co poisening from unburnt wood

[stevetheplumber]

anyone know how this happens how does wood thats lying dormant produce co?
Gas Safety Trust warns of wood pellet danger | Installer Online

 

[Keefy]

"Due to the enclosed nature of these hoppers/tanks/rooms, the atmosphere inside can become oxygen depleted and a toxic atmosphere containing carbon monoxide can accumulate. The chemical reactions responsible for carbon monoxide production from wood pellets are assumed to be an auto-oxidation process, especially oxidation of the fatty acids to be found in wood..."

More at HSE

 

[lame plumber]

iron ore in a ships hold does the same, just removes o2 fm the air, killing inept crewmen that go in, followed by their mates trying to rescue them. We had to deal with the aftermath in 86 when a freighter put out a mayday nearby and we put out own guys in breathing apparatus to recover 3 bodies, if the had vented the hold for 20 mins it wouldnt have happened!

 

[stevetheplumber]

i heard a story of a co fatality from a over heating electric heater the old type with cast iron blocks to hold the heat the overheat had been bridged and the main stat failed closed and heated the iron to above a certain temp where iron starts to give of co