Full Notification

The Lyndhurst Fire Department is asking residents and building owners for their help in identifying the life span of their Carbon Monoxide(CO) alarms due to a spike in call volume.

Since the inception of Underwriters Laboratories March 2007, UL 2034, the standard for single and multi-station CO alarms, it is required that all CO alarms have an audible “end of life” warning. The end of life warning alerts you that the unit has reached its expiration and should be replaced. Some manufacturers have voluntarily included this warning on their products since 2001; pursuant to UL 2034, any CO alarm manufactured after April 2007 with a UL listing must include an end of life warning.

What most residents are unaware of is that their CO alarms have a life span. Over this summer, the Lyndhurst Fire Department has seen a drastic spike in their response to CO alarm activations which were confused by occupants as actual activations as a result of this standard. 85 % of these responses have been found to have one of two outcomes: 1) a battery in need of replacement, or 2) an “End of Life” warning which could easily be confused by an occupant who is unaware of this feature. The end of life warning was confused with being an actual activation indicating a presence of CO.
It is important for people to be able recognize and understand the different alert sounds generated by smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms; different manufacturers use a variety of alarm sequences to indicate the end of the carbon monoxide alarm’s life.

For example, a Kidde-brand carbon monoxide alarm will begin “chirping” every 30 seconds when it is reaching its operational end of life. When in this mode, the alarm will not be able to detect carbon monoxide, and the chirping will only stop if power is cut off from the unit. During the end of life warning, Kidde CO alarms with a digital display will read “ERR,” and when the Peak Level Memory Button is pressed, the display will show “E,” “O” and “9.” The user will know that this is the end of life warning, and not a low battery warning, because the chirp will return if the batteries are replaced. If you are ever unsure about the expiration date of the carbon monoxide alarms, it is best to replace it with an alarm that meets the newest standards.

About Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is deadly gas that is invisible, odorless and colorless. It is created during the combustion process when fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas and oil, burn incompletely. Potential sources of carbon monoxide around the home include heating and cooking equipment, and vehicles or generators running in attached garages. A person can be poisoned by a small concentration of CO over a longer time period, or by a larger concentration
in a shorter period; the dangers depend on a number of variables, including the person’s health and activity level. Symptoms of CO exposure can be similar to those of the flu, food poisoning or other illnesses. If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds and you believe anyone in the household is experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, everyone should move into fresh air and then call 9-1-1. If the alarm sounds and no one is experiencing symptoms, move into fresh air and call the Lyndhurst Fire Department, (201) 939-2900. If you are unable to leave the home, call for help, open doors and windows, and turn off all possible sources while you wait for assistance to arrive. Never ignore an alarm!

Safety Tips
• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home, so that when one sounds, they all sound. Note: Since CO is roughly the same weight as air, it neither rises toward the ceiling nor sinks to the floor. Additionally, locate CO detectors at least 15 ft. away from fuel-burning appliances.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.

• Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. (Ie: UL approved)

• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If the alarm still sounds, call the fire department.

• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if the garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.

• During and after a snow storm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.

• A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.

• Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO; only use them outside

It is a great practice to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when changing the clocks during daylight saving.

Remember Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives! When in doubt, we’ll check it out.

Chief David J. Wartel
1st Asst. Chief Daniel Rente
2nd Asst. Chief Paul F. Haggerty