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Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, and Charcoal

Smoke detectors should be in every home in Canada. You can minimize your family's risk of fire-related injury or death by installing the right number of smoke detectors in the right places in your home and by keeping them all in good working order. Health Canada recommends that you make sure the smoke detectors you use meet the requirements of the ULC standards.

Canadians should also be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is highly toxic because it interferes with the body's ability to transport oxygen through the blood to the body's cells.

Carbon Monoxide detectors can warn you if this deadly gas leaks into your home. Make sure to choose detectors that bear the certification mark of an organization that is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, such as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). In particular, products tested and certified against the current Canadian safety standard for CO detectors, is CAN/CSA-6.19-01 Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices, would be labelled identifying this standard. Verify the label, visit the manufacturer's website, or ask the retailer, to find out if the detector you are considering meets this standard. Follow the manufacturer's directions for installation, care, testing and replacement of the detector.

Sources of Carbon Monoxide include malfunctioning furnaces, exhaust vents for gas appliances or wood burning fireplaces that are not properly vented, and exhaust fumes from idling cars.

Another source of Carbon Monoxide can be from lit charcoal briquettes. Carbon Monoxide may be produced in dangerous concentrations from even warm-to-the-touch charcoal briquettes. Never bring lit or warm to the touch charcoal indoors, whether it is in a house, garage, trailer, or tent. Heating an enclosed area with a charcoal grill can cause suffocation or death. Health Canada regulates safety warnings on charcoal packaging under the Hazardous Products (Charcoal) Regulations.

Further information on Carbon Monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and charcoal:

• Health Canada Reminds Canadians of the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide and How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Holiday and Winter Safety Video
• Underwriter's Laboratories of Canada: Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Important Information You Should Know
• It's Your Health - Smoke Detectors
• Smoke Detectors Save Lives
• Letter to Stakeholders: Enforcement of Section 3 of the Hazardous Products (Charcoal) Regulations