Carbon monoxide alarms to be mandatory
Earlier this year, 50-year-old Kevin Lucey died sitting up in an armchair at his home with his dog sitting on his lap.
Toxicology reports found that the father-of-four had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Miriam Reidy, 35, also died from carbon monoxide poisoning after a gas leak at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale in 2011. She had been at a cousin’s hen party.
The change to building regulations, which has yet to be signed into law by the Department of Environment, will also require anybody building a new home to install the alarms which detect the odourless, colourless gas which is known as the “silent killer”.
On average, six lives are lost each year due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur when filters, grills, or flues become blocked on appliances that burn solid fuel including gas, coal, and wood. Under the planned regulation, the alarms will have to be located in rooms where boilers, fires, heaters or stoves are installed, as well as near or in bedrooms.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which occurs from the incomplete burning of natural gas and materials which contain carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood.
The carbon monoxide detectors give a visual and audible warning if there is a build-up of dangerous levels of the gas.
Carbon monoxide is produced when carbon-based fuels do not have enough oxygen to burn completely. Prolonged exposure to the gas can cause illness and even death as when it is inhaled, it reacts with blood preventing it from absorbing oxygen.
* Further information on carbon monoxide is available on www.carbonmonoxide.ie or by contacting 1850 797979.
