If you have a Sprint Pro, you can quickly and easily check a room for carbon monoxide (CO) and (with some models) carbon dioxide (CO₂), with no need for extra equipment. In this blog we’ll look at the Sprint Pro’s room safety function, and how to use it. 

What does the room safety function look for? 

All models of the Sprint Pro flue gas analyser/combustion analyzer have a room safety setting that lets heating engineers measure the proportion of CO in the air. This is obviously for safety reasons: CO is a highly toxic, potentially lethal, gas hazard – and heating systems (in particular, faulty boilers) are a major source of risk. We’ve written more about the dangers of CO for HVAC in another blog post: click here to read it.  

The room safety test looks for possible leaks of gas into the room, or build up within it – perhaps from a faulty appliance.  

If you have a Sprint Pro 4 or Sprint Pro 5, your device is also fitted with a direct infrared CO₂ sensor, which means you can detect CO₂. as well as CO. While many people think of CO₂ as a harmless gas that puts the fizz into sodas and beer, it’s actually very toxic and poses particular danger in sectors like brewing, hospitality and catering. Click here to read more about the hazards of CO₂.  

How to run a Sprint Pro room safety test  

Most countries set exposure limits for CO and CO₂, and before running any room safety test you should refer to local regulations. These should set out the parameters and methods required for CO/CO₂room safety testing in your region.  

Running the test is quite straightforward. Select room safety from the menu and zero the device if necessary (if the device has already been zeroed it will move straight on to display the next menu). When the room safety menu is displayed, choose the relevant appliance from the list, connect the probe to your Sprint Pro (if required) and place the device at an appropriate height – you may need a tripod. Press the soft forward arrow key to start the test.  

Full details of how to conduct an interpret the room safety test can be found on page 20 and in Appendix 1 of the current Sprint Pro manual: click here for a pdf copy. 

The test will run for a period of time determined by the appliance type, and will give the current, peak and permitted levels of CO (and CO₂ if you are testing for that). The Sprint Pro doesn’t let you print or save the results until you have completed at least the minimum period required, and if your findings approach or exceed the permitted level you will be offered a chance to repeat the procedure. 

Of course, some of these tests run for extended periods (fifteen minutes and more), and if there are high levels of CO around, waiting for the test to finish could be dangerous. Don’t worry, because the Sprint Pro has you covered for that as well: if dangerous levels are detected it will sound an audible alarm so that you can leave the area.  

Things to remember when room safety testing with a Sprint Pro 

Please bear in mind that, like any analyser, the Sprint Pro acts in an advisory capacity only and in some circumstances – for example, where results are not clear-cut – the Sprint Pro will ask you as the engineer to declare the test a pass or fail, and will record that decision. Ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure any room safety test is correctly performed, in line with local regulations. If the data does not support the result, or if you think it may be wrong or unreliable (for example, due to the presence of cigarette smoke or vehicle exhaust fume), then you must repeat the test and/or seek expert advice.