Has an retired full time firefighter , Be careful what you take notice of on this post . Treat all gas with respect turn the cylinder Value off if not in use .

Tony Bev wrote:

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adreamer wrote:

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I ask again!!  What is/does cause a gas explosion in a van??

Seems to be too many recently and I'm sure in the past.

Helen

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Hello adreamer

I will assume that no Gas Fitters have seen this thread, therefore from a layman point of view, I will attempt to answer your question

There are many areas inside the van the gas could accidently start leaking from, such as a hairline crack on the supply pipe, any joins along the gas pipe which are inside the van, the control switches of the gas appliances, etc.

The leaking gas is heavier than air, it will accumulate in the lowest area it can find
The smallest leak, over time, will result in a large enough accumulation of gas to explode when it comes into contact with a spark or flame

In a van with a three way fridge, while it is working on gas, there is always a flame burning, which will cause any accumulated leaking gas to explode

The manufactures put in a smelling agent (Ethyl Mercaptan).
To ensure that a person will be able to smell leaking gas
Unfortunately when a person is asleep, or has the sniffles, there is a good chance that they will not smell leaking gas

There are many gas detectors a person can buy. This is a link to just one of them

Sometimes there is not much left of the van after a gas explosion, to pinpoint exactly what happened
This is why we sometimes just have to guess, how did it happen

Some people I know, have decided that as they do not open their fridge at night, they will turn it off, to save gas
I will assume that if the gas bottle is also turned off, there would be no chance of a gas explosion

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 I think you will find that the gas fitters are tired of being told that they don't know what they are talking about, and they are being told that by the uninformed knowalls.

Here we go again !

I certainly hope that I will not be responsible for opening a can of worms, especially on a serious topic concerning gas explosions

When I worked on the E-W microwave link between Port Pirie (SA) & Northam (WA) we used nitrogen, later dry air in the waveguides to keep moisture out (30 years ago). If there was a leak, a liquid called Leak-tec was used - see www.amgas.com/ltpage.htm . Unlike soapy water, it did not corrode the fittings & it detected far smaller leaks.
Whether it is still available, I do not know. I bought a good portable electronic detector for $30 a couple of years ago from Spry's at Ceduna (SA). It hasn't failed yet.

Warren

Hi All

I have recently retired from being a Safework SA Inspector for Dangerous Goods. This is class 2 LPG, Class 3 petrol, thinners, turps, class 6 poisons and 8 acids etc.

My job was to approve installations for storage of dangerous goods including service stations U/G tanks and above tanks/cylinders etc.

AS1596 is a standard for LPG. There are other guidelines for LPG installations. The topic is complex but basics are below.

One 9kg gas stored inside a house that leaks and finds an ignition source will destroy that house. An RV or van would have very little left of it.

The first thing is the cylinder must be outside the van or RV or vented to the outside atmosphere so any leaks from the cylinder stay outside. Piping will come inside and have fittings that can also leak. Many do not understand the dangers. I myself don't trust some tradesmen who do the work.

LPG is heavier than air so any leaks inside will start from the floor up. LPG needs oxygen to burn and is unlikely to burn by itself. If a van or RV has a vented door down low most gas will leak out low vents but still may be enough to cause and explosion with a spark or static electricity inside a van.

As I have seen accidents in the past from LPG I always turn off the gas at the cylinders at night and I sleep much more peacefully. Also when not in use I turn it off. Never travel with it on.

Noooooo the monster awakens!

I notice other comments saying propane and others saying LPG. There are different types of LP gas.

1.One is a automotive LPG for cars and forklifts etc. This is seen as a less refined product, not as clean burning as Propane.

2. Propane (LPG) is a term used for a cleaner LPG gas. This is used in your barbecue cylinders and household gas.

AS1596 The storage and handling of LP Gas makes it clear not to use automotive gas in domestic appliances. The Standard does not say why. This is unfortunate.

The reason is a automotive gas is not as clean and there have been cases where persons using automotive gas in domestic cooking, the flame has gone out filling the room with explosive gas. Some people say automotive gas is cheaper which may be so but the risk of it going out and filling it with automotive gas is not worth it.

AS1596 also asks for Tanks that contain Propane that the tank is identified as such. You can however use Propane for an automotive gas. So Propane can be used for auto and domestic use.

Its no good blaming a gas company if their products cause a fire or explosion through incorrect use of their products or guidelines.

Like all guidelines from standards or the gas act they are there for good reason, unfortunately most do not say why. I find this stupid personally as it does not deter people from doing the wrong thing.

I have come across work sites where companies made up fittings to fill the company barbecue cylinders with forklift gas from LPG tanks as its cheaper and more convenient. This practice was stopped immediately. They did not understand the consequences. You can not blame the gas gas company for these type of illegal activities.

-- Edited by Retiredatlast on Monday 17th of October 2016 06:03:58 PM

Hi John

Yes, John auto gas is also an industrial gas and is different as in my text as I mentioned and as you have snipped. This gas is also usually cheaper than Pure Propane.

Yes, sometimes you will see LPG tanks for auto use being filled by a tanker then filling cylinders 190kg or 210kg ( correct definition cylinders not tanks) for domestic use.

The reason is cost. Would a company prefer to send 2 LPG tankers to the country sites or one ? Which is cheaper for them do you think ? If a good customer has almost run out of Auto LPG and they have a tanker with Pure Propane close by in the country what do you think they will do to keep the customer happy ? Drop the load of Propane or part of it into his tanks to keep them going.

Your snippet appears to be correct above and as in my text auto gas or industrial gas should not be used for domestic use.

If its cheaper for a company to deliver in the country, they may use Pure Propane for both auto and domestic use or are doing something perhaps they should not. I like to think that is not the case.

The Auto gas snippet just reinforces what is in my original text. Confusing....Pure Propane, Butane, auto gas, industrial gas and there may be other types to suit other industrial applications.

Hope this makes it clearer. Confusing isn't it though when you see a tanker doing both ?

-- Edited by Retiredatlast on Tuesday 18th of October 2016 10:47:32 AM

-- Edited by Retiredatlast on Tuesday 18th of October 2016 10:51:21 AM