February 2, 2016
Each year, more than 400 people die in the U.S. from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings not related to fires. These poisonings are most likely to occur in the fall and winter because of the greater use of gas-fired furnaces and other heating sources, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CO is known as a “silent killer” — it cannot be seen, smelled or caught with any of the five senses. A CO alarm is the only way to identify the problem and is critical to safety during cold weather.
“The furnace is on and the windows are shut, keeping the air from circulating,” said John Drengenberg, consumer safety director at UL. “If a CO leak is present, this combination can contribute to excessive carbon monoxide in indoor environments.”
Many local jurisdictions enforce current model codes that require the use of CO alarms in certain homes, dwelling units and buildings to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. For decades, UL has certified CO alarms, which alert residents if the CO levels rise to unhealthy levels. UL’s certification process focuses on the major areas of stress for the alarms. The devices are tested as follows, to help ensure that they can withstand normal wear and tear and still perform:
- Durability. The case surrounding the components of a CO alarm must be strong enough to withstand typical use, such as being dropped or knocked over. UL labs simulate the stress on devices at hot temperatures, as well as varying degrees of humidity.
- Sound quality and volume. CO alarms alert the user by emitting a noise or a beep. As a result, UL’s labs use sensitive sound-testing instruments to certify that this feature meets current standards.
- Battery corrosion. Many CO alarms are battery-operated, and UL submits the units to corrosion tests before certifying the device.
- Detection effectiveness. CO alarms are designed to scan the atmosphere at different levels, as the gas becomes more dangerous when it is more concentrated. In order to simulate the real world scenarios that can occur where CO alarm are used, UL has developed tests that add contaminants into the atmosphere and test whether the units can still detect CO. One common contaminant is ammonia, a cleaning agent that can turn to gas and infiltrate the devices.
New CO alarm innovations are regularly being introduced into the marketplace, and the company is working on updated requirements which test these rapidly developing features. For instance, some newer devices are directly plugged into an electrical outlet, negating the need for a battery, while others have a wireless feature to connect to smartphones.
As part of the ongoing standard review process, UL is part of a discussion about whether to add surge immunity requirements to CO alarms that are plugged into the wall. This test would verify that the unit will be less likely to malfunction in the event of a line surge from lightning.
“It’s all about making sure we are able to test the next-generation products being offered,” Drengenberg said.