CO Monitoring Systems in Underground Garages

When looking for areas in a building where energy savings can be attained, there are many variables to consider. One of those variables is whether the retrofit proposed will hamper the comfort of residents. Ideally, we want a retrofit that will not only save energy but also maintain, or even increase, resident comfort.

One of those possible retrofits is the installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) sensing technology to an underground garage. The CO Monitoring System will control the exhaust fans to run only when a certain level of carbon monoxide is detected.

Exhaust fans in the underground garage of your building should be running 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you do not have a CO Monitoring System installed. Contrary to popular belief, it is a violation of the building code for exhaust fans to be cycled or shut down at any time during the course of a day unless there is a CO Monitoring System in place. Section 6 of the Ontario Building Code states that an enclosed storage garage should have (a) a mechanical ventilation system to limit the concentration of carbon monoxide to not more than 100 parts per million of air or (b) provide, during operating hours, a continuous supply of outdoor air at a rate not less than 3.9L/s for each square metre of the floor area. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas It can be toxic, even causing death, for humans.

Not only will the installation of a CO Monitoring System in your garage save electrical energy and ongoing maintenance costs, but it will also make the garage warmer in winter and cooler in summer. With a CO Monitoring System, the exhaust fans will run only when required, instead of constantly circulating cold or hot air from outside. On top of that, most fluorescent lamps and ballasts in garages are not designed to withstand colder temperatures – with the garage now being warmer with a CO Monitoring System, there will be an increase of light output and lifespan of any fluorescent lights in the garage. If that isn’t reason enough to contemplate a retrofit like this, than perhaps the addition of a healthy incentive to help offset the cost will warm you to the idea of introducing CO Monitoring to your building. 

Provident Energy supplies and installs CO Monitoring Systems for garages - we offer complete turnkey solutions, including incentive applications. For more information or for a quote on a CO Monitoring System, please contact the sales department at Provident Energy at 416-736-0630, ext 5, to schedule a free assessment of your garage.