In 2022, the Government introduced legislation to ensure that all providers of social housing, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, fit Carbon Monoxide Alarms into all their residential properties. Carbon Monoxide, as an odourless and colourless gas is almost impossible to detect and can cause serious health problems. As the City Council’s Repair and Maintenance company, Unitas has been tasked with ensuring all homes have alarms fitted and maintained.
Health Advice
“Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels are safe to use. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous. When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs”.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning can include headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, confusion, chest and muscle pain and shortness of breath. These symptoms can appear in a number of other conditions including winter colds and as such these can be ignored or confused for something else such as a winter cold, migraine or flu. This can be especially dangerous as, if not treated, Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be life altering or fatal.
In cases where carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, the recommended steps to take are to stop using the appliance, to open doors and windows to ventilate the space and to contact either 111 or 999 for medical advice.
Alarms
Alarms are the best way to prevent Carbon Monoxide from causing an issue by ensuring that before poisoning can take place, the household is alerted to the present danger.
As at January 2023, Unitas has fitted Carbon Monoxide alarms in approximately 95% of Stoke-on-Trent City Council properties.
The standard alarm being fitted features a 10-year Lithium battery and is manufactured to British Standard. Customers will be provided with manufacturer instructions which show how the alarm works, how to test the alarm and how to detect a fault with it, along with other vital information.
We also install alarms suitable for those customers with hearing difficulties.
These can be paired to the existing Aico system the customer already has installed, which allow for warnings such as vibrating pillows, doorbells and phone alerts to be sent out.
We are working with customers to ensure that those properties which still need alarms fitting have these as soon as possible.
For those customers who have hard alarms, in order for them to continue to work efficiently, they should remain on the wall or ceiling in your property and should be tested regularly.
If you have not yet had an alarm fitted or if you need any help or advice relating to your alarm, please contact us as soon as possible on 01782 234100 and selecting option 2 or email enquiries@unitas.co.uk to book a home visit.
