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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.
