Hotel room

Causes of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Hazards in Hotels, Motels, and Resorts

The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning to guests and employees of hotels and motels is a continuing issue for the hospitality industry. One study (opens in new window) examined cases between 2005 and 2018 that resulted in 905 guests suffering from CO poisoning — and 22 fatalities.

Most of the poisoning occurred in hotels that used fuel burning equipment and appliances, including heating systems (boilers and furnaces), swimming pool heaters and water heaters, that were fueled by natural gas. In all but one instance, the source of the CO was located outside of guest rooms.

These injuries and fatalities could have been prevented with proper inspections, maintenance of equipment, and the installation of CO detectors in the hotel rooms.

Inspections to Mitigate CO Hazards in Hotels, Motels, and Resorts — The Basics

Illness and deaths from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning have plagued the hotel and hospitality industry. And yet, only 14 states currently mandate the installation of CO detectors and there are no educational requirements regarding prevention of CO for hotel owners and staff.

The Potential Hazards of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the Hotel Industry

Typical sources of CO in hotels, motels, and resorts include:

  • Hotel boilers
  • Hotel furnaces
  • Hotel pool heaters
  • Portable generators
  • Diesel range pumps
  • Ranges
  • Clothes dryers
  • Ovens

These sources have one thing in common — they run on the fossil fuels that can generate CO through incomplete combustion. When hotel CO incidents from 1967 to 2018 were examined, many of them were linked to improperly operating boilers, furnaces, and other heating equipment.

Using Sensorcon Inspector around a boiler to monitor CO2

For fuel burning hotel equipment and appliances, the need for proper installation and routine inspection and maintenance cannot be overestimated.

The first step to protect your facility from experiencing a CO event is to identify CO-producing equipment. After a list of this equipment is prepared, each device should be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule A great way to mitigate risk and keep your hotel guests and employees safe from CO exposure is to install CO detectors in guest rooms, utility equipment spaces, and common areas. If you’re a hotel, motel or resort HVAC maintenance professional working in the hospitality industry, a portable CO measuring device can be a useful tool for routine inspections of guest rooms and equipment.

Proper detection of CO according to established guidelines can help reduce — or eliminate — the chance of a CO accident in your establishment.

To learn more about the effects of CO poisoning, please review Understanding the Effects of Carbon Monoxide.

Using Carbon Monoxide Meters to Detect and Monitor Carbon Monoxide Levels

The Sensorcon Inspector is a trusted tool used by HVAC technicians, building inspectors and hotel maintenance professionals for detecting and identifying sources of carbon monoxide leaks.

As mentioned above, the best way to protect your establishment from a CO event is to identify CO-producing equipment. After a list of this equipment is prepared, each device should be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule

The Sensorcon CO Inspector is a portable and reliable carbon monoxide meter (CO meter) that was designed in the USA and assembled in our manufacturing facility located in Buffalo, NY.

The CO meter provides you with real-time readings all the way from 0 to 2000 PPM and is used by professionals to monitor or inspect for carbon monoxide.

Trusted by police, fire fighters, emergency medical services (EMS), home inspectors, plumbers, and HVAC technicians, the Sensorcon CO Inspector is a great tool for monitoring for and diagnosing CO leaks in the home or workplace.

Please visit our product pages to learn more about our various product offerings.