as carbon monoxide (CO) in hotels in the past 3 years in North America.  Recently eight people were killed by CO in the past three 

Very few states and municipalities require CO alarms in hotels because of a very strong lobbying effort.  Dr. Goldstein, former President of the Carbon Monoxide Health and Safety Association, who testified in Chicago in 1992 and 1993 regarding the need for carbon monoxide alarms in homes, hotels, dormitories and other places where people sleep stated, “the hotel industry opposed us at every step”. 

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have stated that there should be a CO alarm close to every bed. Please see NFPA 720, the 2012 edition, which states you must have 75 dB at every pillow, which means you must put the CO alarm in every bedroom or sleeping area.  If someone closes the bedroom door for any reason a unit in the hall will not meet this NFPA requirement.

Because CO moves very quickly ahead of smoke it is

BLOG by Mark Kingston Goldstein, Ph.D.

CA Bill SB1394 written by Senator Alan Lowenthal

This bill passed the Senate and Assembly and was sent to Governor Brown 8-30-2012.  He is expected to sign the bill but one can never predict Jerry Brown.

This bill, SB1394 does a number of things that will impact smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) Alarms in the near future.

1.       Carbon monoxide alarm impact: The purpose of SB 1394 (Lowenthal) SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AS AMENDED 4/10/2012 is to delay the effective date for hotels and motels. SB183 is the law requiring carbon monoxide alarm in homes, hotel, motels, medical facilities and dormitories, which is effective January 1, 2013.  The carbon monoxide law will be delayed for 3 years for hotels and motels if Governor Jerry Brown signs this bill.

2.       The smoke alarm impact is in 2014.  SB1394 will require battery operated smoke alarms to use a 10 year life battery that are tamper resistant by 2014.

This has been done by the state of Oregon years ago and the technology is now well proven by putting tamper proof lithium batteries onto the circuit board inside the case. The smoke alarm portion of bill SB1394 requires all smoke alarms listed by the California State Fire Marshal shall include:

“1. The date of manufacture of the alarm on each device and provide a place on the alarm that the installer can print the date of installation of the alarm

2. A “hush” feature which silences the device for nuisance