Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.019 - Residential Carbon Monoxide Response STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL TACTICAL OPERATIONS 202.019 RESIDENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE RESPONSE EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 2013 Current Revision Date: 6/16/21 Next Revision Date: 6/16/23 Author’s Name/Rank: Joshua Sellers, Engineer Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Evelyn Yin-Zepeda, Management Analyst II PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish a standard and consistent method for Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) members to respond to residential carbon monoxide alarms. APPLICATION All personnel responding to residential carbon monoxide alarms are to apply these operational guidelines to safely and effectively mitigate the incident. OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas produced from incomplete combustion of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers also produce CO. The gas is slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide can cause illness and even death at high enough levels. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are “flu-like”, including headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Response to CO alarms should be a single–company, non-emergency response. If it is determined an EMS situation has occurred, Communications should dispatch an EMS unit and response should be a single-company, emergency response. Additional units may be added as the situation dictates. Section 202.019 Page 1 of 4 Communications should advise all occupants to evacuate the structure until the situation has been mitigated and to close all doors when exiting. PROCESS 1. An interview of the occupants should take place outside of any suspected contaminated areas. Information to be gathered from the occupants as follows: a. Is anyone feeling ill currently or in the past week? b. What type of gas appliances or other CO sources are in the residence? Are any being used at this time? c. The number and location of any CO detectors that have been activated. d. How long have the detectors been alarming? e. Has the structure been ventilated? If so, how long? 2. Using an FFD carbon monoxide detector: a. “Zero” the instrument in fresh air prior to making entry into the structure. b. Take the first reading just inside the doorway to determine initial CO level. c. Monitor the CO levels within the structure beginning with the lower levels of the building and proceed to the higher levels. i. CO is slightly lighter than air with a vapor density of 0.97, and has a flammable range between 125,000ppm – 740,000ppm. 3. Actions to take depending on instrument readings: a. Readings found to be 9 ppm or less: i. Inform the occupant(s) the CO detection equipment DID NOT detect an elevated level of CO at the time. ii. Recommend the occupant(s) check the personal CO detector per the manufacturer’s recommendations. Section 202.019 Page 2 of 4 iii. Attempt to reset the occupant’s(s’) CO detector. iv. Inform the occupant(s) if the detector activates again to call 911. b. Readings found to be more than 9 ppm and less than 25 ppm: i. Any reading above 9 ppm should be considered an above normal reading. ii. Inform the occupant(s) the CO detection equipment DID detect an elevated level of CO. iii. If it is determined an appliance or heating unit is malfunctioning and producing CO, attempt to turn off the appliance and/or shut off its fuel source. iv. Do not attempt any repairs or adjustments to the potentially malfunctioning equipment. v. The Incident Commander (IC) should request a response by the appropriate utilities company, if applicable. vi. If the incident location is a commercial facility or multi- family occupancy, contact should be made through dispatch to Code Enforcement and the building management for repairs and follow up. vii. The occupant(s) should be informed of the process taking place, what corrective actions are being taken, and advised of their responsibilities, if applicable. viii. Once the source of the problem has been determined and the premises have been reduced to a safe level of CO (below 9 ppm) the premises may be occupied at the discretion of the IC. c. Readings found to be more than 25 ppm and less than 500 ppm: i. The building or affected area should be evacuated immediately and full turnout gear and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus should be utilized during the investigation. ii. Follow steps previously listed under 3B. Section 202.019 Page 3 of 4 iii. Entry crews may remove their SCBA when CO levels have been reduced to less than 25 ppm throughout the entire structure. d. Readings found to be at or over 500 ppm: i. Immediately leave the structure, isolate, deny entry, and request a HMRT response through dispatch. INFORMATION The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The EPA has set 9ppm as the maximum acceptable level of carbon monoxide outdoors. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for carbon monoxide of 25 ppm as an eight- hour Time Weighted Average (TWA). The immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) is set at 1200ppm. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table NIOSH: Carbon Monoxide https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0105.html Training and Equipment Manual Section 308.010, Ventis Gas monitor US Consumer Product Safety Commission: Guideline for Emergency Response https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/coguide.pdf Section 202.019 Page 4 of 4