Purpose and Scope
This SOP provides information on how the Oxford Fire Department responds to Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms in residence halls and establishes guidelines on how university students and staff respond to these alarms.
All residence halls at Miami University have been equipped with CO detectors that have been installed in mechanical spaces and common spaces of the buildings. The detectors are integrated into the building fire alarm panels and are continuously monitored through the University’s Keltron system. An activation of any CO detector will prompt a response from the Oxford Fire Department to the specific residence hall in which the activation occurred.
Policy
Exposure to CO can be hazardous to the health of those exposed. It is the policy of the University to vacate a residence hall when a CO alarm activates and to not re-occupy the building until permission has been granted to do so by the Oxford Fire Department.
Responsibilities
Building Occupants – Upon activation of a CO detector the building's fire alarm panel will activate an audible alarm informing occupants that CO has been detected and to vacate the building using the nearest exit.
Oxford Fire Department – The Oxford Fire Department will determine if CO is present in the building.
- If the source is a vehicle, open flame device or other source not intended for interior use, the source will be shut off or removed and the building will be thoroughly ventilated.
- If the source is an improperly operating appliance (hot water heater, emergency generator, etc.) they will notify the appropriate utility, shut off the appliance and the appliance’s main line valve, and thoroughly ventilate the building.
Oxford Fire Department will allow re-entry of the building when CO levels are below 6 parts per million (ppm) in occupied spaces and 35 ppm in mechanical spaces.
6 ppm for occupied spaces is based on World Health Organization guidelines of 6 ppm for 24-hours to protect against long-term exposure.
35 ppm for mechanical spaces is based upon the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) recommended 8-hour time weighted average maximum exposure for workers. It is more conservative (protective of worker health) than the 50 ppm 8-hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit established by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
Revision History