1.What causes carbon monoxide? What parts of the home are prone to carbon monoxide?
The best way to find out where to place a carbon monoxide alarm is to understand how carbon monoxide works, which is caused by incomplete combustion of a carbon fuel, such as fireplaces, furnaces, gas dryers, water heaters and vehicles in home. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and people can't feel and even know how much carbon monoxide is around . Therefore, we need a carbon monoxide alarm to warn us if we are in danger.
2.Where to install a carbon monoxide alarm
The best position for a CO detector is on a wall about five feet from the floor, which is the height at which people normally breathe , it measures the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air that people are breathing in the house. Carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air, and it can be found in warm, rising air. A reasonable alternative is to place the detector on the ceiling, 6 inches from the wall. Do not place the detector next to or above a fireplace or flame generator. Keep the probe away from pets and children. This is the best place to install the CO detector by room.
●The Bedroom
In the bedroom, the alarm should be installed in a breathing area relatively close to the occupant. It can remind you of the concentration of carbon monoxide around you when you sleep, you can hear the prompt and react at the first time.
●The Kitchen
The key to keeping a Carbon monoxide detector in your kitchen is to avoid installing it near or above a flame-generating appliance such as a stove, grill or fireplace. Near the stove, the grill will be around more carbon monoxide, and it may cause false alarms, so it should be installed in the fire 5 to 20 feet away from the location of the detector.
●The Basement
The International Association of Fire Captains recommends that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in basements, as washing machines, water heaters and furnaces are potential sources of carbon monoxide and are usually stored in basements.
●The Garage
The best place to install a Carbon monoxide detector in an attached garage is within 10 feet of the door. People sometimes start their cars in their garages, and if you leave them on for a long time, carbon monoxide builds up, and if you start them with the garage door closed, it's even more of a problem, a Carbon monoxide detector placed near the door will alert the garage to elevated carbon monoxide levels
3.Statutory requirements
The British standard EN 50292 also advises where should not install alarm：
In an enclosed space
Where it can be obstructed
Directly above a sink
Close to a door, window, exhaust fan, vent, or similar vent
The temperature may be more than 40℃ or less than -5 ℃.
●England
Smoke and carbon monoxide alerts (England) ordinance
Private sector owners are required to install at least one smoke alarm on each floor of their property and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room equipped with solid fuel combustion appliances such as coal-fired stoves and wood-fired stoves.
●Wales
Installation of any new or replacement solid fuel equipment requires the installation of a carbon monoxide alarm with the BS EN 50291 Kite
●Northern Ireland
BS EN 50291 kites marked carbon monoxide alarms are required when installing any new or replacement fuel appliances (other than cookers) . This covers any fuel-burning equipment, including those that burn natural gas, oil, coal and wood
●Scotland
BS EN 50291 kites marked carbon monoxide alarms are required when installing any new or replacement fuel appliances (other than cookers) . This covers any fuel-burning equipment, including those that burn natural gas, oil, coal and wood.
4.Installation method of carbon monoxide alarm
Install the alarm according to the instructions attached. Before installation, try to test whether the alarm is working properly and choose the right position to install.
5.How to maintain a carbon monoxide alarm
Testing the Alarm: Test the CO-Alarm once a week
If you are using a replaceable battery detector, try to test the alarm weekly to see if it works and replace the battery in a timely manner. If it is a non-replace lithium battery, also need weekly test whether the alarm is working properly to ensure your safety.
6.WARNING/INFORMATION：
● CO-Alarm is designed to protect individuals from the acute effects of Carbon Monoxide exposure / poisoning. However, it will not fully safeguard individuals from specific medical conditions. If any doubt consults your doctor.
●Once installed the CO-Alarm in your property, this should not be seen as a rightful reason to avoid regular servicing of your fuel-burning appliances, such as gas-, oil-, paraffin-, biofuel-, wood-, coke-, charcoal- or coal-fired boilers, room heaters, cookers or similar and their flues.
●This CO-Alarm is not suitable as a smoke-, fire- or combustible gas detector!
