CO Monitoring & Control System

When a large number of vehicles are within an enclosed area, the concentration of CO can reach harmful levels.

In parking garages, CO is one of the most abundant airborne contaminants and poses significant safety concerns. Vehicles regularly generate CO which must be controlled when concentrations approach unsafe levels.

The Ontario Building Code requires that Parking Garages receive a “continuous supply of fresh air” at a rate that varies with the floor area. This is accomplished by using a combination of exhaust fans and fresh air supply openings. This requirement generally results in all of the garage exhaust fans being run continuously, when, in fact, only one or two fans may be required for proper ventilation.

Fortunately, the Ontario Building Code also permits the garage Exhaust Fans to be controlled by a system which will limit the concentration of Carbon Monoxide. Provident proposes to place sensors throughout the garage in zones – a sensor which detects a level in excess of 35 Parts per Million of CO will turn on the fan (or fans) dedicated to that zone until the concentration of carbon monoxide drops to an acceptable level.

The larger the garage, the more sensors required to provide full coverage.

Benefits

• 75 – 85% reduction in fan run times resulting in substantial energy savings
• Reduces wear and tear on motors as they are running less frequently
• Maintenance on belt and lubrication services can be reduced
• In the event of a Sensor Failure, Garage Exhaust Fans default ON.
• With a lower volume of air changes, the heat loss in the garage is not as great