Crucial Tactics for Minimizing Gas Cylinder Explosion Hazards

• Edgar Hernández, lieutenant of the UCV fire department, recommends that the population carefully check the cylinders every time they are delivered full and insist on a change when the cylinders have been used for many years | Photo: EFE

Deterioration or improper installation can be the cause of a gas cylinder explosion domestic. In the Capital District and Miranda, several cases of this type have recently been registered, which have caused the death of several people in residential areas.

Proper handling and installation, as well as periodic inspection and replacement of gas cylinders, are essential to prevent accidents of this type.

Edgar Hernández, lieutenant of the Fire Department of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), detailed the measures that can be taken to mitigate the risk of explosion of a cylinder of gas.

“The most important thing that citizens should keep in mind is to avoid knocks, either when they are filling them, when they deliver them or when they take them and install them in their homes, because these knocks generate cracks in the seams of the cylinders,” Hernández explained in an interview for The Diary.

The user must be very attentive to the condition of the cylinder when it is delivered by PDVSA Gas workers and, if possible, report any irregularities upon receipt.

How do you detect a leak in a gas cylinder?

Lieutenant Hernandez explained that there is a test to detect if a cylinder has a gas leak. The test consists of putting a little solution with water and soap on the surface of the cylinder.

“Soapy water will make bubbles and if they multiply quickly, there is a leak. At that point, the cylinder must be immediately discarded and taken outdoors to discharge the gas,” Hernandez explained.

The firefighter clarified that if there is a suspected gas leak, one should avoid turning on the stove and lighting fires with lighters or matches. He warned that one should also be careful with electricity, so one should not turn on lights or connect appliances and one should avoid turning on electronic devices such as cell phones.

Photo: EFE

“All of these are possible triggers for an explosion or a fire. If there is gas in the environment and a light switch is turned on, a spark is created and it explodes. We imagine that this is what has happened in the cases that have been reported recently,” said Hernandez.

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What to do if there is a leak in a gas cylinder?

The official said that if the gas cylinder is in a house or apartment and a leak is detected, the first thing to do is to open windows and doors to prevent the accumulation of gas inside the home.

The cylinder should then be removed from the home and taken to an open space such as a square, park or parking lot, preferably one where there is little movement of people so that all the gas disperses and there is a minimum risk of accidents.

When the cylinders are large, the fire department should be called to assess the risk involved. Whenever possible, specialized personnel should be sought to assess and make decisions. Usually, if there is a leak, the cylinder must be discarded,” explained the firefighter.

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He suggested that this process should be accompanied by a second phase in which PDVSA Gas personnel are informed so that they can inspect the cylinder and make the replacement.

Currently, reports for the replacement of cylinders can be made through the VenApp website, although the replacement could also be managed through the communal councils and communes, since they are the intermediaries between the users and the state company.

Periodic reviews and changes

PDVSA Gas Comunal cylinders have a useful life of between 7 and 10 years, according to statements made by company workers to the media. However, many of these cylinders continue to be used after that time has passed.

Deterioration due to impacts and corrosion of the cylinder material reduces the useful life and increases the risk of explosion and fire. Given this, Lieutenant Hernandez recommends doing an inspection with soapy water every time the cylinder is received after being filled.

It is advisable to check the entire gas system, from the cylinder to the kitchen where it is installed. This system has copper connections and these copper hoses may crack due to misuse or because they were bent, so it is important to check it as well and it is usual to do so with a sponge with a lot of soap,” Hernández explained.

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Photo: Caracas City

The firefighter pointed out that since there have been recent reports of cylinder explosions, it is time for the population to be more alert and to emphasize the inspection of cylinders and to insist on replacing cylinders that have been in use for more than 10 years.

Location and use of the gas cylinder

The lieutenant indicated that the ideal is to have the cylinders in an open space, but he pointed out that this is not possible in most homes, so he recommends that if the cylinder is inside the kitchen, it should have a separate space.

PDVSA Gas recommends on its social media that cylinders should always be upright and never lying down. It also suggests that they be placed on a solid base, preferably concrete.

The state-owned company also recommends keeping cylinders away from heat sources, electrical outlets and flammable products.

The UCV Firefighters lieutenant added that when handling the cylinder at home, it is essential to avoid hitting the cylinder and using inappropriate tools for installing the gas system, in order to avoid cracks in the connections. Likewise, it must be ensured that it is not handled by children and adolescents, and if there is any suspicion of any risk, one should not hesitate to call Civil Protection officials, the Fire Department or even PDVSA Gas workers.

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