GDNs embrace innovation to prevent CO poisoning

Next week is the tenth annual carbon monoxide (CO) awareness week and yet carbon monoxide continues to have tragic consequences every year. Lucinda Dann investigates.

According to the charity behind the campaign, the Carbon Monoxide Awareness charity, 47 people have died this year alone from CO poisoning. The charity says the effort to reduce preventable deaths by government and industry from CO poisoning is in a “lamentable state of affairs” with endless “talkshops” achieving very little. 

Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) are only obligated to attend CO emergencies to ensure safety. But they go much further. GDNs are actively taking on the mantle to not only raise awareness through gamification of the dangers, but actively prevent unnecessary deaths by embracing innovation in the form of smart monitor technology.

The Energy Networks Association say GDNs are doing “a significant amount” both individually and together to address the issue of CO. In the first two years of RIIO-GD1 the four GDNs have collectively funded 25,000 complimentary CO alarms for vulnerable customers.

Wales and West Utilities says each CO alarm given out represents a conversation to ensure the necessary behaviour change, such as servicing appliances, actually happens. This is key to the GDNs efforts, not only do they want to raise awareness, but also “inspire the behaviour change necessary” to prevent future deaths.

Smart technology is revolutionising all areas of the energy market and CO monitoring is no different. A joint project between three of the networks, called the Innovative CO Monitor project, is trialling a new type of monitor which automates the detection and notification process. It sends a text message to a nominated mobile phone if the dangerous gas is detected, but also self-checks battery life every week, removing the need to be actively remembered by the householder.

The project is being funded by the GDNs through the Network Innovation Allowance at an estimated cost of £352,476, and will continue until the middle of 2016. The networks involved say the project has been a success and has been extended for an extra six months. The monitor manufacturer already has enough proof of success from the trial so far to continue to rollout the technology across the UK.

CO poisoning does not just occur in the home, so GDNs have joined forces again to draw attention to another situation that carries danger. Games have long been recognised as an effective way of engaging people, especially younger generations. This may be why the GDNs decided to fund and develop a game explaining the dangers posed by the gas at festivals.

They launched iFEST this summer. iFEST raises the issue of the dangers of barbeques and gas canisters in tents at festivals. The game was promoted at Glastonbury, Leeds and T in the Park music festivals this summer. Social media was also embraced as a further promotional tool with #TunesNotFumes used along with prizes given out for sharing the game.

The ENA say GDNs feel that this type of joint working which is actively encouraged by the funding mechanism is one of the “really positive” aspects of RIIO.

The networks are all also working on individual projects and initiatives in communities, but they also have input in legislation and aim to influence national policy. Wales and West Utilities have worked on behalf of all the networks on the All Fuels Action Forum, and have taken the lead in developing a consistent campaign approach for the industry.

The GDNs will be using the attention CO week brings to promote another collaborative initiative with the Gas Safe Register. Data provided by the networks is recorded on a map highlighting the dangers by postal code and to remind people to sign up for a free gas safety check.

Hopefully the combination of these efforts by the GDNs will bring the “silent killer” out in the open and from next year start to lower the statistic of an average of 40 deaths from CO poisoning per year.

Intelligent CO Monitor Project

National Grid, Wales and West Utilities and Northern Gas Networks teamed up to fund 600 innovative smart monitors for a trial deployment in a range of social housing environments and student accommodation. The monitor manufacturer Smart Compliance Ltd was also responsible for installing and monitoring the systems.

One benefit of a successful trial for the networks is a reduction in unnecessary callouts for CO emergencies. For landlords, this technology helps keep tenants safe while reducing the costs associated with unnecessary maintenance or call-outs.

National Grid said: “Because of the quick response via SMS notification, lives can be saved.”

The project has been extended for a further six months so the impact can be seen over a full 12-month year. The networks behind the project say the monitors have brought to attention real CO incidents that could have led to poisoning.

On completion trial participants will be given the option to continue being monitored. The networks say they will consider the results collectively before making an informed decision of how to take the project forward as networks. However the product developers already have “sufficient proof of concept” to approach further social housing providers and continue to rollout the product across the UK.

IFEST Game

iFEST is a game that has been funded and created equally by all four GDNs with the ENA’s support. Players of the game have their attention drawn to the dangers of cooking on barbeques within tents and the possible effects of CO poisoning to look out for, in the context of a festival.

The game evolved from a previous app which sought to raise awareness of the issue but fell short of the necessary requirements of the provisions set out by the regulator. The game allows GDNs to see how many people have played the game, for how long, and whether they share it with friends on social media. Consequently assumptions can be made around how much the player has learnt about the dangers.

The game was shared with revellers at Glastonbury, Leeds and T in the Park festivals with a big social media push using the hashtag #TunesNotFumes.