Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and deadly, which is exactly why it is so dangerous in holiday accommodation. If your Oxfordshire cottage has any fuel-burning appliance, a carbon monoxide alarm is not just sensible, it is a legal requirement.
Where a carbon monoxide alarm is required
The Home Office guidance states that carbon monoxide detectors should be provided where living accommodation contains a gas or solid fuel-burning appliance. The All-Wales guidance goes further, saying alarms should be provided in all rooms where a gas, oil or solid fuel appliance is present, with clear instructions on how they operate. The Airbnb and NFCC guidance describes installing detectors in any room with a solid fuel burner as a legal requirement.
In short: wood burner, open fire, gas boiler, gas fire, oil-fired system or solid fuel stove, you need a carbon monoxide alarm in that room.
Why it matters so much
Carbon monoxide comes from poorly installed or badly maintained appliances, and from blocked flues. Because guests cannot see, smell or taste it, an alarm is often the only warning before symptoms set in. People can fall ill or worse while they sleep, which is why detection is treated so seriously in any property with combustion appliances.
Servicing goes hand in hand
An alarm is a backstop, not a substitute for maintenance. Your gas appliances must be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you have a wood or coal burning stove, the Airbnb and NFCC guidance recommends sweeping the chimney twice a year, and the Home Office guidance says at least annually. Keeping a log burner safe is a whole topic in itself.
Choosing and fitting the alarm
Fit carbon monoxide alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which usually means at a sensible distance from the appliance and at the recommended height. Choose alarms that meet the relevant British Standard and have an end-of-life indicator, since the sensors do not last forever. Leave clear guidance for guests on what the alarm means and what to do if it sounds: get out, leave the doors open, and call for help.
Build it into your assessment
Carbon monoxide detection should be recorded in your fire risk assessment and checked at each changeover alongside your smoke and heat alarms. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can offer advice, and a competent assessor will confirm you have the right cover.
Where a CO alarm is needed and where to site it
Carbon monoxide is a risk wherever fuel is burned, so any let with a gas boiler, a gas hob, a log burner, an open fire or an oil appliance should have a CO alarm. It is a separate device from a smoke alarm and does a different job. Site it roughly at head height, around one to three metres from the appliance, following the manufacturer instructions, and never tucked inside a cupboard with the boiler. Pair it with your annual gas safety check so the appliance itself is serviced as well as monitored. The audible warning matters most where guests sleep, since carbon monoxide poisoning is a particular danger overnight. Test it on changeover and replace it at the end of its rated life, which the unit will display.
Do not treat a CO alarm as a substitute for servicing. It is a last line of warning, not a reason to skip the annual appliance check that stops the problem arising in the first place.
Get the right advice for your property
Got a wood burner or gas appliance and unsure on CO cover? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
