Online Event — 12 November 2026, 18:00–19:30 GMT
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Webinar
A free 90-minute online session covering CO alarm placement, symptoms of poisoning, and what landlords are legally required to provide. Suitable for tenants, homeowners, and housing professionals.
Key fact
Carbon monoxide is undetectable by human senses — you cannot smell, see, or taste it. Around 60 people die from accidental CO poisoning each year in the UK and over 4,000 are treated in A&E. A correctly placed alarm is the only reliable early warning.
Agenda
Carbon monoxide exposure: symptoms by level
Symptoms are often mistaken for flu or tiredness. If multiple people in the same building feel unwell at the same time, treat it as a potential CO leak.
| Level | Concentration | Typical symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 50–100 ppm | Slight headache, tiredness, shortness of breath |
| Moderate | 100–200 ppm | Throbbing headache, drowsiness, nausea, rapid heart rate |
| Severe | 200–400 ppm | Severe headache, vomiting, confusion, fast heartbeat |
| Life-threatening | 400+ ppm | Loss of consciousness, seizures, death within hours |
Who should attend?
This webinar is designed for anyone who wants to understand CO risks in the home or rental property. It is particularly relevant for:
- Private tenants wanting to understand their landlord's obligations
- Homeowners with gas boilers, wood burners, or solid fuel stoves
- Landlords needing to understand the 2022 Regulations
- Housing officers, letting agents, and property managers
- Fire wardens and safety officers in HMOs and care settings
Landlord obligations: the 2022 Regulations
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 extended CO alarm requirements to all rooms with a fixed combustion appliance in both private rented and social housing in England. Key points covered in the webinar:
- Gas cookers are excluded, but gas boilers are included
- Alarms must be repaired or replaced at the start of each tenancy when reported as faulty
- Local housing authorities can issue remediation notices with civil penalties up to £5,000
- Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have separate regulations — the webinar covers cross-border differences
For general fire safety obligations for renters, see our fire safety for renters guide and the Fire Safety Act 2022 guide.
CO alarm placement: the key rules
Correct placement is as important as having an alarm. The British Standards Institute standard BS EN 50292 recommends:
- Install on every floor with a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage
- Position at head height when seated — CO disperses evenly in air (unlike smoke)
- At least 1 m from any boiler, fire, or cooker
- Test weekly; replace according to manufacturer's stated sensor life
Frequently asked questions
FAQ