Carbon Monoxide Alarms Now Required in Homes
Beat the Silent Killer: Prevent CO in Your Home
As of April
15, 2015, all Ontario residents must install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in
their homes if they have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached
garage.
“If your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a
fireplace or an attached garage, you must have a working CO alarm adjacent to
each sleeping area of the home,” said Windsor Fire Chief Bruce
Montone. “For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey
of the home according to manufacturer’s instructions.” Fuel-burning appliances
can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable
fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbeques, stoves and vehicles.
Homeowners and owners of residential buildings that contain
no more than six suites must be in compliance with the law as of April 15,
2015. Owners of residential buildings with more than six suites have until
October 15, 2015 to comply.
The
law will be enforced by Windsor Fire & Rescue Services. Failure to comply with the CO alarm requirements could
result in a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations.
The Ontario Fire Code also requires that in condo and
apartment buildings with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the
service room and adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and
beside the service room. In condo or apartment buildings that have a garage, CO
alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above,
below and beside the garage.
“In Ontario, more than 80% of injuries and deaths from
CO occur in the home,” said Chief Bruce Montone. “We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO. Install CO alarms, and do
everything you can to prevent CO in your home in the first place.”
What is CO?
- CO is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly.
- CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.
Prevent CO in your home:
- Ensure all fuel-burning appliances in your home are inspected annually. Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.
- Check that all outside appliance vents are not blocked.
- Never use a portable fuel-burning appliance inside (e.g. barbeques, portable heaters and generators).
Know the symptoms of
CO:
- Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness and loss of consciousness and death.
- If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.
- If your CO alarm sounds, and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its "end-of-life" before calling 9-1-1.
Know the sound of
your CO alarm:
- Your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
- Don’t be confused by the sound of your CO alarm’s low-battery warning. Follow your CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions so you know the difference between the low-battery warning, the “end-of-life” warning, and the alarm alerting you to the presence of CO in your home.
by Alan Halberstadt www.alanhalberstadt.com
