Every year, the heating season brings an increased number of interventions in residential premises and buildings. Most often, these involve chimney soot fires and incidents related to the presence of carbon monoxide—CO poisoning.

During last year's heating season (2020–2021), 2,756 carbon monoxide-related incidents were recorded across the country. In these incidents, 1,187 people were injured and 43 people died. (Data from the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service.)

View photo: Leaflet warning about carbon monoxide poisoning View photo: Leaflet warning about carbon monoxide poisoning View photo: Leaflet warning about carbon monoxide poisoning

Officers from the Bolesławiec County Headquarters of the State Fire Service:

In both the city of Bolesławiec and Bolesławiec County, during the 2020–2021 heating season we recorded 65 chimney soot fires. There were also 25 incidents involving carbon monoxide in residential buildings, and 9 people were injured.

What is the greatest danger?

The greatest danger during the heating season is carbon monoxide, commonly known as CO.

Why is CO so dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is produced during the incomplete combustion of combustible materials. It is highly toxic and lighter than air, which is why it accumulates mainly near the ceiling. The danger of CO poisoning stems from the fact that carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless.

Carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from reaching the body by taking its place in hemoglobin (red blood cells), causing death in cases of prolonged exposure.

What is the main cause of carbon monoxide emissions?

The main source of emissions in residential buildings is the malfunctioning of chimney flues: ventilation and smoke flues. Their faulty operation may result from:

  • leaks;
  • lack of maintenance, including cleaning;
  • structural defects;
  • failure to adapt the existing ventilation system to the airtightness standards of modern windows and doors, following the replacement of old windows and doors with new ones.

The Bolesławiec County Headquarters of the State Fire Service REMINDS YOU!

Pursuant to § 34 of the Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 7 June 2010 on fire protection of buildings, other structures and areas (Journal of Laws No. 109, item 719), in buildings where solid, liquid or gaseous fuel is burned, pollutants are removed from smoke and exhaust flues:

  • four times a year in homes heated with solid fuel (e.g. coal or wood);
  • twice a year in homes heated with liquid or gaseous fuel;
  • at least once a month, unless local regulations provide otherwise, from the furnaces of collective catering and food service establishments;
  • at least once a year, pollutants are removed from ventilation flues.

In turn, the Construction Law (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 1333) requires owners and managers of apartment blocks and single-family houses to carry out periodic inspections—at least once a year!—of the technical condition of gas installations and chimney flues (smoke, exhaust and ventilation).

The officers add:

WE ALSO REMIND YOU not to store combustible materials near stoves or other heating appliances. A distance of at least 0.5 m must be maintained in accordance with:

  • § 4(1)(8)(a) of the above-mentioned regulation—storing combustible materials and using interior décor and furnishings made of combustible materials at a distance of less than 0.5 m from:
    a) appliances and installations whose external surfaces may heat up to a temperature exceeding 373.15 K (100°C).

What can you do to avoid CO poisoning?

  1. Clean, check the tightness of and carry out technical inspections of chimney flues regularly.
  2. Do not cover or obstruct heating appliances.
  3. Do not seal or obstruct ventilation grilles.
  4. Use only technically sound appliances, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
  5. When replacing windows with new ones, check that the ventilation works properly. New windows are usually much more airtight than those previously used in the building and may worsen ventilation.

Firefighters:

DO NOT IGNORE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DROWSINESS, WEAKNESS OR A RAPID HEARTBEAT. THEY MAY SIGNAL THAT YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

They also add:

In such a situation, ventilate the room you are in immediately and seek medical advice or call 112.

(Header photo: archive).