Carbon Monoxide Poisioning...?

[GIT-R-DONE]

Ok, I have a few questions for you all.



1. What type of fume poisoning do you get from propane that will kill you. (ie: camper )



2. Do the fumes sink to the floor or rise to the ceiling?



3. How do you test your alarm in the camper, to verify that it works properly? (The one on the floor)



4. Is there a difference from Propane fumes and natural gas fumes , are they both carbon monoxide? I am talking about the exhaust form both of these from being burnt, (ie: furnace, stove... etc. )



5. What precautions can be taken to keep from getting gassed?



Thanks

 

[jgillott]

Let me see if I can help answer some of your questions.



1) Combustion of any fuel such as propane, natural gas, etc will produce Carbon Monoxide (CO). Though you may smell fumes from the combustion process, CO is odorless and colorless.



2) Not sure... sorry



3) Other than the test procedure for the alarm itself, there is no way to test for sure. If you have a concern, I would suggest keeping an additional detector in your camper (preferably battery operated).



4) All burnt gasses will produce CO in the combustion process. One fuel source is not necessarily any better than the other.



5) There are several things that you can do to keep from being exposed to CO. The first step is having the detectors in place. Second, make sure that the exhaust vent for the source is directed away from the living area, and is free from obstructions. If you feel that there is a danger of exposure, keep one or more windows or vents slightly open to allow a fresh air source in (make sure that the windows do not allow the fumes or exhaust to vent in however).





Every year we have a few people ask our department to check their RV. Generally, all departments will be glad to help you out with their detection units if you ask. Basically we have the owner run the applicable appliances for a half hour or so, and then do a sweep with our detection units.



Justin

 

[TGreschuk]

Propane is heavier than air and will pool at the lowest level (that is why underground garages don't allow propane) Natural gas is lighter then air and disperses into the air (unless it can't get out due to a confined space)



Trent

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by GIT-R-DONE

4. Is there a difference from Propane fumes and natural gas fumes , are they both carbon monoxide? I am talking about the exhaust form both of these from being burnt, (ie: furnace, stove... etc. )

5. What precautions can be taken to keep from getting gassed?

Thanks

3. I suppose if you wanted to test your floor-mounted propane detector, you could use a hand-held propane torch (not lit). Turn it on and wave some propane in the general vicinity of the detector. If it goes off, you know it can still detect propane. Whether it detects at the proper level (propane-to-air density) is another matter... .

4. Properly burning propane or natural gas will produce H2O and CO2. As I understand, CO is produced when flame comes in contact with metal. That is probably why gas ranges have not been outlawed - the range-top flame doesn't (normally) come into contact with metal.

5. Be sure you have a source of fresh air for combustion; let the device draw air from the camper, and make sure there's a functional air inlet in the camper somewhere. Make sure any exhaust pipes properly route exhaust gases outside.


N

 

[Scot]

1. What type of fume poisoning do you get from propane that will kill you. (ie: camper )



CO primarily.



2. Do the fumes sink to the floor or rise to the ceiling?



For all practical purposes CO has the same density as air.



3. How do you test your alarm in the camper, to verify that it works properly? (The one on the floor)



Is it a propane alarm or a CO alarm? A propane alarm should sound if you blow some on it from a unlit torch. Try not to totally saturate the sensor. I know of no practical method t otest a CO alarm. We calibrate our instruments using a hood and calibration gas.



4. Is there a difference from Propane fumes and natural gas fumes , are they both carbon monoxide? I am talking about the exhaust form both of these from being burnt, (ie: furnace, stove... etc. )



propane is more dense than air. Natural gas is less dense. Both will yield CO if the gas/air mixture is wrong or the area is sealed up and it continues to burn the same air.



5. What precautions can be taken to keep from getting gassed?



Ventilation. Don't use open flame for heat. HVAC and some fire departments have portable CO and or combustible gas meters. If in question, get it checked.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

For question #2, the RGasD (relative density of the gas compared to air at the same temp) is 0. 97



So, CO is slightly lighter than air, but it will pretty much evenly disperse throughout a given space.