Hello everybody. I am looking forward to picking a few brains on this forum!

[Mike90250]

.......Today you can get the combo fire/CO for $40 with a 10 year battery. Worth every penny IMHO if you have gas heating.

HA ! And the joke is, the CO sensor is good for 5 years. My alarms are programmed to go off then, and announce CO Expired, till you blast the gadget with a shotgun!

[SunEagle]

Gas heating includes domestic hot water if the heater is in an interior space. (I once bought a house which had been remodeled leaving the gas water heater inside where the garage used to be. Added outside ventilation first thing.)
Or wood stove(s) (although you might notice an extra smoke odor).

Or even things you should NEVER under any circumstances do, such as running your generator in an attached garage , or setting a Hibachi in your fireplace to cook dinner when the power goes out.

Even a fireplace that was burning wood which burned down can introduce CO back into the home if the air flow up the stack is blocked.

[inetdog]

Worth every penny IMHO if you have gas heating.

Gas heating includes domestic hot water if the heater is in an interior space. (I once bought a house which had been remodeled leaving the gas water heater inside where the garage used to be. Added outside ventilation first thing.)
Or wood stove(s) (although you might notice an extra smoke odor).

Or even things you should NEVER under any circumstances do, such as running your generator in an attached garage , or setting a Hibachi in your fireplace to cook dinner when the power goes out.

[SunEagle]

Although not required, I would recommend anyone with gas heating to have a CO detector. I now of two families who wished they had one. One family is still alive because someone came home in time to find everyone unconscious and was able to revive everyone. The other family of 5 were not that lucky and all perished. Both families had the same problem; a leak in the exhaust flew that leaked CO into the house air supply. Today you can get the combo fire/CO for $40 with a 10 year battery. Worth every penny IMHO if you have gas heating.

I agree. A CO monitor is a good thing to have but as you thought they were not required by any building code. But according to the previous post by inetdog it looks like California passed legislation that requires one in any home that has either a gas appliance or a car parked in an attached garage.

[Sunking]

Although not required, I would recommend anyone with gas heating to have a CO detector. I now of two families who wished they had one. One family is still alive because someone came home in time to find everyone unconscious and was able to revive everyone. The other family of 5 were not that lucky and all perished. Both families had the same problem; a leak in the exhaust flew that leaked CO into the house air supply. Today you can get the combo fire/CO for $40 with a 10 year battery. Worth every penny IMHO if you have gas heating.

[inetdog]

And the news from California:

As of July 1, 2011, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Senate Bill-
SB 183) requires all single-family homes with an attached garage or a fossil fuel source
to install carbon monoxide alarms within the home. Owners of multi-family leased or
rental dwellings, such as apartment buildings, are required to comply with the law by
January 1, 2013.

This is enforced whenever the house changes hands, as well as when a building permit is pulled for any purpose.
But it is required period, and Big Brother may be watching:

19. How do enforcing agencies gain entry into private single-family residence to
enforce the requirements?
California Building Code, Chapter 2 and Health and Safety Code, Section 17920
provide a definition that states, “…diligent effort to secure compliance, including review
of plans and permit applications, response to complaints, citation of violations, and other
legal process. Except as otherwise provided in this part, “enforcement” may, but need
not, include inspections of existing buildings on which no complaint or permit application
has been filed, and effort to secure compliance as to these buildings”. As always, it is
advisable that enforcing agencies consult with their legal counsel regarding the
enforcement of these provisions on existing single-family residence.

[Ian S]

The typical smoke detector is not going to react to carbon monoxide and since carbon monoxide can be produced without necessarily having smoke present, you really need both types of detectors in any home where there are gas appliances in or near living quarters. Carbon monoxide is an insidious poison since it is colorless and odorless. As you breathe it in, it gets into your bloodstream and binds to the hemoglobin among other things. In doing so, it prevents oxygen transfer from the blood to the tissues and organs. If you're lucky, you'll get a headache and figure out something is wrong. If you're not lucky, you'll become confused, fall unconscious and die. Even if you are rescued alive, severe brain damage can occur.

