Carbon Monoxide and Boats, Caravans, and Mobile Homes
Boat, caravan, and mobile home owners and users, should ensure that their heating appliances are correctly installed and serviced, and that they fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm.
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All heating appliances that use gas, coal, wood, or oil, produce carbon monoxide when they are used.
These appliances must have adequate permanent ventilation, particularly when used in confined spaces such as canal boats, caravans, and mobile homes etc.
Without sufficient ventilation these appliances will burn incorrectly and produce more deadly carbon monoxide, which may then enter the room/cabin.
Appliances that are ‘room sealed’ should not expel carbon monoxide in to a room/cabin. All other appliances, coal or gas for example, that draw air from the room/cabin, may expel carbon monoxide back into the room/cabin if the heater or the flue or ventilation is faulty.
Home owners are also advised to fit a carbon monoxide detector where heating appliances such as those described above are used.
Follow this important advice:
- Ensure that all heaters are fitted by a competent heating engineer, according to the installation instructions that must be supplied with them, and there after have them serviced regularly (at least every 12 months). Gas appliances must be fitted and serviced by a competent engineer from a CORGI registered business.
- Do not block air vents, even on the coldest winter day. Heaters must have permanent ventilation to allow in oxygen to help ensure proper burning of fuel, and allow carbon monoxide to escape.
- Fit a carbon monoxide detector. Boats should be fitted with a detector that is suitable for marine craft due to the possibility of damp.
- Fit a smoke detector.
- If you are not sure about any of your heating appliances, stop using them immediately and have them checked, including any flues for blockages.
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