Carbon Monoxide (CO)
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A message from the past!
​Combustion spillage from appliances/equipment burning carbonaceous fuels:
(Natural gas, LPG, Oil, Solid fuel)
A number of years ago, we highlighted the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO), in a publication distributed to Medical establishments and other businesses in the Wessex area.
The publication contained several flyers produced by Gas Safe Register as part of their campaign to raise awareness of GAS SAFETY and the dangers of carbon monoxide spillage into the home or work environments.
As part of this awareness campaign, Gas Safe Register provided information to home owners and others via the leaflets supplied to registered engineers (upon request), in how to check and ensure the engineer is qualified and registered to undertake gas work, before letting them into the home.
Our publication contained ‘Real-Life’ stories of people whose lives had been shattered, because those who carried out work on gas appliances at their home were not adequately trained nor registered with Gas Safe Register.
For more information about gas safety, and to check an engineer is qualified and registered, please log onto the Gas Safe Register website at,
Or telephone Gas Safe Register on,
0800 408 5500
A brief insight to the publication
Carbon Monoxide.
Carbon Monoxide, a colourless, tasteless, odourless gas is indeed poisonous. In sufficient volume it can and does kill. It is a poison present in Flue Gas and other emissions to atmosphere and are often produced by complete, or incomplete, combustion of carbonaceous fuels namely, gas, oil, solid fuel, petrol and diesel.
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The quantity of Carbon Monoxide (CO) produced after combustion and as discharged into the chimney flue is referred to as the CO/CO2 (Carbon Monoxide/Carbon Dioxide) Ratio of Combustion.
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) may be produced at higher ratios in cases of defective appliance installation, operation, fluing, incorrect commissioning, fuel flow rates or burner pressures that produce incomplete combustion in the combustion chamber of the appliance.
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Oil and Solid Fuel Fired appliances generally create odour, or produce ‘visible smoke’, when combustion is not complete, or as a normal process of burning.
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The products of combustion (PoC) created by the burning of these fuels and discharged by an appliance or exhaust system, may not produce a noticeable odour or leave distinctive brown/black stains on the surroundings to advertise their presence.
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Those regularly involved or exposed may of course be themselves able to identify, or describe a distinctive smell when the appliance was operating, but often there is no such odour.
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A good night out or carbon monoxide poisoning?
A real life storey highlighted in the campaign
The campaign featured the real-life experience of Ann Mitchell, whose 14-year-old daughter Alex died from CO poisoning in 2005.
Alex had been poisoned by CO escaping from a poorly fitted gas fire that had been installed by a gas fitter who was not competent or registered to work on fires.
The engineer was subsequently charged with manslaughter and jailed for two years.
Anne had returned from work on Good Friday in 2005 and found her daughter lying on the floor upstairs. She checked for a pulse and saw bubbles around Alex’s mouth.
“I wiped the bubbles from her mouth with my shirt and held her to me” she says. “My child was dead”.
The emergency services attended and realised immediately that it was CO poisoning, they made me leave the house. They took my daughters body and I didn’t get her back for 7-weeks.
When Registered Gas Engineer asked Anne why she had got involved in Gas Safe Register’s campaign to raise awareness of gas safety, she said “I don’t want anyone else coming home and finding their loved-ones dead”.
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Anne’s message to consumers was clear:
Never use an illegal gas fitter, always check the card to make sure they are registered and qualified to do all the work that needs to be done and fit an electronic audible CO Alarm.
A sobering thought!
What if this was your storey?
Anne also had a message for engineers;
“The majority of engineers are wonderful” she says. “They don’t realise how important they are.
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They’re like the fourth emergency service, dealing with people’s lives. I think they underestimate themselves”.
Anne was keen for engineers to protect customers and themselves by getting both parties to sign a checklist when any gas work was done in their home.
The checklist could consist of a number of questions, which could be ticked off as yes or no!
For example:-
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Have you checked the engineers card?
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Have you got an electronic audible CO alarm?
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Have all the gas appliances been inspected/checked?
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Is there adequate ventilation in your property?
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Has the engineer explained to dangers of CO?​
Anne said, “I want engineers to accept that part of their job is showing a customer their Gas Safe Register card”.
Don’t think you are safe, know you are safe!
A word from the wise!
Old age is something none of us cannot escape!
The elderly are vulnerable from CO poisoning for a number of reasons:-
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Many lack access to systems/processes that keep up to date with real-life events and associated dangers.
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Many are unaware of what CO is and the risks it poses.
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Many are trusting and can easily be taken advantage of.
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Many will not ask for assistance for fear of being a nuisance.
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Many have no one else to turn to when things go wrong.
Oil & Solid Fuel:
Lets not forget that incomplete combustion and spillage from oil and solid fuel appliances can be just as dangerous!
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Likewise, fume spillage from petrol and diesel engines can also pose a significant risk!
Solid Fuel Rayburn
Contained below are a couple of photographs relating to a CO incident we attended some years ago.
An elderly lady was living at this property alone and was overcome by CO spilling from the defective soot door at the base of the flue system.
In addition to being a hoarder, the chair in which this lady sat for long periods of time, is next to the defective soot door (top left of picture). This lady had no next of kin and was discovered unconscious by a concerned neighbour.
The defective soot door seen in the picture below.
(Note; the edge of the chair can be seen in the bottom right of the picture)
FireAngel Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Detector (shown below) - FA6813 10-Year Sensor Life CO Alarm for Home with AA Batteries - Travel, Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector - CO Detector Monitor with Test Button
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The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 and the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 state that; all private and social landlords must ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is fitted in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
This does not apply to private owned dwellings and house owners are not legally required to fit a CO detector in their own home however, the advice is clear, if you have a fossil-fuel burning appliance in your home, it is essential to fit an electronic audible carbon monoxide detector.
In Conclusion:
Carbonaceous Fuels:
It is not to be said that carbonaceous fuels should not be utilised as a means of providing heating, cooking, power etc, quite the opposite.
As with most things in life there exists an element of risk. The very vehicles we take for granted are in their own right dangerous to use, if we do not have them maintained for instance; if the brakes were to fail whilst travelling at 60mph.
The same applies for cooking and heating appliances and the systems they serve are safe to use!
Ensure your gas, oil or solid fuel installation is regularly inspected and tested to ensure it is safe to use furthermore, it is essential your heating and cooking appliances are serviced / repaired in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Don’t think you are safe, know you are safe!
For more information about gas safety, and to check an engineer is qualified and registered, please log onto the Gas Safe Register website at,
Or telephone Gas Safe Register on,