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GAS DETECTION & MONITORING


RISKY BUSINESS


To help protect consumers and help landlords meet their obligations, GasSafe Europe has developed


multi-award winning, Detectagas® to check the sensor in alarms.


The safe and easy-to-use test kit is now widely available.


To effectively test Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms it is vital to test the sensor and not rely on the so called ‘Test Button’ which just tests the battery, buzzer and electronic circuit. Testing the sensor can only be done by injecting a specific and safe level of test gas over the alarm.


A report co-funded by the European Union and the Product Safety Forum of Europe (PROSAFE), a non-profit professional organisation, found that more than half (52%) of the carbon monoxide (CO) alarms tested, posed a ‘high’ or ‘serious risk’. Alarms were tested across seven EU member states, with a primary focus of ensuring CO detectors on the market were safe and carried the appropriate warnings and instructions to consumers.


“AS MANY AS 40 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY CO POISONING EACH YEAR AND A FURTHER 670 INJURED.”


In total, more than 81 models of CO detectors were inspected, with 25 tested in a laboratory. Of those laboratory tested, three models were found to be OK, four models alarmed early and 18 models were found to be non compliant with the relevant requirements.


PROSAFE then undertook a risk assessment based on the risks posed by the product’s incorrect performance and found NINE detectors to give a ‘Serious’ risk, 15 models ‘High’ risk, two models ‘Medium’ risk and 12 models ‘Low’ risk. For seven models no risks were detected and for 36, the Risk Assessment was not made available by members as they considered the model compliant.


These findings come on the back of additional independent research by Trading Standards in the UK in October 2015 that highlighted that as many as 80% of CO alarms tested, some of which were Kite marked, failed British Standards tests.


The collective results show that there is undoubtedly a serious issue with the quality of CO alarms on the market and more needs to be done to raise awareness of the issue. The seriousness of the issue is highlighted by figures that show as many as 40 people are killed by CO poisoning each year and a further 670 injured.


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Currently, there are more than 30 million alarms in the UK that could be providing consumers with a false sense of security and putting lives at risk. Recognising the issue, last year the UK government passed legislation requiring private sector landlords to test their smoke and CO alarms annually and before each new tenancy. Failure to comply would see landlords face fines of up to £5,000.


Trading Standards is also advising consumers to check their appliances are in proper working order and to test their CO alarms in order to alert them to the ‘silent and invisible killer’. Bourne Leisure, the largest park operator in the UK with Haven, Butlins and Warner in their group have been senor inclusively testing the CO alarms in their 23,000 caravans for three years and finding high levels of CO alarm failure, all less than two years old and all Kite marked.


If an alarm is found to be faulty, landlords should label the alarm with the available tamper-proof stickers that notify residents, to help ensure that they are replaced and not used. By using alarm test pads and tamper-proof stickers, landlords are also able to evidence their testing and compliance to environmental health officers and avoid a fine.


Comprehensively testing your CO alarms will protect consumers and ensure landlords meet their legal obligations – a simple test that saves lives.


www.gassafeeurope.com www.tomorrowshs.com


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