Open AccessResidential Carbon Monoxide Detector Failure Rates in the United States
Author(s) -
Timothy J. Ryan,
Katherine J. Arnold
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2011.300274
Subject(s) - detector , hazardous waste , carbon monoxide , alarm , carbon monoxide poisoning , reliability (semiconductor) , work (physics) , public health , environmental health , medicine , poison control , medical emergency , environmental science , engineering , waste management , telecommunications , electrical engineering , physics , chemistry , nursing , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , power (physics) , quantum mechanics , catalysis
There are more than 38 million residential carbon monoxide detectors installed in the United States. We tested 30 detectors in use and found that more than half failed to function properly, alarming too early or too late. Forty percent of detectors failed to alarm in hazardous concentrations, despite outward indications that they were operating as intended. Public health professionals should consider community education concerning detector use and should work with stakeholders to improve the reliability and accuracy of these devices.