When is the last time that you smelled carbon monoxide?

The answer is never.  Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless, tasteless, and non-irritating gas, but it can pose a serious risk for residents of condominiums and apartments.  If a room's air content is made up of as little as 1% carbon monoxide, the average person will die in less than three minutes.

Building managers can protect the safety of their tenants (or owners) as well as themselves through simple education and prevention.  In addition to informing your occupants, a quality carbon monoxide detector can go a long way in poisoning prevention.

What should you know about carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is created through incomplete combustion.  In other words, when oxygen levels are low during the operation of a fuel-powered appliance (such as a furnace or gas stove) carbon monoxide is created instead of carbon dioxide (which is harmless).

What are the effects of carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide can be lethal for humans and pets even in low concentrations.  Even the slightest exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to headaches, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and loss of coordination.  Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous to your heart and central nervous system. Long term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can lead to short term memory loss, dementia, and amnesia.

What can you do to protect your building?

The first major prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning is regular maintenance of your building's furnace system.  A qualified heating professional should inspect the system annually.  If your building contains gas stoves or wood burning fire places they should also be inspected periodically.

The most effective way to protect your building is to educate its residents.  Simple practices such as encouraging residents to avoid running their vehicles for extended periods of time in the parkade can prevent any unnecessary exposure.

How can you educate your residents?

For your convenience we have created a Safety Information Article on Carbon Monoxide for Your Residents. You are welcome to distribute and reprint in your newsletters or announcements.  Click below to download.

View on Our Website	Download Word Version	Download PDF Version

We have also included a special price on our premium quality carbon monoxide detectors at the bottom of this email.  See the coupon below.

In recent months, we have seen, heard and read about the increase in parkade crime. In this article we would like to talk about overhead doors.

One question that all property managers should be asking themselves is: How many of your buildings have the overhead door scheduled for maintenance at least once a year?

More than likely, the answer is not very many. Your parkade doors should be scheduled for maintenance every six months to one year.  This will ensure that your overhead door will operate when you need it to!

Most garage doors have a brake mechanism installed. This break prevents the overhead door from being pried or forced open. If the brake system is functioning properly, thieves will not be able to force the overhead door open.

A few months ago we were able to capture on video two thieves forcing open an overhead door. The door brake failed and the thieves gained access to the building by simply lifting on the over head door!

Most buildings spend a lot of time and money securing the man doors of their property. Very few buildings view the overhead door as a possible threat for break-ins. So if you have not completed or booked your appointment with your garage door companies, you may want to do so in the near future....before the snow starts to fall.

At Fahrenheit 451 we specialize in preventing parkade crime in commercial and multi-residential buildings.  For more information on new ways to prevent theft or vandalism in your parking garage, do not hesitate to contact us at 403-256-6622 or www.f451.ca.

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