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SAFETY INFORMATION FOR USERS OF LP-GAS
Propane (LP-Gas) is a flammable gas that 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
telephone. 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 safe.
!
Use your neighbor's telephone 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 stench 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. Odor 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 above.
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 of 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 in the 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 absorption 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 sit too long before refilling. Cylinders and tanks that 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.
