Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

When a carbon monoxide leak is suspected in your home or business, Bison Engineering has the technology, methods, and knowledge to provide the necessary answers to determine the cause.

Identifying carbon monoxide poisoning and locating leaks where carbon monoxide may be a factor is critical to ensure that attorneys and insurance companies have the necessary facts.

Thorough Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Investigations

Bison Engineering is equipped to identify and analyze data in an effective, unbiased manner. Bison’s Carbon Monoxide experts bring more than 30 years of experience to each carbon monoxide investigation. Bison’s engineers work diligently to determine the cause of any potential carbon monoxide leak in the event of an illness or death, through data collection and on-site analysis.

What Bison Engineering Investigates

Our team of engineers look at the big picture to ensure accurate data is collected.

In a typical incident such as an illness or fatality, the problem can often be traced to the air supply or venting of a gas appliance.

Colorless and odorless, carbon monoxide is rarely found in its purest form. Fuel requires oxygen to burn completely and its normal byproducts are mostly water vapor and carbon dioxide. When there is an impaired burner, the oxygen supply to the appliance is insufficient. The fuel does not burn completely and produces potentially lethal amounts of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide can take a life within minutes. It is a gas that often goes undetected until an illness or fatality occurs.

Some Causes of Impaired Burner Operations may Include:

  • Faulty construction/installation.
  • Flue blockage or restriction.
  • Poor maintenance.
  • Structural deterioration.
  • Insufficient air supply

Immediate blood testing is advised to verify the presence of carbon monoxide since the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often similar to those of flu or food poisoning. These testing reports, along with any initial reports from first responders or emergency agencies are included in the initial investigation to assist Bison’s experts to better understand the environment in which the incident occurred. At the site of each incident, all signs of potential carbon monoxide poisoning are documented and investigated extensively to provide clarity and accuracy in our findings.

Areas that are included in Investigations:

  • Gas appliances.
  • Loose vent connections.
  • Excessive Condensation.
  • Vent Rust.
  • Soot.

Other Notable Sources of Potential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

  • Boilers.
  • Water heaters.
  • Generators.
  • Gas fireplaces.
  • Car exhaust.
  • Gas-powered dryers.

Incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning can only be resolved through the most thorough and scientifically sound investigative processes. Bison Engineering’s team of engineers have earned the respect of clients and competitors alike for their uncompromising standards in the pursuit of good evidence when investigating carbon monoxide incidents.

State-of-the-Art Carbon Monoxide Data Acquisition Testing SystemBison Engineering's carbon monoxide testing system.

Bison is equipped to handle a broad variety of carbon monoxide cases. Utilizing our skills and proprietary testing technology, we are able to determine the cause and extent of carbon monoxide poisoning from a wide range of different sources and causes.

While independent data logging systems fail to provide a reliable time-based comparison between locations, our CO-DAQ (Carbon Monoxide Data Acquisition) provides real-time data, all while measuring multiple locations. Bison Engineering works to identify carbon monoxide production dynamic response through the use of sensors to record variables such as temperature (flue, ambient inside and outside), efficiency, oxygen, and carbon monoxide concentration.

Each sensor samples at a predetermined frequency and is initiated at a true start time to allow accurate documentation of flue stack conditions and temperatures.

Based on a notebook computer, our state-of-the-art Data Acquisition hardware and software are programmed specifically for monitoring the presence of carbon monoxide throughout the structure. The CO-DAQ is portable which allows for on-location testing under many of the original conditions. This provides a quick set up and the ability to accurately record important data immediately after an incident.