Car Parks are More Dangerous Than You Think

Road vehicles can emit a number of harmful gases through exhaust fumes, the most common being carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Whilst these cause gases are an issue in open air environments, there is particular cause for concern in more confined spaces such as underground and multi-storey car parks. 

Why are car parks of specific concern? 

The gases emitted through exhaust fumes are absolutely an issue regardless of where they are being emitted, and contribute to a wide variety of issues including air pollution. However, in car parks any dangers these gases cause are exasperated due to the high number of vehicles in a small, confined area and the lack of natural ventilation to ensure that these gases do not reach dangerous levels. 

What gases are present in car parks? 

Vehicles emit a variety of exhaust gases including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are the most common and are also of particular concern due to the potential negative impacts on human health that exposure to these gases can have. 

What are the dangers of gases in car parks? 

Out of the two most common gases in car parks, carbon monoxide poses the more significant threat to human health. It is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas making it almost impossible to detect without some sort of detection equipment. 

Carbon monoxide is dangerous as it negatively impacts the transport of oxygen around the body which can cause a wide range of health problems. Breathing low levels of CO can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, confusion and disorientation. Regularly breathing low levels of CO may cause more permanent health issues. At very high levels carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and even death, with around 60 deaths attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales every year. 

Breathing in nitrogen dioxide also has negative health impacts including breathing and respiratory issues as well as damage to lung tissue. Exposure to high concentrations can cause inflammation of the airways and prolonged exposure can lead to irreversible damage to the respiratory system 

What regulations are there? 

In 2015, a new European Standard (EN 50545-1) was introduced, specifically relating to the detection of toxic gases such as CO and NO2 in car parks and tunnels. EN 50545-1 specifies requirements for remote gas detectors and control panels to be used in car parks. The goal of the standard is to increase the safety of gas detection systems in car parks and prevent the use of inadequate systems. Th standard also the alarm levels to be used for gas detection in car parks, shown in the table below. 

  Alarm 1  Alarm 2  Alarm 3 
CO  30 ppm  60 ppm  150 ppm 
NO2  3 ppm  6 ppm  15 ppm 

 

Crowcon Park System 

Crowcon have recently launched a new range of fixed detectors and control panels designed specifically for gas detection in car parks. 

The SMART P set of detectors, consisting of the SMART P-1 and SMART P-2 can detect CO, NO2 and petrol vapours, with the SMART P-2 offering simultaneous detection of both CO and NO2 in a single detector. The MULTISCAN++PK control panel can manage and monitor up to 256 detectors. Every product in the range has been designed to fulfil the requirements of the European Standard EN 50545-1. 

Our partnership with Heating Engineer Supplier (HES) 

Background  

Founded in 2012 (11 years as a limited company) and based in County Limerick in Ireland, Heating Engineer Supplies (HES) are one of the main suppliers of Anton and Crowcon in Ireland, supplying Cork, Dublin, Galway, Waterford and throughout Ireland. HES provide an extensive range including; flow and pressure, flue gas analysers, gas detectors and oil accessories.  

Views on HVAC 

Providing workers within the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) sectors with the correct equipment is vital, therefore providing these workers with an integral tool is crucial. SprintPro is a tool that is used every day by HVAC; therefore, Anton by Crowcon flue gas analysers provides a five-gas analysis through an easy-to-use tool. Sprint Pro is manufactured in the UK to exacting standards, stay on the job longer with a reliable device you can trust. Multi-function and easy-to-use, it is designed to last with troubleshooting built in and triple filter water trap system for total hydrophobic protection. 

Providing gas detection equipment that is lifesaving allows HES’ customers to have a full solution option best suited to their needs and requirements. HES work by providing their customers with the knowledge, expertise and advise in order to keep them safe when using gas detection products, whilst highlighting and focusing on the awareness of why this type of equipment is required in a variety of industries. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas that is also highly toxic and potentially flammable (at higher levels: 10.9% Volume or 109,000ppm). It is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as wood, oil, coal, paraffin, LPG, petrol and natural gas. CO is present in several different industries, such as steel works, manufacturing, electricity supply, coal and metal mining, food manufacturing, oil and gas, production of chemicals and petroleum refining to name a few. The Clip SGD  is a CO personal monitor that can sense what you can’t, giving you time to react and ultimately can save you and your customers lives. 

Working with Anton by Crowcon 

A 12-year partnership through continued communication and support has allowed Heating Engineer Supplies to supply their customers with both flue gas analysers and gas detection solutions. HES is an official service centre for Anton by Crowcon located in house at their base in county Limerick, with the possibility of portable calibration coming soon. “Over many years we have built up an excellent relationship with Anton by Crowcon. It’s fantastic to know we have brilliant Technical support and we know moving forward with Fixed & Portable gas detection this will continue, we look forward to growing our respective businesses.” Although previously our partnership has predominately been focused on both flue gas analysers and portable gas detection solutions, HES are expanding their offering to cover sales and calibration of our portable gas detection equipment with future hopes being focussed on our fixed product range.