Carbon monoxide is one of those issues that we always look for in commercial buildings. It’s the one that we seldom find though. That’s good, because finding it indoors could lead to a variety of health issues including confusion, dizziness, headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, plus a few others.
In past years, when outside air was pulled from a loading dock and semi’s were allowed to idle there, the indoor air of the building often experienced diesel fumes. People would complain about the diesel odors, without recognizing that they were also breathing carbon monoxide. Over the years, owners have dictated that engines not idle at loading docks, and buildings that pulled outside air from those areas have either turned off outdoor air units or routed the intake elsewhere.
Occasionally though, we can still walk through an office building and find evidence of carbon monoxide. Often, it is present in the strangest places. One of the most common of those places may even be occurring in your building.
Buildings (or tenants) that have conference or large meeting rooms will often bring in a hot breakfast or lunch for conference attendees. If they are providing a warm meal, that meal is likely kept warm using metal warming dishes with Sterno burners underneath. Experience has shown us that when Sterno is being used to keep buffet food warm, carbon monoxide gas will occur. There is not a large volume of it floating around the floor, just a small bit near the food. But if someone were to linger near the food for an extended period of time, they could experience a headache from the exposure.
I’m not saying you should never have Sterno in your building. I know that electric hot plates are expensive and don’t work well. But I do think it is important to point out that when Sterno is used it will generate carbon monoxide at some level, and should therefore only be operated for the minimum amount of time required to keep the dishes warm.
Walking through commercial office environments (especially all electric facilities) we have never seen spikes of carbon monoxide or elevated levels unless we were near an area where Sterno was being used.
That’s a good thing!