Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, poisonous gas that is produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including fuel gas. When CO gets into the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.

Fuel gas is safe to use. It is only when gas does not burn properly, as with other fuels such as coal, wood or oil, that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous.

You can't see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning.
Between January 2006 and April 2007 there were 102 carbon monoxide poisoning incidents claiming 50 lives and causing over 200 injuries, all attributable to faulty fossil fuel appliances.

The majority of carbon monoxide incidents are avoidable the most common cause of death through carbon monoxide poisoning comes from faulty or poorly maintained gas appliances.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is usually an accumulation of events, which on their own may not appear too serious, but when combined can become deadly. Faulty appliances that haven’t been serviced, blocked flues and chimneys, as well as basic owner errors, such as blocking air vents, account for 45% of cases.

Tragically, the majority of carbon monoxide poisoning incidents appear avoidable. The common causes are faulty appliances, installation faults blocked chimneys and flues or owner error.

These incidents could have been avoided through basic good safety practice such as having gas appliances installed and subsequently checked and maintained annually by a CORGI registered member with professionally calibrated equipment.

By providing calibration and repair of Flue Gas Analysers, Poole Instrument Service Centre is helping you to make the future a safer place. Back