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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 precau-
tions 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.
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 sus-
pected 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.
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. Some
-
times 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 odor
-
ant. 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.
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, 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 es
-
caped 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 appliance for you.
SAFETY INFORMATION FOR USERS OF LP-GAS
