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UL Listed Carbon Monoxide detectors give NO PROTECTION AT ALL for low level CO poisoning.

1. Store bought, UL-2034 listed CO detectors must comply with UL standards which were written largely by manufacturers to allow them to sell cheap, mass produced detectors that would not cause false, or Low Level alarms that would burden the fire departments and other first responders. There are NO requirements that the sensor element be monitored to make sure it is still working. UL Listed CO alarms are supposed to have an expected life of 5 years. Testing by the Gas Research Institute was summed up as follows: "These tests reveal that a significant portion of some widely installed alarm brands did not alarm in CO poisoning incidents with potentially lethal consequences. In particular, they did not adequately protect at low relative humidity. Digital display readings on some alarms showed little relationship to actual CO levels. Results indicate that certification to

UL 2034 does not assure the performance or reliability of CO alarms".

2. To prevent false alarms and enable cheap mass production, the alarm levels were set fairly high. UL Listed CO monitors are NOT ALLOWED to alarm until they have been continuously exposed to 70 ppm (Parts Per Million) for one to four hours. With these units, depending on the method of sensor calibration used by the manufacturer, you could be exposed to 69 ppm FOREVER and they would NEVER go into alarm.

Units with a display are REQUIRED to show ZERO ppm until they have been continuously exposed to 30 ppm for 30 days. With these units you could be exposed to 29 ppm FOREVER and they would neither display it nor would they go into alarm. When they do display a reading, the present UL-Standard has NO accuracy requirement, [First Alert's Model FCD4 states on page 19 of their owner's manual that the display is accurate to +100%, - 40%]. A reading of 100 means

the actual level of CO is somewhere between 60 and 200 ppm. So, the display is completely unreliable.

3. UL-2034 Listed detectors give NO PROTECTION AT ALL against chronic low level CO poisoning. ONLY a NON UL-2034 LISTED detector can provide adequate detection of low level CO poisoning.

4. Technology has improved dramatically since the standards were written and much higher quality sensors are now available but cost more. If UL tightened the standards to give more protection to the public, the cost to produce detectors meeting the more stringent standards would rise. Manufacturers could no longer sell the cheaply made, mass produced detectors.

5. Many studies have shown that chronic, low level CO poisoning can cause many serious health problems.
A. A fetus is severely and irreversibly affected by Very Low Levels of COHb (CO in the blood) during the 3rd trimester.

Expired air carbon monoxide concentration in mothers and their spouses above 5 ppm is associated with decreased fetal growth.
B. Permanent damage to the hearing of the very young. At 25 parts per million CO in the air, the gas creates oxidative stress, a condition that damages the cochlear cells, leading to impairment of the auditory nerves.
C. CO poisoning is a known risk factor for many individuals, including those with: Asthma, Bronchitis, Emphysema and Various other Respiratory Problems, Anemia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Congestive Heart Failure and individuals living at high altitude.
D. On warmer days (at least 68 degrees), stroke admission rates in hospitals increased as air levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other pollutants rose. In contrast, on cooler days, only carbon monoxide levels were tied to such rates.

E. Among people who suffer moderate to severe carbon monoxide poisoning, more than one third will develop cardiovascular symptoms, new research indicates.

6. A warning in the Kidde-Nighthawk Model #KN-COPP-3 says: "Pregnant women, infants, children, senior citizens, persons with heart or respiratory problems and smokers may experience symptoms at lower levels of exposure than noted. Individuals with medical problems may consider using warning devices which provide audible and visual signals for carbon monoxide concentrations under 30 ppm."

7. Each year in the USA, it is estimated that between 500 and 2,000 people die from CO poisoning. Some Medical Reports indicate that CO contributes to as many as 12,000 deaths annually. It is completely unknown how many suffer health problems from low level CO poisoning without ever knowing it.

8. Many fire departments require the responders to put on their Air Packs if more than 35 ppm of CO is present.

9. Other requirements for action to be taken at lower levels include: ASHRAE @ 9 PPM, EPA 9 PPM, Canadian Workplace Initial Warning @ 11 PPM, ACGIH @ 25 PPM, NIOSH @ 35 PPM, and OSHA @ 50 PPM. UL Listed detectors are NOT ALLOWED to alarm at these levels.

10. In a survey, 80% of Gas Companies said they will RED TAG (shut off) household appliances if they find over 10 ppm of CO in a home.

11. The sensor element in UL Listed CO monitors is supposed to have a life of 5 years. After this time, depending on the type of sensor, it may cause false alarms or become less sensitive. If you have a UL Listed CO monitor that is over 3 years old, there is a good chance that it is not

operating properly. The UL "Off the Shelf" Re-Testing revealed that 47% of the CO Alarms "Failed to meet" at least one of the performance tests that they had been "Listed" as fully meeting! Other professional testing has revealed an even higher failure rate. If your CO monitor dies without warning, so could you.

You can be exposed to CO if you: have an attached garage; are near a highway; have overheated electrical wiring; heat or cook with or operate any device that burns gasoline, diesel, natural gas, propane, wood, charcoal or oil; breathe fumes from an event that causes incomplete combustion of any carbon based fuel.

Carbon Monoxide has NO odor, NO taste and NO color. It is completely undetectable by the human senses. Any mix of the following symptoms may be due to CO exposure, especially if chronic or noticed by more than one person at the same time: Headache, Muscle Pain, Fatigue, Nausea,

Vomiting, Diarrhea, Confusion, Memory Loss, Heart/Chest Pain, Rapid Heart Beat, Rapid Breathing, Shortness of Breath, Changes in the Senses; Hearing, Vision, Touch, Taste or Smell.

The professional quality CO Experts low level CO health monitor is the solution to chronic low level CO poisoning. It uses the best industrial grade Electrochemical Sensor. It stores and displays any level from 10 to 70 ppm. The display is updated every 10 seconds and is accurate to within One Part Per Million. So, if the display reads 15, you know the level is between 14 and 16 ppm. The accurate display gives confirmation that the alarm is not false and allows you to see if the level of CO is rising or falling in response to repairs or actions you have taken, such as opening a window. It can be used in your home, vehicle, motor home, camper or in hotel rooms.

It is the only way to know when a CO poisoning problem is just beginning. It

gives you early warning so you are alerted to find and fix the problem BEFORE it becomes a serious health or life safety issue. The CO monitor is powered by a 9 volt battery that will run it for 5 years. Because it is battery operated, it continues to monitor even during a power outage, when it is more likely that an alternate heating or lighting fuel source is being used. It can easily be moved from room to room. It stores a history of CO exposure for the previous 999 days (2 years 8 months) as well as the peak levels of CO, when it occurred and the expected COHb (level of CO in the blood) of a person occupying the area. It has a failsafe design that monitors the circuitry, the battery, the sensor and gives an "end of sensor life" warning. When the sensor wears out, the unit can be repaired, for a fee, and returned to you with a new warranty. No other CO monitor has these extensive features and benefits.

It is, without question, the most accurate, reliable, repeatable, most fully self-monitored product, with the greatest amount of data recall capability on the market today. They are a necessity and make a thoughtful gift for someone you care about. Call now. Black Forest Home Security Systems 719-495-2715