Analyzing Combustion Analyzers Just talking about CO can be
confusing. Although the terms used in this article are defined
in the sidebar (see “Terminology”), CO can be deadly, and so I
want to emphasize the basic information. Test equipment can
provide great information, but only if the operator understands
what that information means. First, it is important to
understand the difference between ambient carbon monoxide (CO)
and CO air free or COAF (also known as CO undiluted and
undiluted CO), which is a value calculated either manually or by
the combustion analyzer. Ambient CO is the CO that is in the air
that occupants breathe. Ambient CO should be measured and
monitored during the entire building analysis in order to
protect the health and safety of the occupants and the analysts.
COAF is the CO that is present during the incomplete burning of
the fuel in a combustion appliance. COAF comes from the
combustion process and is generally measured before the exhaust
gases have a chance to combine with dilution