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Propane Gas is a flammable gas which can cause fires and
explosions. In its natural state, propane is odorless and col-
orless. You may not know all the following safety precautions
which can protect both you and your family from an accident.
Read them carefully now, then review them point by point with
the members of your household. Someday when there may not
be a minute to lose, everyone's safety will depend on knowing
exactly what to do. If, after reading the following information,
you feel you still need more information, please contact your
gas supplier.
NO ODOR DETECTED - ODOR FADE
Some people cannot smell well. Some people cannot smell
the odor of the chemical put into the gas. You must find out if
you can smell the odorant in propane.
Smoking can decrease
your ability to smell. Being around an odor for a time can affect your
sensitivity or ability to detect that odor. Sometimes other odors in
the area mask the gas odor. People may not smell the gas odor or
their minds are on something else. Thinking about smelling a gas
odor can make it easier to smell.
The odorant in propane gas is colorless, and it can fade under
some circumstances.
For example, if there is an underground
leak, the movement of the gas through soil can filter the odorant.
Odorants in propane gas also are subject to oxidation. This fading
can occur if there is rust inside the storage tank or in iron gas pipes.
The odorant in escaped gas can adsorb or absorb onto or into
walls, masonry and other materials and fabrics in a room. That will
take some of the odorant out of the gas, reducing its odor intensity.
Propane gas may stratify in a closed area, and the odor intensity
could vary at different levels. Since it is heavier than air, there may
be more odor at lower levels. Always be sensitive to the slightest gas
odor. If you detect any odor, treat it as a serious leak. Immediately
go into action as instructed earlier.
SAFETY INFORMATION FOR USERS OF PROPANE GAS
SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER
•
Learn to recognize the odor of propane gas.
Your local pro-
pane gas dealer can give you a “Scratch and Sniff” pamphlet.
Use it to find out what the propane odor smells like. If you
suspect that your propane gas has a weak or abnormal odor,
call your propane gas dealer.
•
If you are not qualified, do not light pilot lights, perform service,
or make adjustments to appliances on the propane gas system.
If you are qualified, consciously think about the odor of propane
gas prior to and while lighting pilot lights or performing service
or making adjustments.
•
Sometimes a basement or a closed-up house has a musty
smell that can cover up the propane gas odor. Do not try to
light pilot lights, perform service, or make adjustments in an
area where the conditions are such that you may not detect
the odor if there has been a leak of propane gas.
•
Odor fade, due to oxidation by rust or adsorption on walls of
new cylinders and tanks, is possible. Therefore, people should
be particularly alert and careful when new tanks or cylinders
are placed in service. Odor fade can occur in new tanks, or
reinstalled old tanks, if they are filled and allowed to set too
long before refilling. Cylinders and tanks which have been out
of service for a time may develop internal rust which will cause
odor fade. If such conditions are suspected to exist, a periodic
sniff test of the gas is advisable.
If you have any question
about the gas odor, call your propane gas dealer. A peri-
odic sniff test of the propane gas is a good safety measure
under any condition.
•
If, at any time, you do not smell the propane gas odorant and
you think you should, assume you have a leak. Then take the
same immediate action recommended above for the occasion
when you do detect the odorized propane gas.
•
If you experience a complete “gas out,” (the container is under
no vapor pressure), turn the tank valve off immediately. If the
container valve is left on, the container may draw in some air
through openings such as pilot light orifices. If this occurs, some
new internal rusting could occur. If the valve is left open, then
treat the container as a new tank. Always be sure your con-
tainer is under vapor pressure by turning it off at the container
before it goes completely empty or having it refilled before it is
completely empty.
