SAFETY INFORMTAION FOR USERS OF LP-GAS
Propane | by point with the members of your household. Someday |
and explosions. In its natural state, propane is odorless and | when there may not be a minute to lose, everyone's safety |
colorless. You may not know all the following safety precau- | will depend on knowing exactly what to do. If, after read- |
tions which can protect both you and your family from an | ing the following information, you feel you still need more |
accident. Read them carefully now, then review them point | 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
That's your signal to go into immediate action!
• Do not operate electric switches, light matches, use your | • Use your neighbor's phone and call a trained |
phone. Do not do anything that could ignite the gas. | person and the fire department. Even though you may not |
• Get everyone out of the building, vehicle, trailer, or area. Do | continue to smell gas, do not turn on the gas again. Do not |
that IMMEDIATELY. | |
• Close all gas tank or cylinder supply valves. | • Finally, let the service man and firefighters check for escaped |
• | gas. Have them air out the area before you return. Properly |
as basements. When you have reason to suspect a gas leak, | trained |
keep out of basements and other low areas. Stay out until | check and relight the gas appliance for you. |
firefighters declare them to be safe. |
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NO ODOR DETECTED - ODOR FADE
Some people cannot smell well. Some people cannot smell the | in | |
odor of the chemical put into the gas. You must find out if you | there is rust inside the storage tank or in iron gas pipes. | |
can smell the odorant in propane. Smoking can decrease your | The odorant in escaped gas can adsorb or absorb onto or into walls, | |
ability to smell. Being around an odor for a time can affect your | ||
masonry and other materials and fabrics in a room. That will take | ||
sensitivity or ability to detect that odor. Sometimes other odors | ||
some of the odorant out of the gas, reducing its odor intensity. | ||
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. | vary at different levels. Since it is heavier than air, there may be | |
The odorant in | 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 | ||
circumstances. For example, if there is an underground leak, the | ||
go into action as instructed earlier. | ||
movement of the gas through soil can filter the odorant. Odorants | ||
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SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Learn to recognize the odor of | to set too long before refilling. Cylinders and tanks which | |
Dealer can give you a "Scratch and Sniff" pamphlet. Use it | have been out of service for a time may develop internal rust | |
to find out what the propane odor smells like. If you suspect | which will cause odor fade. If such conditions are suspected | |
that your | to exist, a periodic sniff test of the gas is advisable. If you | |
have any question about the gas odor, call your | ||
• If you are not qualified, do not light pilot lights, perform | A periodic sniff test of the | |
under any condition. | ||
service, or make adjustments to appliances on the | ||
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system. If you are qualified, consciously think about the odor | • If, at any time, you do not smell the | |
of | think you should, assume you have a leak. Then take the same | |
ing service or making adjustments. | immediate action recommended above for the occasion when | |
• Sometimes a basement or a | you do detect the odorized | |
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smell that can cover up the | • If you experience a complete "gas out," (the container is un- | |
pilot lights, perform service, or make adjustments in an area | der no vapor pressure), turn the tank valve off immediately. | |
where the conditions are such that you may not detect the | If the container valve is left on, the container may draw in | |
odor if there has been a leak of | some air through openings such as pilot light orifices. If this | |
• Odor fade, due to oxidation by rust or adsorption on walls | occurs, some new internal rusting could occur. If the valve is | |
left open, then treat the container as a new tank. Always be | ||
of new cylinders and tanks, is possible. Therefore, people | ||
sure your container is under vapor pressure by turning it off | ||
should be particularly alert and careful when new tanks or | ||
at the container before it goes completely empty or having it | ||
cylinders are placed in service. Odor fade can occur in new | ||
refilled before it is completely empty. | ||
tanks, or reinstalled old tanks, if they are filled and allowed | ||
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