05B — Harmful gas or vapor detected
Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless and can make staff and customers seriously ill. The inspector (or your own CO detector) flags a harmful gas or vapor at or above 13 ppm. It is cited at 10 points and rises to 28 if not corrected — and like other imminent hazards it can stop your operation until the source is shut down and the air clears.
What the inspector looks for
Sniff for and watch for a harmful gas or vapor near gas-fired equipment — a carbon-monoxide reading at or above 13 ppm on a detector, or fumes that make the air hard to breathe. If a CO detector alarms or reads 13 ppm or more, treat it as an emergency.
Points & grade impact
Cited at 10 points — Cited at 10 (condition IV); uncorrected PHH → 28. NYC adds every cited violation’s points into one inspection score: 0–13 = A, 14–27 = B, 28+ = C.
How to fix it
Ventilate and evacuate as needed; shut down the source (e.g. faulty equipment); do not operate until the gas/vapor is eliminated.
How to prevent it
Maintain and inspect gas-fired equipment and ventilation; install CO detection; ensure adequate make-up air.
- ✓Install and test carbon-monoxide detectors near gas-fired cooking and heating equipment.
- ✓Have gas equipment and the exhaust/make-up air system inspected and serviced on a schedule by a qualified tech.
- ✓If a detector alarms, shut down the suspected equipment, ventilate, and do not operate until the reading clears.
- ✓Keep enough make-up air coming in so the hood does not pull combustion fumes back into the kitchen.
Reference: Health Code §81.19(c)
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