Carbon Monoxide Testing
Hi All
wondered if anyone else has encountered this?
we've just booked our caravan in for a service with the Bailey dealership. As required in order to keep our warranty.
we were informed that in addition to the £200+ cost there would be an additional £10 charge for compulsory carbon monoxide testing. When we said that we'd just purchase a new dtector we were told that even a brand new one would have to be tested as its now ' The Law'
is this just a wheeze to extract yet more money from us ? Or has anyone else encountered this?
Comments
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I think ssome one may have mixing up their Elf n Saftey rules.
if you have a static mobile home, and it is rented, the landlord is required to have a certificate showing tests.
Not so if privately owned, (although probably wise to if you let it out to friends)
Motorhomes and caravans not required, although having a Srewfix can of co gas for testing might come in useful. Probably how the detector is tested anyhow.
Rgds
Could be wrong though !
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I thought you just had to push the test button.
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As far as I know there are no 'laws' for testing anything in touring caravans.
There may well be an NCC recommendation but that counts for zilch. The NCC is a trade organisation protecting its members.
Different regs apply to statics and vans hired out as Tonylsh said.
I'd ask the dealership to show you official written proof of the so called law.
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Cheers, Brue. Hardly 'law' is it? I wouldn’t pay extra to have it done.
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I never have had a battery in my 'vans smoke detector because it became a critic of MOH's cooking, servicing personnel insist on charging me for one, would I be in order by refusing to pay for one?
I have no CO2 detector fitted so presumably it would be in order for me to refuse that test as well?
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We use a local workshop for our habitation service, the rates are very good value and if they noticed a safety feature was not up to scratch I'd be happy to know about it and I'd expect it to be included in the fee. CM poisoning is lethal if undetected.
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My point was that I wouldn’t expect to pay extra when it’s recommended to be included in the service.
Included = Included in the fee, not tagged on as an extra cost.
Thanks for that but I am well aware of the dangers.
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I agree with TW, if its a requirement of the service they should include the testing within the quoted cost of the service? A separate charge suggests its optional. Some companies like to make a rod for their own back!!
David
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And announcing on here that some dealers are charging for it is a good way for others to pickup on it and do likewise!! Just great!!
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Whilst we may all mock the charge of a tenner for pressing a button on a Carbon monoxide alarm(or of even having an alarm in the first place), I'd just like to share the following!
A few years ago, whilst in our local Waitrose with my daughter in law to be we shopped happily, chatting as we went, and walked back to the car. As I put the shopping away I noticed a woman in the next car sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn't help but 'interfere' and knocked on her window to ask 'Are you alright'. She wound the window down, and said 'No'. I suggested I get in, and she opened her passsenger door. I sat with her for nearly an hour, and she was absolutely distraught.
Basically her story is this - she saw me and my daughter in law, who reminded her of her daughter. Her daughter, Hazel Woodhams, had been killed just a year before by being asphyxsiated by carbon monoxide from a not quite burnt out barbecue, (in a tent!!!) whilst staying on a campsite in Norfolk. The tragedy also included that her loving partner was arrested on suspicion of her murder, despite almost losing his life, and the full use of one arm. (Here's the story). I promised her that whenever I saw it mentioned I would point out to people the dangers of carbon monoxide in whatever circumstances it was mentioned, so here is another warning. It may cost you a tenner but it may save your life!
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Well said ValDa - my home Carbon monoxide went off the other day - and I ran round in circles trying to decide what could have set it off. I ended up putting it out in the garden and it continued - a friend came along and found some dust in it! Before he arrived I had already ordered a new one for the house and the caravan. I can think of other ways of dying thank you. I think the caravan fire alarms are essential too - mine went potty last year and I bought a new one - top of the range with a cancel button for cooking alarms. I think the dogs would probably warn me of a fire in the van but I would rather have a gadget that does that!
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More here - her Fiance's story. I still feel connected to this, and feel I must help where I can! Especially in that in our trailer tent days (thirty odd years ago) we used to sit around the extinguished barbecue until every last vestige of heat had gone from it and then went to bed with it just by our feet! I suspect only the fact that it was a canvas skin stopped us suffering something similar!
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Not too worried about carbon monoxide. Not worried with using the gas hob or oven. Nothing else uses gas generally.
The smoke alarm is great for telling me when to take the toast out of the toaster. The toaster is six feet away but when the alarm says the toast is done it is perfect for OH. So the smoke alarm gets regular tests
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Having made some flippant comment about the amount of training needed to push a button, I've just seen the preceding posts, so withdrew my comment. It's a pity one can't just delete a post without the rather ominous sounding "content removed" tag still being left in place.
... and I have to confess we also used to keep our huge tent warm with the use of a camping gaz lantern, but there were significant draughts to compensate.
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It does seem a bit ridiculous charging an extra fee. Certainly with our service it is within the price. As is replacing the smoke alarm battery. Just as well given how much more it goes off than one in a house. Toast, gusts of wind etc. Fortunately it has a silence for 15 minutes button, so you don't have to remember to reset it or put the battery back in.
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I am sure the test must be a bit more sophisticated that pressing the test button? I would imagine the use some sort of gas to replicate Carbon Monoxide. Doesn't alter the fact that if it needs to be done as part of the service it should be included in the total service price.
David
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Advisable as doing that is it only tests the circuit and its powering battery are viable, not the unit's critical sensor still works.
The "test" involves using a gas squirted at the sensor that indicates it works to some degree, arguably not very controlled but a lot better than not doing so.
However, I am somewhat staggered at them charging an extra £10 for a few seconds, now recommended task that requires no more than lifting an aerosol can up. As others have said it should simply disappear into the overheads of a service to be included in that's pricing. That way those who otherwise would not care to pay for protecting themselves or others could not sidestep at least knowing they are in danger with the kit they have.
It should be remembered these devices have a quite short "life", frequently just 5 years though some are warrantied for 10 years.
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I stand corrected on the subject of test buttons and am currently eating humble pie.
I had always assumed, wrongly it seems, that a test button actually did what it said on the label. How silly of me, at my age I should have known better.
It seems that the test now requires some sort of test instrument and a rather expensive can of gas so I can understand an additional charge and agree it should be inclusive.
The subject of irascible smoke detectors has been touched on above. As toast affectionardos we have been plagued by smoke detector false alarms, which has caused the redistribution of bread crumbs on occasion.
Our solution was the purchase of a “toast proof” smoke detector, they are available and ours steadfastly ignores the smoke from burning bread.
That too has a test button that presumable doesn't test it!
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I knew that landlords are required to test CO alarms but didn't see anything about privately owned property. That said it is still a good idea for them to be tested as they don't last forever. Having just done a quick check on Google it appears you can buy a test kit for 17 pounds which is enough to check 11 basic CO detectors. That's from an electrical supply company, maybe even cheaper elsewhere. It even includes stickers to show it's been done. Charging 10 pounds per test is a rip off.
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