Carbon monoxide detection: how to make the right choice?

Carbon monoxide: an omnipresent danger

A silent but very real threat

Every year in France, over 3,000 people fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning. Around 100 of them die. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by the incomplete combustion of materials such as wood, coal, gas or fuel oil. It can escape from faulty heating appliances, poorly maintained hot-water appliances, or even appliances used inappropriately, such as an indoor barbecue.

This gas is totally undetectable without a sensor: it has no smell, color or taste. Only reliable monitoring, combined with high-performance detection equipment, can prevent poisoning. It's only when a certain concentration is inhaled that symptoms appear: headaches, dizziness, nausea... then loss of consciousness.

In high doses, carbon monoxide can kill in less than an hour. That's why it's essential to check your combustion appliances regularly, and to install detection equipment in high-risk areas.

High-risk environments

Poisoning often occurs in the same conditions:

• No ventilation or blocked ventilation

• Use of combustion appliances in closed rooms

• Old or poorly maintained appliances

• Risky behavior (auxiliary heating, indoor generators)

In winter, the risks are multiplied, particularly in social housing, schools, nurseries and older buildings. But even a well-insulated house can become dangerous if it isn't properly ventilated, which has a direct impact on occupants' health. Fuel poverty sometimes leads occupants to use risky heating systems, endangering their health and turning their homes into high-risk zones without them even realizing it.

That's why it's vital that every home is fitted with reliable detectors, to provide early warning and save lives, while protecting everyone's health. A home should be a safe place, not an invisible trap that threatens health.

Having reliable, connected and regularly maintained detectors makes all the difference in preventing these risky situations. Proper maintenance of equipment is essential to ensure that it functions properly and provides reliable alerts. These detectors play an essential role in protecting the health of the most vulnerable populations, making them a key element of safety and well-being, underlining the importance of rigorous, ongoing maintenance.

Prevention rather than cure: technology at the service of safety

Connected detection

Faced with these challenges, carbon monoxide detection can no longer be left to chance. A traditional, battery-operated detector is a first response. But today, advances in IoT enable us to go much further.

At Nexelec, each detector is designed to offer much more than a simple alert. We are developing a connected detector capable of :

• Continuously measure the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in the air, often emitted by a faulty boiler, with ppm accuracy.
• Provide an immediate warning if ppm thresholds are exceeded, particularly in the presence of gases linked to a poorly maintained boiler
• Can be integrated into Building Management Systems (BMS) to monitor the boiler and guarantee occupant safety, by continuously monitoring ppm CO

This detector is ideal for multi-family homes, public buildings, schools and corporate housing. Thanks to this type of detector, monitoring is continuous, particularly around the boiler, with precise monitoring of ppm, and intervention can be triggered quickly, even before the first symptoms appear.

Multi-sensors: towards global protection

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible and dangerous gas, just one of the many risks associated with indoor air quality. And when it comes to preserving life, no compromise should be made in the face of this potentially lethal gas. That's why every Nexelec detector often combines several functions: smoke detection, temperature, humidity, CO₂, fine particles... and a precise alarm for this toxic gas, designed to meet the requirements of professionals and compliant with the Good Practice Guide.

By opting for a multi-sensor detector, you benefit from a more comprehensive, high-performance approach to protecting life on a daily basis, by monitoring this invisible gas and other essential parameters. Each detector is equipped with an effective alarm that goes off instantly in the event of danger, guaranteeing sufficient warning time to act quickly, as recommended by all professionals and according to the associated technical guide.

• Simplify installation (a single detector for multiple measurements and an integrated alarm with long operating time), a professional choice that follows the installation guide to facilitate building management.
• Reduce equipment and maintenance costs thanks to optimized component lifetimes, a clear professional advantage in line with the maintenance guide.
• Centralize data for a global vision of comfort and safety, with real-time monitoring of the duration of exposure to risks, ideal for rigorous professional management, supported by a clear user guide.

Because life is precious, every building deserves reliable, intelligent equipment, and a reactive alarm with a fast response time, designed for the needs of demanding professionals and validated by a quality guide. Thanks to this type of detector, buildings gain in efficiency, safety and intelligence - for a better quality of life for occupants and optimum gas monitoring with immediate alarm, worthy of a professional solution and in line with industry guidelines.