The Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) review of the incident at a Winnipeg Super 8 that saw several people taken to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning has been released.
The incident occurred on July 9th at the Portage Avenue hotel. After complaints of illness by guests and staff, the building was evacuated.
The OFC review found that carbon monoxide from a hot water boiler was venting in an area that allowed it to be pulled back into the air exchange system and circulated through the hotel.
An open blower motor door on the air make-up unit and cool chimney temperature contributed to the gases staying in the building, rather than rising out of the chimney.
Carbon monoxide monitors used at the scene found dangerously high readings rating from 65 parts per million on the main floor to 190 ppm in the basement where the mechanical room is located and 380 ppm on the third floor.
A safe carbon monoxide level is considered to be 50 ppm.
The investigation also found that the hotel didn’t have any carbon monoxide detectors in place at the time of the incident, which is against the Manitoba Fire Code.
On July 24th, Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health issued an order requiring carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in a workplace. The hotel followed the order and has since installed seven carbon monoxide detectors in public areas and three in areas where gas appliances are being used.
The OFC review has concluded there was no intention for the incident, and it was deemed accidental.
