Natural gas is a relatively cheap fuel available almost worldwide. It is a source of fuel for household appliances like stoves and heaters. Unfortunately, gas leakages are very real and scary phenomena. Occasionally, we hear of lives lost in freak accidents like carbon-monoxide poisoning or gas explosions. It is terrifying to send a family member off to a factory job every day, wondering what sort of dangers they may face. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that homeowners and workplace management can take to significantly reduce the risk of such occurrences.
Preventive Measures
While buying or building a structure, you naturally want to ensure the safety of its inhabitants. Whether it is an office space, a factory area, or your own home, you would want the best possible safety measures for you and those around you. Therefore, is prudent to invest in good quality equipment, especially for your home gas network. Such equipment not only reduces the risk of leakages but also has great longevity, so you won’t have to keep replacing faulty parts every couple of years.
1. Piping
While laying down a gas network in a home or any building, the piping material is an important factor to keep in mind. Hard thermoplastic pipes are very widely used, mainly due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. In addition to this, they are quite long-lasting and have a relatively low manufacturing cost. Although the recommended and permitted materials for gas piping vary from area to area. It is always best to seek confirmation from relevant authorities in your area in order to avoid any safety inspection mishaps.
2. Connectors and Valves
You also need flexible connectors to connect your appliances to the gas source. Between the piping and the connector, you need a good-quality shut-off valve. You can either use the gate, globe, or ball valves. Ball valves for gas lines tend to be smaller and lighter than gate valves. They are also completely leak-proof and allow quick mechanisms to open and shut. They tend to be safer because of their flexibility as well. The more flexible your valve is, the fewer valves you need to install, thus reducing the number of possible leakage points. You need to install a shut-off valve in almost every room you plan to use a gas appliance.
3. A simple precaution
There is a simple method to ensure even if a gas leak is there, it never accumulates and leads to carbon monoxide poisoning or an explosion. You should never use a gas appliance for an extended period of time in a non-ventilated room. Always try to have a window cracked when your heater or stove is on.
Detecting leaks
4. Gas Detectors
Having some form of gas leakage detection system is highly recommended. The best systems inform you of a leakage risk, whether you are at home or not, through your cell phones. It is also a good measure to have the detection systems linked to the nearest fire department. This allows the system to automatically call for help and allow for immediate response. The alert to the fire department can then be shut off manually by the owner by entering a code.
What to do if you detect a leak?
5. Find the source
Try tracing the source of the leak and turn it off as soon as possible to prevent further gas accumulation.
6. Ventilation
Immediately open all the doors and windows to release the accumulated gas.
7. Prevent Sparks
Make sure to not do anything that will ignite a spark. This includes lighting matches, using lighters, switching on lights, or even using your cell phone.
8. Contact the fire department
Lastly, you should step out of the building and call for help, even if the situation seems under control. You can never be too careful about the safety and health of your loved ones.
Conclusion
Workplace productivity is at its maximum when employees are in good health. Parents always want the best for their children, they never compromise on health. Even when gas leaks do not result in gas accumulation, where there is a constant minor leak, it is known to have detrimental long-term effects on the health of the inhabitants, the least severe of which are nausea and drowsiness. Long-term exposure to carbon monoxide can cause symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson’s disease. Employers can be safe from future expenditure on employees’ health care bills by investing in good equipment for their workspace. The same is true in the case of parents with their children, with the added anxiety of seeing a loved one suffer. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
