gas safety tips
If you live in one of the many households that use natural gas and/or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) for cooking and heating purposes, you know just how convenient these clean burning fuels are.
Whether your gas is supplied via underground pipes or through a cylinder service (maintained by either a cylinder exchange service or a tanker refill service), there are safety precautions you should take, since, under certain conditions, gas can be explosive.
Remember, in its natural state, gas has no odour or colour, so an odourant is added to give it a distinctive smell for safety reasons (such as detecting a leak). If you smell gas and are unable to turn off the source, contact your gas supplier immediately.
The following tips can help you make your home more gas-safe.
- When looking for gas appliances, it's best to choose a type that has an automatic flame igniter. Also check that a flame failure system will turn the gas off if the flame goes out.
- Always follow manufacturers’ instructions when using gas appliances and follow the advice on how often an appliance should be serviced.
- Only a registered gas fitter who has been specially trained in correct procedures should install, repair, service or remove a gas appliance.
- Always take care around gas appliances – DO NOT leave papers, rags, paint or other flammable material near them.
- If your gas appliance does not have an automatic flame igniter, before you light your gas appliance, ALWAYS light the match before turning on the gas. And please never turn the gas up to ‘full’ before igniting it.
- Take care to not damage gas pipes when using lawn mowers, brush cutters or digging in the garden.
- If you have a gas leak, call your current gas supplier immediately. Keep people clear of the area and ensure there is no risk of ignition (for instance, someone smoking or using a mobile telephone or electrical appliance in the near vicinity). To be safe, tape electrical switches so they cannot be used.
- If there's a gas leak in the house, turn off the gas supply at the meter control valve. Most meters are mounted at the front or side of the house for easy access.
Your gas cylinder needs to be tested and stamped every 10 years. A great way to check for gas leakage is to put soap suds on any suspect connection or hose and watch for air bubbles to rise. If in doubt, turn off the gas and have a registered gas fitter attend to the hose or connection. Ensure gas bottles have value plugs in place when not in use to help prevent slow gas leaks.
Ventilation is extremely important when using heating appliances. If you plan to close in a room that has a gas appliance or install a gas appliance in an existing room, contact a registered gas fitter who will ensure correct fitting and ventilation.
Regularly check that chimneys and flue vents are free of leaves, bird nests and other materials too, as this can lead to dangerous build-up of gases in the room.
Cylinder Transport Safety Information
LPG cylinders are safe if used correctly. It is important that:
- Cylinders greater than 30 litres aren't transported in an enclosed vehicle. (This means that a 9 kg cylinder may be carried in an enclosed vehicle but that a 13.5 kg cylinder may not).
- Cylinders should be carried and stored upright at all times and secured, preferably in the boot.
- No more than two cylinders should be carried at any one time.
- Valves should be checked to ensure that they are tightly turned off.
- Cylinders should be kept away from heat or direct sunlight.
- Cylinder contents should not be inhaled.
- For added safety, fit a screwed plug to the cylinder outlet when not in use.