Conducting carbon monoxide (CO) testing

Testing for CO gas spillage from open-flued gas appliances must be carried out in two tests. These tests should be carried out in the order shown, otherwise you will not know whether the fault lies with negative pressure when extraction fans are operating or with the appliance installation.

Test 1

Operate exhaust fans and conduct a smoke test with the appliance not in operation to establish if a negative pressure environment exists.

Test 2

Operate the appliance while operating exhaust fans and test for spillage.

Note: While carrying out spillage testing, take readings of your exposure to CO gas. Measure the CO levels where you are located. This information will allow you to calculate your average CO exposure for an eight-hour period.

Test 1 – For negative pressure environment

1. Close external doors and windows and open or close internal doors to achieve the greatest negative pressure effect.
    
2. Activate all extraction fans.
    
3. Using smoke matches, incense sticks or any other suitable smoke-producing device, check that smoke is not drawn away from the appliance draught-diverter or from appliance openings for the intake of combustion air.
    
4. If smoke is drawn away from the appliance in 'Step 3' then open a window in the room where the appliance is installed in order to overcome the negative pressure.
   
   Note: If a window is opened during testing to overcome a negative pressure then additional ventilation, equivalent to the area of the open window, must be provided.
   
   The appliance must be isolated until additional permanent ventilation is provided.
    
5. Proceed to Test 2.

Test 2 – Test for CO spillage with the appliance and exhaust fans operating

1. Turn on your detection equipment and take a background reading in the room in which the appliance is situated. Record the CO reading. A background CO reading may be present due to other sources such as cookers or from the smoke test.
    
2. With exhaust fans still in operation, switch on the appliance and adjust to the highest setting of the burner and appliance fan (if fitted).
    
3. Place the CO detection equipment sampling probe at all locations where leakage or spillage of combustion products can occur, including the draught-diverter relief openings, heat exchanger joints, flue connection and the base of flue product collection hoods.
   
   Note: When sampling at the draught-diverter opening, please ensure that the sampling probe is positioned adjacent to the opening and not inside the draught-diverter.
    
4. Continue monitoring for leakage or spillage and in particular record the readings taken after the appliance has been operating for five minutes. The CO reading recorded after the appliance has been operating for five minutes should not exceed the background reading in the room. 
   
   Note: You may need to re-check the CO background level as it may have risen due to the initial spillage from the appliance at start-up.
    
5. If no CO spillage is detected, then testing is completed.
    
6. If, however, CO spillage is detected, then you will need to switch off the exhaust fans and restart the appliance from a cold start.
    
   1. If there is CO spillage after five minutes without a negative pressure environment, then check for faults with the appliance or flue. If faults cannot be found or rectified, then the appliance must be isolated and it is recommended to contact the appliance manufacturer.
       
   2. If there is no CO spillage after five minutes, then a negative pressure remained when conducting Test 2 and the window in Test 1 was not opened far enough. Switch on exhaust fans once again and open the window further until CO spillage ceases.

If a window is opened during testing to overcome a negative pressure then additional ventilation equivalent to the area of the open window must be provided. The appliance must be isolated until additional permanent ventilation is provided.

Test 1 – Test for negative pressure environment

1. Close external doors and windows and open or close internal doors to achieve the greatest negative pressure effect.
    
2. Activate all extraction fans.
    
3. Using smoke matches, incense sticks or any other suitable smoke-producing device, check that smoke is not drawn away from the appliance draught-diverter or from appliance openings for the intake of combustion air.
    
4. If smoke is drawn away from the appliance in 'Step C' then open a window in the room where the appliance is installed in order to overcome the negative pressure.
   
   Note: If a window is opened during testing to overcome a negative pressure, then additional ventilation, equivalent to the area of the open window, must be provided.
   
   The appliance must be isolated until additional permanent ventilation is provided.
    
5. Proceed to Test 2.

Test 2 – Test for CO spillage with the appliance and exhaust fans operating

1. Turn on your detection equipment and take a background reading in the room in which the appliance is situated. Record the CO reading. A background CO reading may be present due to other sources such as cookers or from the smoke test.
    
2. With exhaust fans still in operation, switch on the appliance and adjust to the highest setting of the burner and appliance fan (if fitted).
    
3. Place the CO detection equipment sampling probe at all locations where leakage or spillage of combustion products can occur, including the draught-diverter relief openings, heat exchanger joints, flue connection and the base of flue product collection hoods.
   
   Note: When sampling at the draught-diverter opening, please ensure that the sampling probe is positioned adjacent to the opening and not inside the draught-diverter.
    
4. Continue monitoring for leakage or spillage and in particular record the readings taken after the appliance has been operating for 10 minutes. The CO reading recorded after the appliance has been operating for 10 minutes should not exceed the background reading in the room.
   
   Note: You may need to re-check the CO background level as it may have risen due to the initial spillage from the appliance at start-up.
    
5. If no CO spillage is detected, then testing is completed.
    
6. If, however, CO spillages is detected, then you will need to switch off the exhaust fans and restart the appliance from a cold start.
    
   1. If there is CO spillage after 10 minutes without a negative pressure environment, then check for faults with the appliance or flue. If faults cannot be found or rectified, then the appliance must be isolated and it is recommended to contact the appliance manufacturer.
       
   2. If there is no CO spillage after 10 minutes, then a negative pressure remained when conducting Test 2 and the window in Test 1 was not opened far enough. Switch on exhaust fans once again and open the window further until CO spillage ceases.

If a window is opened during testing to overcome a negative pressure then additional ventilation equivalent to the area of the open window must be provided. 

The appliance must be isolated until additional permanent ventilation is provided.

Discharge of spillage from central heating units located outside the building, in the roof or under floor may in many cases go unnoticed. What may be found is CO being drawn into the building where the heat exchanger has cracked or seals within the combustion chamber have been damaged.

1. If the appliance is an open flued appliance, and installed indoors, then follow the testing procedures for open flued gas appliances first.
    
2. For all central heater appliances, note the background CO level. Operate the heater and place the detection equipment sampling probe in the air stream of a duct outlet (floor register or ceiling register). Monitor for CO for a further 10 minutes.
   
   If the CO level exceeds the background level then the appliance is leaking or spilling CO and must be isolated.
   
   If any cracks or openings within the heat exchanger of the central heater are evident, combustion products that contain CO may be dispersed throughout the building.
   
   Note: As the heat exchanger heats up and cracks and openings expand, more combustion products may enter the supply air stream and flow into the building.

1. Check the background CO levels.
    
2. Operate the appliance for 10 minutes and then check for CO at the appliance.

Always check the lower levels of room sealed gas space heaters as these appliances may incorporate a condensate drain at the base of the heat exchanger and this could be an area where combustion products may discharge into the building. The CO level should not exceed the background level.