User's Manual
Symptoms of CO poisoning
Approximate inhalation time
and symptoms developed
The maximum allowable concentration for continuous exposure in any 8 h
period according to OSHA, Occupational Safety & Health Association.
Slight headache after 1.5 h.
Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after 2 – 3 h.
Frontal headaches within 1 – 2 hours, life threatening after 3 h, also
maximum parts per million in ue gas (on an air free basis) according
to US Environmental Protection Agency.
Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 min.
Unconsciousness within 2 hours. Death within 2–3 h.
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 min. Death within 1 h.
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 5 – 10 min. Death within 25 – 30 min.
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1 – 2 min. Death within 10 – 15 min.
Death within 1 – 3 min.
CO (ppm*)
concentration
35
150
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400
12800
*
ppm = parts per million
7 8
The following symptoms may be related to CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and should be
discussed with ALL members of the household:
Mild exposure: Headaches, running nose, sore eyes, often described as “u-like” symptoms
Medium exposure: Dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting;
Extreme Exposure: Unconsciousness, brain damage, death.
Many cases of reported CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING indicate that while victims are aware,
they are not well, they become so disoriented they are unable to
save themselves by exiting the building or calling for assistance.
Location and positioning
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION REQUIRED PROTECTION
For your information the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard 720 advises as follows:
CO alarms shall be installed as follows:
1 Outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom.
2 On every occupiable level of a dwelling unit, including basements but excluding attics and
crawl spaces.
3 Other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. The equipment
should be installed using wiring methods in accordance with the National Fire Protection
Association’s Standard 72, 720. (National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park,
Quincy, MA 02269)
Important! Specic requirements for CO alarm installation vary from state to state and from
region to region. Check with your local re department for current requirements in your area.
Ideally a CO alarm should be installed in every bedroom, in every room containing a fuel
burning appliance and in remote rooms where occupants spend a considerable amount of
time. However, if the number of CO alarms to be tted is limited, the following points should
be considered when deciding where best to t the alarm(s):
If there is an appliance in a room where people sleep, place a CO alarm in this room.
Locate a CO alarm in a room containing a ueless or open-ued appliance.
Locate a CO alarm in a room where the occupant(s) spend most of their time.
In a studio apartment the CO alarm should be placed as far away from the cooking appli-
ance as possible, but near to where the person sleeps.
If the appliance is in a room not normally used, such as a furnace room, the CO alarm should
be placed immediately outside the room so that the alarm will be heard more easily.