Carbon Monoxide and Portable Generators; What You Need to Know

Although Carbon Monoxide (CO) is always a concern in every household, the number of deaths caused by CO increase dramatically during winter storms as consumers turn to portable generators for power.

According to FEMA, on average approximately 200 Americans die and more than 10,000 more are treated in emergency rooms each year due to inhalation of carbon monoxide from fuel-burning appliances.  Many additional carbon monoxide related deaths are attributed to the use of portable generators and are clearly seasonal.

In a 2007 study, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that approximately 66% of carbon-monoxide related deaths caused by generators occurred in the fall and winter, as opposed to just 34% in the spring and summer.   The chart below makes clear, generator use, for any reason, at any time of the year, is dangerous and requires due care.

The CPSC has listed several do’s and don’ts for generator use on their site. Specific to carbon monoxide, the CPSC recommends:

• NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO build-up in the home.
• Follow the instructions that come with your generator. Locate the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors.
• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, or CSA 6.19.01).
• Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.

Whether or not you use a portable generator, FEMA and the CPSC recommend that every living space have at least one carbon monoxide detector. In some states, like California, CO detectors are now required by law.  As with radon gas, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and cannot be detected except through special monitoring instruments.  Fortunately, these can be purchased easily and relatively inexpensively at hardware and home stores or online.

Your safety To-Do items for this week are:

1) If you have a generator, make sure it is working properly, has not been recalled and has a safe, outdoor location to operate should you suddenly need it. Review the CPSC’s complete list of safety tips for generator use.

2) Purchase and set-up (which typically means installing batteries or plugging in) carbon monoxide detectors.  If you already have one, check to make sure it is functioning properly and has fresh batteries.

Sources:

CPSC Memorandum: “Incidents, Deaths, and In-Depth Investigations

Associated with Non-Fire Carbon Monoxide from Engine-Driven Generators
and other Engine-Driven Tools, 1999-2006,” October 10, 2007

Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert: Portable Generator Hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/portgend.html