Homebrewing Safety

[Will_D]

One good point that CO2 posses is that it is a respiratory stimulant in small concentrations. So if you suddenly start to breath quickly that is a sign that there is excess CO2 in the air.

That is why you can't hold your breath and pass out!

Breath in-and-out through a CO2 scrubber you defo pass out!

[HomeBrewWest]

co2 if in an enclosed space should be out of reach of any kids and should ideally be kept outdoors.  If you had a leak substantial enough it will displace all the oxygen in the room and obviously no one can survive in there
[/quote]
100% correct plus above all take care if transporting in your car, keep the tank securely supported, don't leave it rolling around and drive with a couple of windows open, for two reasons if the car is very warm inside it increases the pressure of the gas, and if the valve is leaking or the relief valve opens then at least the car is ventilated. Never leave a gas cylinder in a parked car in sunlight.
Be aware that CO2 acts like water in that it is heavier than air and will flow to the lowest point, be extra careful if fermenting or storing gas in a basement. I know it's more of an American thing to have a basement in your home but you never know. Eg Sweetmans ferment in a basement room under the Liffey. CO2 alarms are available and relatively inexpensive (~€150 ish) in the overall scheme of things, (they should be mounted at floor level and not ceiling level like their CO detector cousins)
There are lots of reported accidents of relief valves blowing on CO2 tanks while people were driving, on both Fishkeeping and homebrewing forums, just google "Driving with CO2" for lots of near misses!!
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Will_D makes an interesting point. I would have thought it would be impossible to stay in a car full of CO2 since the compulsion to breath would be overwhelming? Mind you, other than hold my breath, I've never tried to fill my lungs with it. I wonder if the compulsion to breath is proportional to the percentage of CO2 in your lungs, or does it "peak" at a certain concentration, and then diminish?

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

If you walk into a room filled with CO2 you'll be overcome instantly, at lower levels as Will stated your respiratory rate increases plus your heart rate takes off also, I've had this experience several times, in the time while you are wondering what's happening you are losing vital time,  you need to get into fresh air or move higher up, remember the concentration is higher the lower down you are. I had a narrow escape once on a walkway outside a building, it was enclosed between two walls and the CO2 had pooled there. This example is outside the realm of a home-brew situation but it's no harm to know the symptoms.
If the valve was leaking slightly and you were driving, the CO2 levels would gradually creep up within the car, if you notice your breathing becoming shallow and your heart rate increasing open the windows and exit the car, likewise in your  brew shed etc

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Back in the dark ages when I first started in the brewery it was a practical joke to tell the newbie to look into a fermenting vat to see the size of it, when he put his head through the inspection door he would pass out, and they would catch him as he fell backwards. 
This prank would get people arrested nowadays but it demonstrates how quickly you can be overcome and pass out.

[irish_goat]

Back in the dark ages when I first started in the brewery it was a practical joke to tell the newbie to look into a fermenting vat to see the size of it, when he put his head through the inspection door he would pass out, and they would catch him as he fell backwards. 
This prank would get people arrested nowadays but it demonstrates how quickly you can be overcome and pass out.

That's mad. Have you ever heard of anyone falling into a fermenter? I assume it's game over if they did and not just an enjoyable bath like in Family Guy?

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Thankfully no, but unfortunately there have been a number of fatalities in the brewery in the past due to CO2, anyway enough doom and gloom it's meant to be enjoyable brewing beer just try do it safely :-)

[DEMPSEY]

The old Dempsey's brewery had 20 Barrel open top, flat bottom fermenter's and when they were emptied there would be co2 still lying in the bottom of the tank so if you crawled down a ladder into it you could get a bang of the co2.

[nigel_c]

Its like when your transferring from primary to 2nd and you stick your nose in to check the hop aroma. Even a nose full of that will make you light headed. I know its gonna do it but I just cant help myself some times.