Derek Engel, Scott Davis
\nGexCon US, 8433 Rugby Ave. Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814<\/p>\n
Presented at\u00a0International Symposium on Fire Investigation<\/a>, 2012<\/p>\n ABSTRACT Using the CFD software FLACS, a study was performed to evaluate how CO would disperse and migrate in various\u00a0residential structures and various HVAC designs. The goal would be to evaluate the migration of CO originating\u00a0from hot flue gases, which are improperly vented into structures, and assess the validity of the well-mixed\u00a0assumption as well as study the general dispersion patterns. In addition, the study will provide further guidance as\u00a0to optimal places for detector placement to allow early detection, while minimizing nuisance alarms.<\/p>\n Download the complete paper<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Derek Engel, Scott Davis GexCon US, 8433 Rugby Ave. Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814 Presented at\u00a0International Symposium on Fire Investigation, 2012 ABSTRACT The current NFPA 720 code requirement for carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in residential structures\u00a0requires placement outside of each separate sleeping area and on each floor of the residence. There is however no\u00a0further guidance … Continue reading Optimization of Carbon Monoxide Detector Layout in Residential Structures<\/span>
\nThe current NFPA 720 code requirement for carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in residential structures\u00a0requires placement outside of each separate sleeping area and on each floor of the residence. There is however no\u00a0further guidance to specific placement of the detector (high, low, near or within furnace closets, etc.), as well as no\u00a0acknowledgement to different housing and HAVC styles (forced hot air, hot water, etc.). As the concentration of\u00a0CO approaches several hundred parts per million, the time for detector alarm can be as little as a few minutes, much\u00a0smaller than the characteristic mixing time of the residence. The general basis for detector placement requirements\u00a0assumes that once the flue gases cool CO is generally neutrally buoyant in air, and becomes well mixed and\u00a0distributed evenly throughout the residence. Previous investigations have concluded that the CO is well mixed for\u00a0residences with forced hot air heating systems and the CO in hot flue gases stratifies due to buoyancy for systems\u00a0without an air-handling device to cause mixing.<\/p>\n