CHAPTER 7: Regulatory Information for CO Alarms
What Levels of CO Cause an Alarm?
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034 defines three specific alarm points by which all residential CO alarms must sound. They are measured in parts per million (ppm) of CO over time (in minutes).
UL2034 Required Alarm Points:
•If the alarm is exposed to 400 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 4 and 15 MINUTES
•If the alarm is exposed to 150 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 10 and 50 MINUTES.
•If the alarm is exposed to 70 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM BETWEEN 60 and 240 MINUTES.
IMPORTANT!
CO alarms are designed to sound before there is an immediate life threat. Since you cannot see or smell CO, never assume it’s not present.
•An exposure to 70 ppm of CO for 4 hours may cause headaches.
•An exposure to 400 ppm of CO may cause headaches in average, healthy adults after 35 minutes, but can cause death after 2 hours.
IMPORTANT!
This CO alarm measures exposure to CO over time. It alarms if CO levels are extremely high in a short period of time, or if CO levels reach a certain minimum over a long period of time. The CO alarm generally sounds an alarm before the onset of symptoms in average, healthy adults.
Why is this important? Because you need to be warned of a potential CO problem while you can still react in time. In many reported cases of CO exposure, victims may be aware that they are not feeling well, but become disoriented and can no longer react well enough to exit the building or get help. Also, young children and pets may be the first affected.
The average healthy adult might not feel any symptoms when the CO alarm sounds. However, people with cardiac or respiratory problems, infants, unborn babies, pregnant mothers, or elderly people can be more quickly and severely affected by CO. If you experience even mild symptoms of CO poisoning, consult your doctor immediately!
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