Dubai, UAE: Of all the enclosed car parks in the UAE, only about 60% are equipped with carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring systems, and while that is only his estimation, Syed Taqi Hussain, Director for Sales & Services (HVAC) at Eco Evergreen, stresses that anything less than 100% is unacceptable.

“We speak so much about green buildings, nowadays; well, CO monitoring systems can help achieve significant energy savings by only letting the ventilation fan run when there is an increase in the CO levels in the basement,” says Taqi, who clarifies that efficiency is but an extra benefit of using sensors, with the primary being that they can save lives.

Referencing data from various sources, like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), he points out that, depending on the concentration level, the toxic gas can cause different health hazards, such as headache, dizziness and nausea, and even lead to death.

Taqi further reveals that the problem is compounded by the lack of regular maintenance and calibration of the monitoring systems that are installed. “The systems are in place, but they aren’t working as they should be,” he says. “CO detectors are to be recalibrated annually – at a minimum, but six months preferably – to ensure accurate and proper operations. If calibration instructions are followed, CO detectors should have an operational lifespan of five to seven years.”

To address the problem with calibration, Taqi recommends that the HVAC industry take collective action. “We need to provide the initiative to clients, facility management companies, builders associations and the Municipality,” he says. “We need to make it a standard and repeat procedure to ensure the safety of the public and the environment.”