How Smart Technologies Simplify New Carbon Monoxide Regulations For Landlords
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into effect on 1 October 2022, updating the regulations contained in the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations of 2015. The new carbon monoxide regulations provide additional responsibilities for landlords designed to bolster the safety of tenants.
When making an investment in occupancy safety, it makes sense to adopt best practice that meets compliance requirements and offers advanced features for relevance into the future. Smart technologies empower landlords to provide advanced, digital tools to reduce risk and enhance tenant safety.
These technologies also have the ability to work within connected, intelligent smart building frameworks to guide comprehensive health and safety standards within buildings. This could have the outcome of saving lives, avoiding illness and short- and long-term injury.
Smoke and carbon monoxide regulations: what you need to know about updated policy
The updated regulations require the following:
- At least one smoke detector on every storey of the building where there is a room used for living accommodation.
- There is a carbon monoxide detector in every room used as living accommodation where there is a fixed combustion appliance (this does not include gas cookers).
- Repair or replacement of faulty smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as soon as there is a report of a fault.
The provisions in these updated regulations should be read in conjunction with other housing and building regulations. Failure to comply with a remedial notice under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations could result in a fine of up to £5 000 per breach.
These regulations do not specify the type of detectors to be used, but the guidance by the government states that they should comply with BS 5839-6 in the case of smoke detectors and BS 50291 in the case of carbon monoxide detectors.
The choice of detector should be guided by the needs of the building and tenants.
Why the regulations for carbon monoxide detectors are important
Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect as it has no colour, odour, or taste. However, even exposure to small amounts of carbon monoxide over time results in carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms are similar to the flu – including fatigue, headaches, dizziness, memory loss, and confusion.
It has been reported that there are around 40 deaths and 200 to 250 non-fatal hospitalisation cases of carbon monoxide poisoning each year.
Early detection of elevated carbon monoxide levels makes an enormous difference to the human impact of carbon monoxide leaks. These raised carbon monoxide levels are usually caused by malfunctioning combustion equipment – a situation that is exacerbated by poor ventilation. Some examples of appliances that could be the source of carbon monoxide leaks are fireplaces, wood stoves, gas dryers and heaters, some furnaces, and vehicles.
The benefits of smart air quality monitoring in the context of building regulations (carbon monoxide detectors)
Safety Through Smart Air Quality Monitoring
In every situation – but especially in occupied buildings – safety is paramount. An investment in advanced technologies that have the potential to prevent illness and death are naturally the best way to meet compliance regulations and safeguard tenants.
The smart air quality monitoring technologies from Smarter Technologies send tenants and landlords critical real-time alerts around changes in air quality and carbon monoxide levels to ensure occupant safety. Using a centralised management dashboard, all stakeholders are empowered to act in response to pollutants, noxious gases, smoke, and carbon monoxide to protect health and wellbeing.
These solutions are inexpensive and easy to install, which make them attractive hardware solutions to meet new carbon monoxide regulations. IoT sensors monitor air condition in individual or multiple locations and send real-time alerts in case of air quality issues.
Cloud-based record-keeping allows for simplified, automated administration. This is evidence of the highest compliance standards to meet existing building regulations.
The Benefits Beyond Carbon Monoxide Monitoring
Carbon monoxide and smoke detection are part of the broader air quality monitoring solutions from Smarter Technologies. These sensors can be programmed to report on important indoor air quality metrics, as well as exposure to outdoor pollutants. By collecting, analysing, and reporting on this data, you are empowered to optimally manage air quality within buildings – especially high-occupancy structures.
From ventilation planning to air quality mapping, this has significance for care for occupancy health, safety, and wellbeing today and in the long term.
At a building level, this data could assist in maintenance planning and reactive maintenance protocols, for example. Used as part of an IoT connected smart building, landlords and occupants gain invaluable insights into the granular workings of their buildings. This holds immense advantages spanning energy savings and the practical implementation of sustainable practices to user-centric, cost-effective, and personalised living and work spaces.
Managed interior air quality provides real peace of mind around air and wellbeing within the built environment. Smart buildings are a component of smart cities. Smart cities take the benefits of smart technologies on to the streets, into public spaces and public transport systems.
Smart cities use digital, data-inspired processes to guide efficiencies and policies aimed at public wellness and streamlined city occupancy.
Smart city projects around the world are increasing. Air pollution poses a serious risk to human health. Reports have shown that 97% of UK homes are affected by air pollution in excess of World Health Organisation thresholds. This is but one of the drivers for more stringent monitoring of urban air pollution levels.
The first step to implementing change is understanding existing conditions. By collecting and analysing data in real time, smart cities will be best placed to assess and address the causes of pollution and provide actionable recommendations, which will impact immediate and long-term health concerns of citizens.
Simple, smart compliance around the new carbon monoxide regulations
Get in touch with Smarter Technologies today to find out why smart indoor air quality monitors are the best way to meet your compliance needs around the new carbon monoxide regulations.