Be Lpg Gas Cylinder Safe, Not Sorry

All those involved with lpg have a responsibility to ensure safety remains a key focus and should be familiar with its key characteristics and potential hazards. Dr Terry Ritter from Calor goes through some basic safety advice.

As we all know, propane is predominantly used for heating and cooking and butane is used to fuel portable heaters and leisure appliances. Whatever the application, however, it is crucial that safety remains the number one consideration at all times.

As with all gas appliances, inadequate flueing and ventilation can result in the production of carbon monoxide (CO). Despite ongoing awareness campaigns, around 40 people in the UK die from CO poisoning each year. Users should be made aware of the symptoms, which include tightness across the forehead, headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, depressed heart action and slowed respiration.

A Gas Safe registered engineer should service lp gas fuelled appliances regularly. They should only be used in well-ventilated areas and should never be modified in any way. People handling lpg gas cylinders must comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, which aim to reduce the number of injuries at work.

If someone is manually handling cylinders on a regular basis, they must be instructed in the best handling techniques. Employers have a duty to provide comprehensive advice on the best ways to lift and move cylinders, and should reduce unnecessary handling by providing equipment or rearranging methods of working.

Cylinders are heavy - when full, a 3.9kg propane cylinder will weigh around 9kg, a 7kg butane cylinder will weigh 15-17kg and a 15kg butane cylinder will weigh 25-35kg. Always lift and lower cylinders in a slow, controlled manner, and avoid throwing or dropping them. Cylinders must be treated with care to ensure they don’t become damaged – especially around the valve area.

Propane cylinders must always be changed outdoors. Appliances with a small integral cylinder – for example, a blowtorch with a 340g propane cartridge – should be changed outdoors too.

Butane cylinders used in portable heaters are fitted with a self-sealing valve and may be changed indoors, but this must only be done away from sources of ignition and mobile phones should be switched off. Before the cylinder change, the appliance should be turned off and allowed to cool down.

If a regulator is showing signs of wear and/or damage it must be replaced - new regulators should be marked BS3016 or BSEN12864. Don’t ever force a regulator of one size onto the cylinder valve of another, and don’t disconnect a clip-on or screw-on regulator from any cylinder if the flame on the appliance is still alight.

Any hose showing signs of wear, cracking or other damage should be replaced. You should be aware that lpg attacks and erodes natural rubber.

All lp gas cylinders should be stored outdoors, including butane ones unless they are within a portable heater, and they should never be stored below ground level. Because lpg is heavier than air, cylinders shouldn’t be stored any closer than two metres from untrapped drains, unsealed gullies or openings to cellars.

The storage area should be well ventilated, and the cylinders should be kept away from heat, ignition sources and readily ignitable materials. They must not be kept near any corrosive, toxic or oxidant material.

Cylinders should always be stored in single rows. They must always be upright with their valves at the top so that, if there is a leak from the valve area, only vapour, not liquid, will escape. As with natural gas, a special odour is added to lpg gas to help detect leaks. If necessary, a suitably calibrated explosimeter can be used to test the concentration of lpg in the air. The outlet valve should be kept closed while cylinders are in storage, and plastic caps or plugs must be fitted, even when lp gas cylinders are empty.

Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry, which is why safety should always come first for lpg users.

Contact Calor Gas Ltd on 0800 626626 www.calor.co.uk

< Back