METHODS TO REDUCE THE RISKS OF CO POISONING
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Air Exchange and CO Diffusion
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Application Considerations (Burnishing versus Stripping)
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Air Quality Monitoring
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Room Size and Time Estimations
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Maintenance of Equipment
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Safety Equipment Available
Air Exchange and CO Diffusion
The most reliable method to prevent CO Poisoning is to ensure all the CO produced is vented outside. With wood stoves or gas heaters this is
performed with ductwork that carries the exhaust and CO outside. Non-stationary combustion type equipment must be used in such a way that CO
is not allowed to rise to a harmful or dangerous level.
CO does not readily dissipate or mix with air on its own. Air currents can "stir" the CO and dilute the concentration or ppm values by mixing it with
the available air. When using equipment over a large area in a short time "stirring" occurs as you walk, or to say it another way, your Effective
Operating Zone is large. When activity is concentrated to a smaller area as in a stripping application, the Effective Operating Zone is small, and
"stirring" must be forced by the use of fans to increase the Effective Operating Zone and reduce high concentrations of CO.
Air exchange rates (air exchange is defi ned as the exhausting of internal air to the external atmosphere), the size of the Effective Operating
Zone, amount of CO produced, level of human activity, and the duration of exposure are all factors in the determination of the production of
carboxyhemoglobin and the amount of CO blood saturation. Be sure the area in which the equipment is being used is adequately ventilated. Refer
to Minimum Recommended Dilution Ventilation Rates provided on page 7 that are defi ned by federal and state regulations and industry accepted
guidelines that are applicable.
Application considerations (Burnishing versus Stripping)
When using equipment over a large area in a short time, as in most burnishing applications, your Effective Operating Zone is large. When activity
is concentrated to a smaller area as in stripping applications, the Effective Operating Zone is small and stirring or CO mixing MUST be forced by
the use of fans to increase the Effective Operating Zone and reduce high concentrations of CO.
Caution: air mixing in itself may not be suffi cient to reduce CO to a safe level.
The Effective Operating Zone can be defi ned as the area covered in a given time.
Stripping is quite a different type of operation than burnishing, and carries with it substantially more hazards, as stripping is a low movement
operation compared to burnishing (less fl oor space for the same time). As shown in Model 1, the CO concentrations rise much quicker as the
"Effective Operating Zone" is a very small area compared to the total building size.
revised 3/11
FORM NO. 56091023 - PBU Propane Burnisher with Dust Control - A-5
ENGLISH / A-5