FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 1999
Release # 99-051
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC Warns -- Never Use Charcoal Grills Indoors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Across the U.S. this winter, snow and ice
storms have caused the loss of electrical power to hundreds
of thousands of homes. Because of this, some people could be
tempted to use a charcoal grill indoors. This can be a
deadly mistake, according to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC).
Each year, there are about 20 deaths from carbon
monoxide (CO) poisoning and about 400 emergency room treated
injuries from CO poisoning resulting from charcoal grills.
Charcoal produces CO when burned. CO is a colorless,
odorless gas that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed
environments. To reduce these CO poisonings, CPSC is
offering the following safety tips:
Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or
campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if
ventilation is provided.
Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is
completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with
freshly used coals.
In April 1996, CPSC revised the label on charcoal
packaging to more explicitly warn consumers of the deadly CO
gas that is released when charcoal is burned in a closed
environment. The new label reads, "WARNING...CARBON MONOXIDE
HAZARD...Burning charcoal inside can kill you. It gives off
carbon monoxide, which has no odor. NEVER burn charcoal
inside homes, vehicles or tents." The new label also conveys
the written warning visually with drawings. The new label
requirement became mandatory on all packages of charcoal
filled on or after November 1997.
CPSC also recommends that every home should have at
least one CO alarm that meets the requirements of the most
recent Underwriters Laboratories 2034 standard or
International Approval Services 6-96 standard.