Campaign to highlight Carbon Monoxide awareness

With over 50,000 solid fuel stoves and oil boilers installed each year in Ireland, OFTEC is raising awareness of the dangers associated with these and all fuel appliances during ‘Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week’, which is running from September 26th – October 2nd. In Ireland, every year carbon monoxide poisoning causes the death of up to six people and makes many more ill.



OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating, cooking and solid fuel installers in Ireland, is supporting the ‘Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week’ campaign for the fifth year in a row and is highlighting the particularly high risk associated with the recent growth in stoves across the country. Through its technicians, the trade body has found that many householders are still unaware of the risks of the potentially deadly substance in relation to fossil fuels and preventative measures that they should be taking.



OFTEC Ireland Manager David Blevings said:An audible Carbon Monoxide Alarm is one preventative measure but it can give a false sense of security and the advice from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland* (SEAI) and OFTEC is to have all your fossil fuelled appliances serviced annually by a qualified technician.  Unfortunately householders face a greater risk if they have boilers ‘cleaned’ by so-called ‘cowboy’ installers who may not be qualified or deemed competent to work in your home.”



OFTEC is encouraging technicians to register for the solid fuel training courses now available at METAC in the Republic of Ireland, to demonstrate their competence to customers. For more information and Carbon Monoxide Awareness advice visit: www.carbonmonoxide.ie.