Bellman & Symfon BE1555 Bedienungsanleitung Seite 17

Carbon monoxide – the silent killer
What is carbon monoxide?
Many people are killed each year, and many more suffer ill health from carbon monoxide
(CO) poisoning. CO is an invisible, odourless, tasteless and extremely toxic gas. It is produced by
appliances and vehicles burning fuels, such as coal, oil, natural/bottled gas, paraffin, wood, pet-
rol, diesel, charcoal etc. CO is absorbed by red blood cells in the lungs in preference to oxygen
- this results in rapid damage to the heart and brain from oxygen starvation.
High levels of CO in a house can be caused by:
Incorrectly or poorly installed fuel-burning appliances.

Blocked or cracked chimneys/flues.

Blocked vents or draught-proofing which makes areas with fuel burning appliances or

fireplaces airtight.
Engines of cars, lawnmowers etc. left running in confined spaces.

Portable paraffin or gas heaters in badly ventilated rooms.

What happens when your CO alarm detects carbon monoxide?
When the CO alarm detects potentially dangerous levels of CO, it blinks the red alarm light
immediately and then sounds a loud alarm if the CO persists. The Signal pattern table on page
28 shows how the CO alarm reacts to different levels of CO gas and exposure time. At higher
levels of CO, the alarm turns on sooner. The rate of blinking of the red LED indicates the level of
CO. If your CO alarm sounds, follow the instructions in the section What to do when the alarm
sounds.
NEVER IGNORE THE ALARM!
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Symptoms of CO poisoning
CO (ppm*) Approximate inhalation time
concentration and symptoms developed
35
The maximum allowable concentration for continuous exposure in any 8 h
period according to OSHA*.
150 Slight headache after 1.5 h.
200 Slight headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea after 2 – 3 h.
400 Frontal headaches within 1 – 2 hours, life threatening after 3 h, also
maximum parts per million in flue gas (on an air free basis) according
to US Environmental Protection Agency.
800 Dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 min.
Unconsciousness within 2 hours. Death within 2 – 3 h.
1600 Headache, dizziness and nausea within 20 min. Death within 1 h.
3200 Headache, dizziness and nausea within 5 – 10 min. Death within 25 – 30 min.
6400
Headache, dizziness and nausea within 1 – 2 min. Death within 10 – 15 min.
12800 Death within 1 – 3 min.
* ppm = parts per million
** OSHA = Occupational Safety & Health Association
EN
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