Manufacturers have been working to compensate for the effects of environmental influences since CO detectors were first introduced in the early 1990s, with some success. But, says the Gas Research Institute in Chicago, they still have a long way to go. Detector manufacturers contest the findings. They say that the Gas Research Institute aims to protect appliance manufacturers and utilities and may not have the public's best interest at heart. Alarms call into question the quality of these products and cost the gas industry millions in labor expense each year.
Manufacturers also take issue with the testing methods.
Partly as a result of GRI's tests, Underwriters Laboratories recently announced revisions to its CO alarm standards. The new standards, when finalized, will raise the technology bar. For instance, detectors must function properly in humidity levels of 15 to 95 percent, instead of the previous 30 to 70 percent. Compliance will require adjustments in the sensors and software, says Mark Devine, vice president of engineering at First Alert. It's too early to tell, he says.