Unfortunately, this isn’t the first cover we’ve run at Installer to promote the need for CO awareness. In fact, this one of several that we’ve run in the four or so years that I’ve been with the magazine.
What that tells us is that somewhere along the line, the message isn’t getting home. The various campaigns, charities and organisations who have made it their mission to beat carbon monoxide are continually striving to get every home fitted with an alarm, to make sure that every boiler is serviced annually (regardless of fuel type) and to present a clear picture of the risks of CO poisoning.
The frustration is that nothing involved in the process is particularly difficult to understand or prohibitively expensive to implement. And yet here we are – another year on – still seeing an unavoidable number of CO-related tragedies occur every year.
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, it is now mandatory for a CO alarm to be fitted when any carbon-burning appliance is installed yet – for some reason – this has not been made law in England and Wales. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for this discrepancy but it needs to be changed. Plumb and Parts Center – together with Honeywell – have now launched a major campaign, which is gathering an impressive list of supporters in the industry. To pledge your support, visit www.no-to-co.co.uk and help bring this issue to the notice of MPs and the Government.
Looking through this issue of Installer, there is plenty of coverage devoted to the dangers of carbon monoxide. I make no apologies for that because this is a problem that still needs to be addressed. And we will keep talking about it until it is.
[author image=”https://www.installeronline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Mark-McGettigan-cutout70.jpg” ]Mark McGettigan joined Installer magazine as News Editor in November 2009 and graduated to the role of Editor in late 2011. Mark also edits Installer’s sister publication – ECOInstaller. [/author]
