Carbon Monoxide

hot_rod

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=137

The chart doesn't transfer well, but these are the details. It's the half-life that fools people into thinking removal from exposure is all that's required.

PPM CO - Exposure Time - Symptoms

35 PPM - 8 hours - Maximum exposure allowed by OSHA in the workplace over an eight-hour period.

200 PPM - 2-3 hours - Mild headache, fatigue, nausea and dizziness.

400 PPM - 1-2 hours - Serious headache - other symptoms intensify. Life-threatening after 3 hours.

800 PPM - 45 minutes - Dizziness, nausea and convulsions.
Unconscious within 2 hours. Death within 2-3 hours.

1600 PPM - 20 minutes - Headache, dizziness and nausea. Death within 1 hour.


3200 PPM - 5-10 minutes - Headache, dizziness and nausea. Death within 1 hour.

6400 PPM - 1-2 minutes - Headache, dizziness and nausea. Death within 25-30 minutes.

12,800 PPM - 1-3 minutes - Death.


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Bill_14

Carbon Monoxide

Question:

Does carbon monoxide rise or fall in a confined space? Where does it accumulate?

Thanks.

Larry (from OSHA)

bad air

carbon monoxide has approximately the same weight as the rest of the air around us. The molecular weight may be a little bit different, but not enough to split hairs about. The points to consider are that the allowable maximums are as follows: the 8 hour time weighted average maximum exposure is 35 ppm. The 5 minute maximum is 200 ppm. NIOSH studies have shown that ill effects can be observed at exposures of 75 ppm. or above. The bottom line is that CO is nothing to mess with. As all of you good folks know, proper combustion system tuning is critical for not only energy efficiency, but for life safety as well. I don't mean to drone on but, these safety issues are near and dear to me.

All the best as we enter this heating season,

Larry

[Deleted User]

my understanding is

that its gravity is darn near that of air but is just ever so slightly lighter, and that it tends to just ''hang there and stratify''but will eventually rise...

Bill_14

If there is a relief (fresh air opening)

to the outside above this space, will the CO eventually find its way up and out?

Larry (from OSHA)

dilution and ventilation

the more air you move through the space, the less concentration you will have. the object is to not be generating any. if you have levels above nothing, you need to have a professional heating person look at your system right away. DO NOT MESS WITH THIS. Every year we read in the paper about deaths or severe illness from CO poisoning.

Good luck

Larry

Bill_14

I agree 100%

I am trying to solve a question that came up at breakfast this morning. Some were thinking CO dropped to the floor like gas and some thought CO rose.

Since CO detectors are supposed to be placed high in a space, I assume that the deadly gas rises.

Thanks for your good input.

Bill

Murph'_4

at eye level

In living space near sleeping quarters, where the air changes/passes , like a hallway would be best to hang carbon monoxide detectors. try this link to info and many health/safety links !!


http://www.coexperts.com/



Murph'

Bill_14

Receptacle Location

Since most receptacles are near the floor, I assume the CO detectors get plugged in there instead of installing a new receptacle at eye level. Right?

Is this a better than nothing situation?

Murph'_4

there is only ONE

CO detector and it works off of battery, read the link i sent and these are the only ones that surpass ul minimum requirements which are alarm @ 60ppm after 4 hours, whew you could be well onto your way to being disoriented by then, if not passed out receiving way too much in your system. PLEASE READ THE INFO FROM LINKS !!


Murph'

Mark Hunt

good question

> Question:

>

> Does carbon monoxide rise or fall in

> a confined space? Where does it

> accumulate?

>

> Thanks.





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Mark Hunt

About the only


thing that those CO detectors that plug in are good for is letting the paramedics know why you're lying on the floor.

Murph put up the link for CO Experts. As far as I am concerned, they produce the only safe CO monitor in the world.

Mark H

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MikeB34

Gas (natural) rises. Specific gravity 0.6

Dale

NO

The thing to remember about CO is that it is a poisen gas. It's specific gravity from a msds sheet for bottled CO is .97 ( air being 1 ) at I think the default 60 degrees F. The other thing is that 10,000 parts per million of CO or soybeans is only one percent. So while the 500 ppm in Milw. sounds like alot it is only one part CO to 2000 parts air. Or if you have a room of 2000 cubic feet and one cubic foot of CO is added people may die if they beath the air co mix for 8 hours.

John R. Hall

More CO trajedy

I read that Johnny Cash's step-duaghter and a fellow musician were found dead in their band's tour bus -- CO poisoning is suspected.