GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct 8, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Gasoline-powered generators
may need to be as far away as 25 feet from a house during a power outage, a U.S.
federal technology agency researcher says.
Steven Emmerich of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in
Gaithersburg, Md., says the operating distance to make residents "safe" from
carbon monoxide emissions depends on the house, the weather conditions and the
unit.
Emmerich and colleagues have found winds perpendicular to an open window result
in more carbon monoxide entry than winds at an angle, and lower wind speeds
generally allow more carbon monoxide into a house.
Slow winds or stagnant air seem to be the worst case, leading to carbon monoxide
lingering by windows, the researchers say.
"People need to be aware that generators are potentially deadly and they need to
educate themselves on proper use," Emmerich said in a statement.
A generator engine's carbon monoxide output is usually higher than an
automobile's motor because most generators do not have a car's sophisticated
emission controls, he said.
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