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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Boiler Malfunction Sends Six to Hospital
8 Oct
Summary
- A malfunctioning boiler released carbon monoxide into an apartment building.
- Six residents were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms.
- The building had no carbon monoxide alarms when the incident occurred.
A critical boiler malfunction in a North Vancouver apartment building resulted in a significant carbon monoxide leak, hospitalizing six residents over the summer. The incident, which occurred on August 10th of this year, involved a boiler in a 25-unit building that failed to properly vent flue gases into the mechanical room. This failure, exacerbated by short cycling and delayed ignition, led to incomplete combustion and elevated carbon monoxide production.
The dangerous gas infiltrated the living spaces through ceiling gaps, as the building was not equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. Residents experienced symptoms including light-headedness, nausea, and loss of consciousness, prompting a 911 call and the evacuation of the building. Emergency responders shut down the boilers, with measured CO levels exceeding 1,500 parts per million in some areas.
