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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 precau-
tions which can protect both you and your family from an ac-
cident. 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, 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 appliance 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 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.
