A working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is now required on every level of any residence with a fuel-burning appliance after changes to the Ontario Fire Code came into effect on January 1.
The law applies to any dwelling — including hunt camps and cottages — that contains a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, attached garage, or that receives heated air from a fuel-fired appliance located outside the home, such as a utility shed. Under previous rules, CO detectors were only required outside of every sleeping area.
CO is produced when fuels like propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil, or wood do not burn completely in appliances and devices, including furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable heaters, generators, or vehicles.
Exposure to the invisible, tasteless, and odourless gas can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and death. More than 65% of CO-related injuries and deaths in Ontario occur in the home, the province stated.
