WIREDGOV

A new law making carbon monoxide (CO) alarms compulsory in Scottish properties will save lives in the fight against the “silent killer”, says The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Scotland.   

As of yesterday (October 1), new building regulations in Scotland will mean all new-build properties must be fitted with CO alarms. The law will also require houses, hotels, guest houses and care homes to have an alarm installed at the same time as a new boiler or gas appliance.

The move aims to prevent deaths from the deadly gas, known as “the silent killer” because it cannot be seen, heard, smelt or tasted. Cases are commonly caused by faulty or badly-serviced gas appliances and other fossil fuel-burning systems.

CO poisoning kills at least 50 people every year in the UK and leads to more than 1,100 hospital admissions. Latest figures from Health Protection Scotland show there are around two accidental deaths every year, and there were 135 people admitted to hospital as a result of toxic effects of the gas between 2008 and 2010.

Carlene McAvoy, RoSPA Scotland’s community safety development officer, said: “Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly but this change in the law, making CO alarms compulsory, will help to save many lives.

“Building companies, property owners, landlords and gas engineers will all play their part in ensuring that these life-saving alarms are fitted into more homes and hotels across Scotland.

“At this time of year, many people begin to switch on their heating, so it is important to remember that gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or ventilated could cause CO poisoning.” 

Accident prevention charity RoSPA has been working with Gas Safe charity to send 10,000 families across the UK a free CO detector as part of the Be Gas Safe scheme, and promotes precautions to prevent CO poisoning on its website, www.rospa.com.

Vital information to reduce the risk of CO poisoning include:

• Have your gas appliances serviced annually by a gas engineer who is registered with Gas Safe Register 
• Use professionals to service any other fossil-fuel burning appliances such as oil or coal burning stoves annually
• Fix carbon monoxide detectors in your home, which can be purchased from most DIY-type stores, and maintain and replace them according to packaging instructions
• Know how to spot the signs of a CO leak, which include suffering prolonged flu-like symptoms, excessive condensation in the room, sooty stains on or near appliances and boiler pilot light flames burning orange instead of blue.

More advice on CO safety can be found at www.carbonmonoxidesafety.org.uk.