CO Safety on Boats
What is Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
CO is a highly poisonous gas that weighs about the same as air, and at high concentrations, CO can kill without warning, sometimes in only minutes. It cannot be seen, smelt, tasted or felt, which is why it’s known as the silent killer. When you breathe in CO, it replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream, preventing essential supplies to your
body tissues, heart, brain and other vital organs.
How to prevent CO on your boat
CO leaks can be prevented. Take a few sensible steps to reduce the risk dramatically:
• Ensure that all appliances you buy comply with the latest standards and are suitable for use in boats
• Ensure the appliances are properly installed and maintained by competent fitters including routine servicing
• Annual servicing of appliances is recommended where the boat is in frequent use, or for extended periods
• Ensure all repairs use proprietary components. Make no mistake, bodge jobs bring risks
• Good air supply in the cabin is vital to running appliances
• It can be calculated by using the ventilation formula in the BSS Essential Guide
• Check the cabin vents for blockages and build-ups of spiders’ webs and debris
• Open windows for extra ventilation when cooking, especially when using large pans on LPG hobs
• Check solid fuel stoves for cracks, missing cover plates, warped doors and rope seals in poor condition
• Follow appliance instructions - burn the right fuel for your stove, in the right way
• Burning damp fuel or plastic rubbish can cause clogging of the flue
• When removing hot ashes and embers, use a metal ash bucket with a lid. Keep it outside and away from ventilators
FireAngel Carbon Monoxide Alarm 10 Year Lifetime Lithium Battery
- Advanced electrochemical sensor calibrated and tested in CO gas
- Ventilate 'pre-alarm' warning: Low level monitoring function
- Intelligent algorithm heightens the sensitivity when detection of low level CO occurs
- Memory function-indication of previous alarm activation
- Advanced diagnostics support via cable
- Can be wall mounted or free standing
