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Posted By Joanne Crockett
We have a small office within a larger building which used to be residential which houses admin staff. The office in question has a gas heater in which the occupants especially the lady who sits closest to it are complaining of headaches. Any suggestions/comments...
Joc
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Joanne
Is the room sufficiently ventilated? Poor ventilation can result in the fire emitting carbon monoxide. According to the HSE website symptoms of CO poisoning can include 'tiredness, drowsiness, headaches, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, pains in the chest, breathlessness, stomach pains, erratic behaviour and visual problems.'
Paul
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Posted By Christopher Kelly
Even if ventilated you will still have a problem I think. In a residential room (which was previously probably intended to be heated by a fire with a flue or a central heating system) you probably won't be able to remove the carbon monoxide sufficiently, just by introducing a vent in a wall or door which is designed to work with a flue. Also it may be CO2 not CO which is a problem. Either way you need to stop using it straight away.
You could look at extracting gases but this will make the room feel cold, defeating the object and may increase the fire risk. Suggest you need to properly review your fire and COSHH assessments and take advice from a heating engineer.
Regards
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Posted By Calum Clark
Try puting a bowl of water in front of the heater. It worked for me when I lived in a flat with rubbish heating and a standalone gas fire.
Calum
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Posted By Christopher Kelly
Ah Calum - student days. Reminds me of having a ladder which wouldn't reach the chimney pots so I propped it on flags and bricks - God saved me - if it's coming to you it's coming so what's the point in worrying ?
My old boss inspected a tenement block for a landlord some years ago. There was a guy in a room from a warm country who was very cold - he had the heating on full blast, gas fire on and he had disconnected a ring from the cooker, extended the cable with bare copper wire and hung it from a hook in the ceiling ! His room was warm - the end justifies the means ?
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Posted By Descarte
I would actually go with the bowl of water idea in a way, or at least testing the humidity.
Low humidity (caused by the heater) + working on DSE with reduced blink rate = eye strain / fatigue / headache
Also make sure they are taking plenty of breaks away from their computers, and drinking plenty of water
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Posted By 9-Ship
I would get the gas heater and room ventilation checked ASAP - sounds like you have excessive carbon monoxide building up in the office. Nevermind, its only toxic...
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Posted By AL
Take a look at the Gas Safety (Insallation and Use) Regulations 1998:
Part E:Use of appliances:
34. - (1) The responsible person for any premises shall not use a gas appliance or permit a gas appliance to be used if at any time he knows or has reason to suspect that it cannot be used without constituting a danger to any person.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) above, the responsible person means the occupier of the premises, the owner of the premises and any person with authority for the time being to take appropriate action in relation to any gas fitting therein.
So, turn off the appliance, contact a CORGI registered engineer and get the appliance checked!
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Posted By Christopher Kelly
There is probably nothing wrong with the appliance - it is just being used in an unsuitable location. The heating engineer needs to be given the remit to look at the whole heating issue for the room, appropriate appliance and ventilation requirements.
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Posted By Gary IMD(UK)
Eliminate the Risk?
Remove it and replace with an alternative?!!
Take care
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