DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:00:00 -0400
Reply-To: Jay Toigo <ojt3**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Jay Toigo <ojt3**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Carbon Monoxide Detector
All,
One of my colleagues and I received a call today from one of the fire
chiefs in our County regarding high carbon monoxide readings in an
enclosed space. This unto itself would not be a problem, simply
ventilating and turning off the CO producing device should suffice to
eliminate the source. There was no active device to produce the CO, no
actively running fuel burning device anywhere to be found. Upon further
inspection, it was observed that the CO reading increased when the
instrument was near the sump-pump, and that the battery in the back-up
for the pump was without water and that most of the plate area in the
lead-acid battery were exposed without electrolyte. A small amount of
heat was observed, but the battery was not on fire. The CO readings
dropped in the space once the battery unit was removed from the
basement. The occupant of the building complained of fatigue and was
treated at the scene.
The meter used for the analysis was a MSA 5 Star, which uses a
electronic sensor, for measuring CO. Unfortunately, wetted pH paper on
the tip of the meter input was not used, which would make this a simple
determination. I suspect that the battery had lost nearly all of its
water, and was possibly vaporizing the sulfuric acid, what surprised me
was the false CO reading and that the patient's symptoms mimic those of
CO poisoning.
Have others in our very knowledgeable group observed anything similar to
this scenario?
Best,
Jay Toigo
Eastern Pennsylvania
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