About the campaign
The Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaign was launched in October 2008. It is the national campaign to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by Carbon Monoxide.
The Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! is funded and delivered by the Energy Retail Association on behalf of the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA) and supported by more than 40 other organisations.
Why do we need a campaign?
Too many people in the UK die or become seriously ill from Carbon Monoxide poisoning. These incidents could be prevented if there was greater awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide and if everyone had fuel burning appliances serviced annually and fitted an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm in their home.
New research conducted for this campaign has found that eight out of ten households are putting themselves at risk because they do not have an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm.
Key findings from our research:
- Some 81% of British households don’t have an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm
- More than half (53%) of people with audible alarms in their home had not tested them in the last year
- Some 15 million households don’t have their fuel-burning appliances serviced annually
- Only 6% of people are very confident that they would recognise the symptoms of poisoning
More details of this research are available in our campaign report.
What needs to be done?
As well as raising awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide and the precautions people should take, this campaign is seeking support for two legislative changes which will make a major difference.
- In order to receive a gas safety certificate, landlords should have to provide tenants with a Carbon Monoxide alarm.
This is a simple mechanism to ensure that many of the most vulnerable members of society are offered the protection of a Carbon Monoxide alarm. The existing legal requirement for a gas safety certificate means that an appropriately qualified and registered installer checks the safety of gas appliances. This would require an amendment to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 so that, in order for a gas safety certificate to be issued, landlords are required to provide an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm. - Every new home should be fitted with an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm.
To mirror the current requirement for a wired-in smoke alarm to be fitted in all new-build homes, Building Regulations should be amended to require an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm to be installed. This is a simple measure which will add no significant cost to homebuilders. Since the campaign launched in October 2008, the Government is now considering proposals to amend Part J (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems) of the Building Regulations. One of the issues under consideration is the potential to incorporate a provision for the installation of Carbon Monoxide alarms.
Videos
Dr Rob Hicks and Melissa Matthews
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Kirstie Allsopp
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