A group of 31 MPs from across the political spectrum have called on the Government to protect consumers from unsafe carbon monoxide alarms, which fail to comply with the industry wide safety standard BS EN 50291.
A recent investigation by the consumer right group Which? found that many alarms bought in the UK, online, fail to comply with the BS EN 50291 safety standard, which means they can leave people at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning even if they have an alarm.
In response to the findings, Jim Fitzpatrick MP tabled a motion in Parliament calling for Government to take action. The Early Day Motion has been signed by 31 MPs, including Labour, Conservative, SNP and SDLP members.
The EDM says: “That this House notes with concern that a recent investigation by the consumer group Which? found that there are carbon monoxide alarms available to buy online in the UK that are not compliant with the BS EN 50291 industry safety standard; further notes that such noncompliant alarms can fail to detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, leaving consumers with a false sense of confidence and thus exposing consumers to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning; notes that eBay, Amazon and Robert Dyas have all taken positive steps to remove dangerous carbon monoxide alarms and detectors from their product lines; and calls on the Government to ensure that all carbon monoxide alarms on the market in the UK are compliant with the BS EN 50291 standard.”
Jim Fitzpatrick MP said: “As a former firefighter, I am all too aware of the devastating impact of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a silent killer. You can’t see it, smell or taste it, but it can kill without warning. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm could save your life, and compliance with the standard will ensure that consumers aren’t being put at risk by dodgy devices.”
Independent tests by Which? found that alarms claiming to meet the safety standard were, in fact, not compliant. Alarms produced by leading brands, however, passed every one of the group’s 312 gas detection tests.
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group, Barry Sheerman MP, said: “It is fantastic to see so much support for action on this important issue. Carbon monoxide is an insidious killer, and market wide compliance with the industry safety standard would add a vital extra layer of protection for consumers.”
