CO poisoning

[MtB]

Worcester 24CDI

 

Looking at the documents that came with the house, the boiler was installed before the attic was converted to a bedroom. However it has since then been inspected and passed.

 

 

Ok....

 

If you are right and it was installed in 2007 then straight away it is an illegal installation, so probably a DIY fit. (This is not a condensing boiler and installation of non-condensers was banned from April 1st 2005.)

 

Having said that it is a very good boiler, not prone to poor combustion so very much doubt it is the source of the CO but with an amateur installation all bets are off in terms of it being installed correctly.

 

It will have a dual concentric flue and air supply. The 4" tube is the air inlet duct and inside it is another tube about 2" in diameter carrying the flue gas. So even if the flue gas is escaping it only escapes into the inlet air duct. A very fail-safe arrangement. What is the 'flame picture' like? There is a viewing port on this boiler so you can see the gas flame when alight. It should be bright blue and steady, not yellow like a candle flame.

 

Finally, yes it is room sealed, so fully safe in a bedroom when installed correctly.

 

MtB

P.S. Forgot to say, I don't think your CO results will turn out to be anything to do with this boiler.

[Robbo]

It does. The only test the manual says is to press the 'test' button. But I'm never actually 100% sure this will mean it will actually detect CO. To me that is just a test of the battery the LED's and the sounder.

 

 

Mine suggests how to test the sensor...

 

Page 11.. http://fireangel.co.uk/Uploads/Products/UserManuals/GN0637R6%20CO-9D%20Manual.pdf

 

 

SENSOR TEST

CAUTION: Sensor testing should only be

performed by a responsible adult. This

test should only be performed once a month.

Excessive testing will shorten the life of the

power pack.

NOTE: Aerosol CO test kits may be used

in order to avoid having to burn incense

sticks or cigarettes. However we recommend

that incense sticks are used as they are

cheap and readily available. A readable level

of carbon monoxide will not be given off

by other sources of smoke, for example an

extinguished candle or match.

Step 1: If the alarm is wall mounted unhook it

from the fixing screws.

Step 2: Hold the Test/Mode button down

until the spanner icon appears in the

bottom left hand corner of the screen

and the bar graph ‘scans’ from left

to right. This indicates the alarm is in

sensor test mode where the sampling

rate of the sensor has increased and the

alarm can be tested using a known source

of CO.

Step 3: Light an incense stick or cigarette

using a match or lighter. Extinguish the

lighter, or put out the match and place it into

a dish of water.

Step 4: Hold the incense stick or burning

cigarette 15cm (6 inches) below the detector,

so that the smoke goes into the holes at the

bottom of the detector. As the smoke gets

into the alarm the display will show the

amount of CO being detected. When the

level of CO in the sensor reaches 50ppm the

alarm will sound a single alarm cycle, this

confirms that the sensor is working correctly

and is the end of the sensor test. The alarm

will return to normal standby mode.

Step 5: Put out the incense stick or cigarette

by placing it into a dish of water. Ensure that

all flames have been extinguished.

[BruceinSanity]

Don't think so Mike. CO is undetectable innit? By us I mean. Hence its insiduouusousness.

 

The hit is deffo nicko. Or even better with your assumed additives!

 

ETA: Inferred, not assumed.

This getting a bit OT, but it's both. There's some old research that shows that regular smokers manage their level of alertness by varying the rate at which they drag on the fag. IIRC, slow smoking increases the stimulant effect of the nicotine, quick drags make the CO hit harder.

 

So when doing a dull task, you have the fag sitting in an ashtray by you and take the odd drag at it. When anxiously waiting for something, you smoke quickly and the CO calms you down.

 

ETA This is a big part of the reason why it's so hard to stop. Smokers lose the ability to use other ways of managing their arousal levels...

Edited December 17, 2014 by BruceinSanity

[ditchcrawler]

Smokers lose the ability to use other ways of managing their arousal levels...

I find a cold shower works for me

[Alastair]

 

 

Ok....

 

If you are right and it was installed in 2007 then straight away it is an illegal installation, so probably a DIY fit. (This is not a condensing boiler and installation of non-condensers was banned from April 1st 2005.)

 

Having said that it is a very good boiler, not prone to poor combustion so very much doubt it is the source of the CO but with an amateur installation all bets are off in terms of it being installed correctly.

 

It will have a dual concentric flue and air supply. The 4" tube is the air inlet duct and inside it is another tube about 2" in diameter carrying the flue gas. So even if the flue gas is escaping it only escapes into the inlet air duct. A very fail-safe arrangement. What is the 'flame picture' like? There is a viewing port on this boiler so you can see the gas flame when alight. It should be bright blue and steady, not yellow like a candle flame.

 

Finally, yes it is room sealed, so fully safe in a bedroom when installed correctly.

 

MtB

P.S. Forgot to say, I don't think your CO results will turn out to be anything to do with this boiler.

Only the 35 model is room sealed. I have the model 24 - I checked the manufacturer's pdf. No concentric flue on this one.

 

The Missus says it was installed a long time ago, going by the docs.

 

Gas flame colour all blue.

[Loafer]

This getting a bit OT, but it's both. There's some old research that shows that regular smokers manage their level of alertness by varying the rate at which they drag on the fag. IIRC, slow smoking increases the stimulant effect of the nicotine, quick drags make the CO hit harder.

 

So when doing a dull task, you have the fag sitting in an ashtray by you and take the odd drag at it. When anxiously waiting for something, you smoke quickly and the CO calms you down.

 

ETA This is a big part of the reason why it's so hard to stop. Smokers lose the ability to use other ways of managing their arousal levels...

 

That sounds reasonable. I have also noticed though, that the 'hit' achieved with the new vaporising e-smokes, still works. Hence their popularity, But there's no CO in that, 'cos there's no combustion.

 

Interesting viewpoint though. Must add it to the list of stuff to look up!

[ditchcrawler]

 

That sounds reasonable. I have also noticed though, that the 'hit' achieved with the new vaporising e-smokes, still works. Hence their popularity, But there's no CO in that, 'cos there's no combustion.

 

Interesting viewpoint though. Must add it to the list of stuff to look up!

Its not just combustion http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2014-12-17/workers-treated-for-suspected-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-after-chemical-leak-at-vegetable-storage-facility/

[Loafer]

It could be if it's a gas-powered fridge.