36092-2-0316
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36092-2-0316
Page 76
SAFETY INFORMATION FOR USERS OF LP GAS
Propane (LP-Gas) is a flammable gas which can cause fires
and explosions. In its natural state, propane is odorless
and colorless. 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.
LP-GAS WARNING ODOR
If a gas leak happens, you should be able to smell the gas
because of the odorant put in the LP-Gas. That’s your signal
to go into immediate action!
•
Do not operate electric switches, light matches, or use your
phone. Do not do anything that could ignite the gas.
• Get everyone out of the building, vehicle, trailer, or area. Do
that IMMEDIATELY.
• Close all gas tank or cylinder supply valves.
• LP-Gas is heavier than air and may settle in low areas such
as basements. When you have reason to suspect a gas leak,
keep out of basements and other low areas. Stay out until
firefighters declare them to be safe.
• Use your neighbor’s phone and call a trained LP-Gas service
person and the fire department. Even though you may not
continue to smell gas, do not turn on the gas again. Do not
re-enter the building, vehicle, trailer, or area.
•
Finally,
let the service man and firefighters check for
escaped gas. Have them air out the area before you return.
Properly trained LP-Gas service people should repair the
leak, then check and relight the gas fireplace for you.
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 LP-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 LP-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.
LP-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.
SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER
•
Learn to recognize the odor of LP-Gas.
Your local LP-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 LP-Gas has a weak or abnormal odor, call your LP-
Gas Dealer.
•
If you are not qualified, do not light pilot lights, perform
service, or make adjustments to appliances on the LP-Gas
system. If you are qualified, consciously think about the odor
of LP-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 LP-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 LP-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
LP-
Gas dealer. A periodic sniff test of the LP-Gas is a good
safety measure under any condition.
•
If, at any time, you do not smell the LP-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 LP-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 container 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.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
For all side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment
installed in every dwelling, building or structure used in whole
or in part for residential purposes, including those owned or
operated by the Commonwealth and where the side wall exhaust
vent termination is less than seven feet above finished grade in
the area of the venting, including but not limited to decks and
porches, the following requirements shall be satisfied:
1. INSTALLATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS.
At the time of installation of the side wall horizontal vented
gas fueled equipment, the installing plumber or gasfitter shall
observe that a hard wired carbon monoxide detector with
an alarm and battery back-up is installed on the floor level
where the gas equipment is to be installed. In addition, the
installing plumber or gasfitter shall observe that a battery
operated or hard wired carbon monoxide detector with an
alarm is installed on each additional level of the dwelling,
building or structure served by the side wall horizontal
vented gas fueled equipment. It shall be the responsibility
of the property owner to secure the services of qualified
licensed professionals for the installation of hard wired
carbon monoxide detectors
a. In the event that the side wall horizontally vented gas
fueled equipment is installed in a crawl space or an attic,
the hard wired carbon monoxide detector with alarm and
battery back-up may be installed on the next adjacent
floor level.
b. In the event that the requirements of this subdivision
can not be met at the time of completion of installation,
the owner shall have a period of thirty days to comply
with the above requirements; provided, however, that
during said thirty day period, a battery operated carbon
monoxide detector with an alarm shall be installed.
2. APPROVED CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS. Each
carbon monoxide detector as required in accordance with
the above provisions shall comply with NFPA 720 and be
ANSI/UL 2034 listed and IAS certified.
3. SIGNAGE. A metal or plastic identification plate shall be
permanently mounted to the exterior of the building at
a minimum height of eight feet above grade directly in
line with the exhaust vent termination for the horizontally
vented gas fueled heating appliance or equipment. The
sign shall read, in print size no less than 1/2 inch in size,
“GAS VENT DIRECTLY BELOW. KEEP CLEAR OF ALL
OBSTRUCTIONS”.
4. INSPECTION. The state or local gas inspector of the
side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment shall
not approve the installation unless, upon inspection, the
inspector observes carbon monoxide detectors and signage
installed in accordance with the provisions of 248 CMR
5.08(2)(a) 1 through 4.
(b) EXEMPTIONS: The following equipment is exempt from
248 CMR 5.08(2)(a)1 through 4:
1. The equipment listed in Chapter 10 entitled
“Equipment Not Required To Be Vented” in the
most current edition of NFPA 54 as adopted by the
Board; and
2. Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas
fueled equipment installed in a room or structure
separate from the dwelling, building or structure
used in whole or in part for residential purposes.
(d) MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS
EQUIPMENT VENTING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDED.
When the manufacturer of a Product Approved side
wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment does
not provide the parts for venting the flue gases, but
identifies “special venting systems”, the following
requirements shall be satisfied by the manufacturer:
1. The referenced “special venting system”
instructions shall be included with the appliance or
equipment installation instructions; and
2. The “special venting systems” shall be Product
Approved by the Board, and the instructions for
that system shall include a parts list and detailed
installation instruction.
(e) A copy of all installation instructions for all Product
Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled
equipment, all venting instructions, all parts lists
for venting instructions, and/or all venting design
instructions shall remain with the appliance or
equipment at the completion of the installation.
