Gas Detection Systems To Monitor And Control Carbon Monoxide Emissions In Enclosed Environments

Until recently, many parking garage owners and managers did not realize the detrimental

effects that CO emissions from motor vehicles have on the air quality inside parking garages. Today, with increasing awareness of indoor air quality, architects and engineers in a variety of industries --from parking structures to boiler rooms to vehicle repair shops--are specifying Conspec CO monitors and ventilation fan controllers for the monitoring and control of CO and other combustible gases in enclosed environments.

Ventilation systems are a must for todays parking facilities, coal-fired power generation plants factories and warehouses. But the expense of operating ventilation fans 24 hours, seven days a week can be very costly. This explains why mechanical contractors and HVAC specialists are increasingly specifying energy efficient CO monitoring and ventilations systems for:

parking garages

factories and warehouses

tunnels

boiler rooms

car dealerships

vehicle repair shops

bus and rail terminals

sallyports

service bays

ice skating rinks

Because motor vehicles and trains emit carbon monoxide, basically, any indoor structure where motor vehicles or trains pass through or sit can accumulate CO emissions which could reach dangerous levels. When not properly ventilated, CO concentration can build to toxic levels.

It is important that gas detection systems be installed in these environments.

The Health Effects of CO Exposure

CO, an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that CO poisoning claims nearly 500 lives and accounts for more than 15,000 visits to emergency rooms annually. Effects of CO poisoning include headache, nausea and fatigue, or at higher levels, confusion, staggering, heart palpitation, unconsciousness and death. Furthermore, when CO emissions fill a space, the oxygen in that space is depleted, causing asphyxiation. This is why carbon monoxide monitoring is so crucial.

A mixed-use parking garage, coal-fired power plant, or bus or rail terminal without adequate ventilation of CO can easily exceed NIOSH and OSHA recommendations, putting workers, tenants and commuters at severe health and safety risks. This is why California and several other states have passed laws to limit CO levels in parking garage and other indoor structures.

CO Sensing Technologies

CO monitors utilize different types of sensors, and not all CO sensors are alike. Electrochemical sensing technology provides many advantages over the older semiconductor (or solid state) sensors. Electrochemical sensors offer high resolution ( 0.5 ppm), a linear signal, long-term stability (5% over the lifetime of the sensor) and immunity to false alarms caused by nuisance gases.

Decreasing Safety Risks

Monitoring and control of CO in indoor environments can also help prevent fires. The best CO sensing technologies will also alert facility and emergency personnel, via cell phone, in the case of dangerous concentrations of CO, which can indicate the imminent threat of fire. Gas detection systems are key for safety in these areas.

Reducing Ventilation Costs and Saving Energy

While inadequate ventilation can drastically increase the risks of liability, continuous operation of ventilation systems can be costly. This explains the growing environmental trend toward installation of CO monitoring and ventilation control systems, particularly in large cities where there are many subterranean parking structures. In many cases, installation of electrochemical CO monitoring and ventilation systems can save up to 85% in energy costs.

CO Monitoring and Ventilation Systems

In response to the demand for energy savings, CONSPEC Controls recently developed an electrochemical CO monitoring and ventilation system. The CONSPEC 911154 Carbon Monoxide Monitor and Ventilation Fan Controller is often specified due to its large coverage area. For instance, in a garage with ten-foot ceilings, one unit will cover 10,000 square feet, while competing systems require two units in the same space.

For maximum cost efficiency in new construction, the design plan should include an integrated CO monitoring and ventilation system. However, it is never too late for owners of existing garages to realize the cost savings of a CO monitoring and ventilation system.

The environmental cost savings for gas detection system scan be realized by installing the CONSPEC 911154 CO monoxide monitoring and ventilation fan system:

Cost Savings ($/yr) = 0.7457 Hp P T W (1-S) (1/E)

Where:

0.7457 = conversion factor, in horsepower to kilowatts

Hp = fan motor shaft horsepower (total for all fans)

P = price of electricity, in cents per kilowatt-hour

T = fan operating time without 91154, in hours per week

W = weeks per year

S = fan operating time fraction with 911154

E = Fan motor efficiency

Building owners, construction firms, HVAC companies and engineers should consider the advantages of Conspec Controls CO gas detection monitoring and control system: reduced liability, cost savings, environmental energy savings and lower noise levels. Further information can be found at www.conspec-controls.com.

by: Conspec Controls

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