Standard CO detectors don’t fully protect the typical family – especially the unborn, small children and the elderly or sick. Retail brand carbon monoxide alarms are designed to meet governing standards such as UL Standard UL2034, or related Canadian standard CSA 6.19. These alarms (at these standards) are primarily designed to protect healthy adults from high levels of carbon monoxide. The standard does not require an alarm to ever alarm for concentrations below 70 PPM.
UL 2034 / CSA 6.19 approved alarms must adhere to the following alarm test points and minimum exposure times:
Note: Carbon Monoxide is measured and displayed in “PPM” or parts per million.
- 0 – 29 PPM – The detector must remain silent. If it has a digital display, it must show a zero reading.
- 30 PPM – 69 PPM – If the carbon monoxide level remains in this range for a minimum of 30 days, the audible alarm may sound. If the unit has a digital display, it should display the CO level provided it is 30 ppm or higher.
- 70 PPM – 149 PPM – The alarm must sound when levels reach this range for between 60 – 240 minutes.
- 150 PPM – 399 PPM – The alarm must sound if the carbon monoxide level remains in this range for between 10 – 50 minutes.
- 400 PPM + – The alarm must sound if the carbon monoxide level remains at or above this level for between 4 – 15 minutes.
Note: All alarm and display levels listed above have a minimum and maximum time window in which it can alarm. For example the minimum audible alarm test point of 70PPM has a range of between 60 – 240 minutes, meaning that the unit can take upwards of 4 hours before alerting the occupants of this potentially serious health hazard.
The above is true for all UL 2034 / CSA 6.19 standard alarm points as listed above of 70 PPM, 150 PPM, and 400 PPM.
