What to do about CO alarms?
Hello everyone, If you have fixed gas appliances in residential premises you let, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, unintelligible as they are, will affect you from 1st October 2022.
The government has published guidance for landlords and tenants which says all relevant landlords must: “Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).”
Does anyone know why gas cookers are excluded?
Could it be that the products of combustion are vented inside the kitchen and so could set off a CO alarm?
If there is also a balanced-flue boiler in the kitchen with the gas cooker, it would appear a CO alarm is required – or is it?
I would not want to fit one unnecessarily which might just annoy my tenants with the alarm going off each time they cook on the gas hob.
Can anyone please offer clarification on this?
Thank you,
Richard
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Member Since July 2017 - Comments: 10
11:42 AM, 11th August 2022, About 4 years ago
Hi Richard,
It is my understanding that gas cookers are excluded as they are thought to only be used for short periods whilst cooking, rather than running for hours, on a timer, or overnight.
Many homes also have a boiler located in the kitchen and therefore one CO alarm would be sufficient – in the gas of a balanced-flue boiler in the kitchen a CO alarm would be required in any case.
Member Since November 2020 - Comments: 88
12:01 PM, 11th August 2022, About 4 years ago
I have always thought this to be a strange rule, but I have always installed a CO alarm along with smoke detectors. They are inexpensive so why not install them. I have one flat where the boiler is in the kitchen and the CO alarm has never been set off by cooking, the smoke alarm with burnt toast etc yes 🙂
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 765
12:03 PM, 11th August 2022, About 4 years ago
Likewise I have CO2 alarms in kitchens with gas hobs and they’ve never gone off.
Member Since June 2022 - Comments: 111
12:10 PM, 11th August 2022, About 4 years ago
The CO alarm doesn’t need to be in the kitchen. The guidelines state ideally should be located between 1 & 3 meters from the appliance but can be anywhere on the same level as the appliance.
Member Since August 2015 - Comments: 53
1:21 PM, 11th August 2022, About 4 years ago
I have a CO alarm in the kitchen and I’m not aware that it has ever gone off because of fumes from the gas cooker. However, some years ago a CO alarm which the tenant had installed went off causing a major panic. After my gas engineer had inspected and been unable to find any problem we concluded it was a faulty alarm. I think alarms now are more reliable, but you should check the expiry date and replace it well before it expires.
Why gas cookers aren’t included in these regulations is a good question, because they should be. If you have time this is interesting: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/5/7/21247602/gas-stove-cooking-indoor-air-pollution-health-risks
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1446 - Articles: 1
3:06 PM, 11th August 2022, About 4 years ago
For around £14 get one. New guidance out in the last couple of weeks gives new placement for gas boilers
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3524 - Articles: 5
10:37 AM, 12th August 2022, About 4 years ago
£12 for a 10 year one. Bung it up in location of gas appliance. just do it. Peace of mind never mind about regs. Common sense prevails on this one.
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
2:20 PM, 12th August 2022, About 4 years ago
Has anyone got advice regarding brands to avoid ?
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 120
8:08 AM, 13th August 2022, About 4 years ago
On 23 November 2021, Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP announced the outcome of the consultation on domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms but it did not include gas cookers within the scope of regulations. There are of course concerns around the exclusion of gas cookers as any combustion appliance can potentially be the cause of an incidence of CO poisoning. As outlined in the consultation document, consideration was given to including gas cookers in scope but the evidence available showed that gas cookers are responsible for fewer incidents of CO poisoning than gas boilers. This may be because domestic gas cookers do not tend to be used continuously for long periods, unlike boilers. However, I feel it is better to be safe than sorry & all my properties have a CO2 detector in any/all rooms that houses a gas appliance.