We have a CO detector in the van and this starts to register when the level reaches 10ppm. It would have to be an incredibly sensitive device to detect as low as 0.003ppm...
Damian
Moderator
Fortunately my son who is a Gas Safe engineer gave me a CO monitor which goes off at 9ppm.
Damian,
I understand there are NCC recommendations on the use of a monitor. Some are not for life etc.
As this is so important please could you give us all a steer on the type of monitor and generally how long should they be kept in use before replacement.
Damian,
I understand there are NCC recommendations on the use of a monitor. Some are not for life etc.
As this is so important please could you give us all a steer on the type of monitor and generally how long should they be kept in use before replacement.
I have Kidde CO monitors in the caravan and house and both have a 10 year sensor life with an install date label on the reverse side so life can be monitored. It the batteries are lithium 10 year sealed and the alarm audibly indicates when at end of life and the digital screen shows End. Or so the manual says.
I always remove the caravan one when the van isn't being used. I've not seen anything advising this but given the variation of environmental conditions during the year it just seems to me that it reduces stressors on the device. Although the tec spec shows it should be okay whilst being used to 38 deg C. So in hot climates and a closed van this could be exceeded. But the transportation and storage temperature range is higher.
I always remove the caravan one when the van isn't being used. I've not seen anything advising this but given the variation of environmental conditions during the year it just seems to me that it reduces stressors on the device. Although the tec spec shows it should be okay whilst being used to 38 deg C. So in hot climates and a closed van this could be exceeded. But the transportation and storage temperature range is higher.
Damian
Moderator
Quote " Damian,
I understand there are NCC recommendations on the use of a monitor. Some are not for life etc.
As this is so important please could you give us all a steer on the type of monitor and generally how long should they be kept in use before replacement. "
The NCC have been less than interested in gas safety for a very long time, despite promising me that they would make it as high a priority as they have electric, which is not very inspiring as to my knowledge no one has ever been electrocuted in a caravan, but that is another story.
They have basically sat on their corporate backsides as far as gas goes, so I would take anything they say with a very large pinch of salt.
Now to the important bit, Detectors.
All the retail available units such as Fire Angel, Kidde, Dicon, Black & Decker etc are all basically the same under different covers.
They all have to comply with the various regulations like EU, BSI etc and all do the same job.
They do need cleaning and testing at least once per year, the cleaning being a matter of gently blowing any accumulated dust away from the sensor.
They all should have an expiry date for the sensor, and as a result the whole unit, when it should then be replaced.
The battery should also be replaced as required, some last longer than others.
The unit will monitor the air around it, wherever it is as long as it is turned on and I would suggest that a caravan in storage away from the road will have less CO in the air around it than a caravan stored on a drive next to a road and the passing vehicles and house heating appliances giving a higher ratio of CO.
I know that my personal CO monitor registers more when working near roads and housing.
My test equipment is very expensive, very sensitive and is calibrated twice a year unless it encounters a very high CO output which poisons the unit when it has to go away to be deconaminated and recalibrated.
I understand there are NCC recommendations on the use of a monitor. Some are not for life etc.
As this is so important please could you give us all a steer on the type of monitor and generally how long should they be kept in use before replacement. "
The NCC have been less than interested in gas safety for a very long time, despite promising me that they would make it as high a priority as they have electric, which is not very inspiring as to my knowledge no one has ever been electrocuted in a caravan, but that is another story.
They have basically sat on their corporate backsides as far as gas goes, so I would take anything they say with a very large pinch of salt.
Now to the important bit, Detectors.
All the retail available units such as Fire Angel, Kidde, Dicon, Black & Decker etc are all basically the same under different covers.
They all have to comply with the various regulations like EU, BSI etc and all do the same job.
They do need cleaning and testing at least once per year, the cleaning being a matter of gently blowing any accumulated dust away from the sensor.
They all should have an expiry date for the sensor, and as a result the whole unit, when it should then be replaced.
The battery should also be replaced as required, some last longer than others.
The unit will monitor the air around it, wherever it is as long as it is turned on and I would suggest that a caravan in storage away from the road will have less CO in the air around it than a caravan stored on a drive next to a road and the passing vehicles and house heating appliances giving a higher ratio of CO.
I know that my personal CO monitor registers more when working near roads and housing.
My test equipment is very expensive, very sensitive and is calibrated twice a year unless it encounters a very high CO output which poisons the unit when it has to go away to be deconaminated and recalibrated.
The CO detectors for caravans and craft , the latest regs require them to be to BS 50291-2-2010 which makes them more suitable for vibration and environmental differences.
I only know this as I had to buy a new one last year.
I only know this as I had to buy a new one last year.
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