You’ve probably heard or read some story about the dangerous aftermath of carbon monoxide. The colourless, odourless result of combustion (burning) is remarkably toxic, and potentially fatal.
It’s for that reason that Canadian building codes have rules about when and where Carbon Monoxide detectors should be installed.
For those who are doing renovations, or thinking of a new build, here’s the general rules about CO detectors (This is something we look for during a final inspection.)
CO detectors are required in new builds and renovations if the home contains an
a) an attached garage
b) a fuel-burning appliance (gas stove, oil furnace) or
c) a solid fuel-burning appliance (wood stove, pellet stove.)
Attached garage:
A Carbon Monoxide alarm should be installed either inside each bedroom or outside each bedroom within 5m (15') of each bedroom door
Fuel-burning appliance:
A Carbon Monoxide alarm should be installed either inside each bedroom or outside each bedroom within 5 metres (about 15 feet) of each bedroom door
Solid fuel-burning appliance:
Here’s where Code throws a bit of a curve ball. With wood or pellet stoves, a CO alarm is required inside each bedroom, or within 5m (15 feet), but also in the same room as the stove. This means that if you’ve got a new house with a wood stove in the basement, a CO alarm should be in the basement – usually installed at the ceiling – as well as outside any bedrooms in floors above.
Questions? Give our office a call.