[SunEagle]

Really it is a fire detector - better yet use a products of combustion detector

Good point russ.

Most fire detectors pick up the particles that have not been totally burned but are the result of a burning process.

[russ]

I understand what they do. I am certain you do but I am not so sure about the rest of the world.

Usually it is good to have a CO detector if you have a wood burning stove or run a gas generator close to the living quarters.

Really it is a fire detector - better yet use a products of combustion detector

[SunEagle]

An RV is actually worst case as strange drafts and winds can cause funny things to happen.

A smoke and gas leak detector are for alerts before an explosion whereas a CO detector is looking for incomplete combustion.

I understand what they do. While they are good to have I just have not seen a building code requiring a CO detector. Of course I am not up to speed on the latest BOCA codes.

Usually it is good to have a CO detector if you have a wood burning stove or run a gas generator close to the living quarters.

[russ]

I believe you mean the home requires a smoke and gas leak detector. A CO monitor can be added but I do not believe it is required for homes with gas fired appliances including a water heater.

Even my RV which uses LP gas for the stove, frig, water heater and furnace has a gas leak detector and separate smoke detectors but no CO monitor.

An RV is actually worst case as strange drafts and winds can cause funny things to happen.

A smoke and gas leak detector are for alerts before an explosion whereas a CO detector is looking for incomplete combustion.

[SunEagle]

I'm going to make one statement then I'm done with this thread last winter there was a family of 5 who died here in Colorado because of a malfunctioning gas fired furnace and no working CO detector at a high end ski condo. The safety instructions on the gas fridge’s state that you need a CO detector in the room where you have the appliance stalled. Here in the states if you build a living quarters you are required to have a Fire/CO detector.

I didn't join this site to argue, especially with site moderators, I did come to learn more about PV solar, something I do no little about, thanks for all you insight Ross.

I believe you mean the home requires a smoke and gas leak detector. A CO monitor can be added but I do not believe it is required for homes with gas fired appliances including a water heater.

Even my RV which uses LP gas for the stove, frig, water heater and furnace has a gas leak detector and separate smoke detectors but no CO monitor.

[russ]

I'm going to make one statement then I'm done with this thread last winter there was a family of 5 who died here in Colorado because of a malfunctioning gas fired furnace and no working CO detector at a high end ski condo. The safety instructions on the gas fridge’s state that you need a CO detector in the room where you have the appliance stalled. Here in the states if you build a living quarters you are required to have a Fire/CO detector.

I didn't join this site to argue, especially with site moderators, I did come to learn more about PV solar, something I do no little about, thanks for all you insight Ross.

I happen to be from the US - I am familiar with most regulations though not current - I am going to be surprised if all living quarters with gas appliances have CO detectors - better yet what percentage of the things would function.

[Buckhorn]

I'm going to make one statement then I'm done with this thread last winter there was a family of 5 who died here in Colorado because of a malfunctioning gas fired furnace and no working CO detector at a high end ski condo. The safety instructions on the gas fridge’s state that you need a CO detector in the room where you have the appliance stalled. Here in the states if you build a living quarters you are required to have a Fire/CO detector.

I didn't join this site to argue, especially with site moderators, I did come to learn more about PV solar, something I do no little about, thanks for all you insight Ross.

[russ]

Intelligent comment Russ, appliances that burn LP gas give off CO, that’s Carbon Monoxide in case you were wondering. Your a moderator??? If maintained they don’t give off enough to worry about, but there’s always that chance. I have LP fridge, gas lights and a gas stove, all work great, but I have a CO detector, it’s common sense.

Listen fellow - I am somewhat aware of gas detectors - we use dozens of industrial types ranging from single point infra red to mass spectrometers.

There you said nothing about products of combustion and if the system is correctly installed they are unnecessary. The exhaust to the atmosphere is what you are worried about.

There are also detectors that will warn you if there is a gas leak - hydrocarbons in the air.

If you want to chatter about something you know little about then explain yourself or stifle.