Because poisonous carbon monoxide exposure is dangerous and deadly, and because kitchen appliances, chimneys, furnaces, and many other common household tools can malfunction and result in accumulating poisonous carbon monoxide gas, PGMA strongly recommends that you install carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home and test them regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
PGMA also encourages the purchase and use of portable generators that meet ANSI/PGMA G300-2018 safety standard requirements, which include built-in shut-off systems to protect against dangerous carbon monoxide levels. While each manufacturer’s approach is unique, all generators that meet the standard automatically detect dangerous concentration levels of carbon monoxide (CO), shutting off the portable generator engine before carbon monoxide concentration levels exceed 800 parts per million (PPM). Once the portable generator engine has shut down, a notification light remains illuminated for a minimum of five minutes after shut-off occurs. Extensive industry testing with “real world” indoor and outdoor conditions demonstrates that these carbon monoxide (CO) shut-off systems will prevent 99% of fatalities from exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations from the portable generator’s exhaust emissions.