Liquid Gas and Safety

An important Safety Alert from OARA regarding regulators on gas cylinders.

Description: LPG LP Single Stage Regulator
Manufacturer: OARA Italy
Model: OARA Gas Master Range (cylinder type propane)

This model regulator has been found to be prone to failure caused by internal corrosion, resulting in an over pressure condition and should therefore be replaced and removed from service.
If you think you have this type of regulator you should contact a Registered Gas Installer (RGI) or your gas supplier to have a safety inspection carried out.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Regulators should be maintained or replaced as specified in the manufacturer instructions, or in the absent of any manufacturer instructions, after 10 years in service.
Regulators designed for outdoor use should be kept at least 500 mm above ground level, to avoid the vent opening becoming blocked. It is very important that regulators are always positioned with vent opening facing in the downwards direction, to avoid ingress and accumulation of water inside the body of the regulator.
The Irish LP Gas Association (ILPGA) recommend that existing installations fitted with a single stage regulator without protection, be upgraded and fitted with a regulator with over pressure or excess flow protection, as recommended in Irish Standard I.S. 813:2014 Domestic Gas Installations.

L.P. Gas fuelled mobile heaters give you maximum flexibility in producing instant heat where and when you need it. Being a flueless appliance L.P. Gas mobile heaters achieve an energy efficiency of 90% which results in a very economical heater. As L.P. Gas mobile heaters are used extensively, attention is drawn to the following safety checks for your added comfort and safety.

• Check the Hose
  Check that the hose connecting the gas regulator to the appliance is not worn or damaged. All flexible hoses should have manufacturers connections or be secured with proper hose clips.
• Castors and Fireguard
  Ensure that the castors are securely fixed and that fireguard is in place.
• If in Doubt – Ask
  If you are in doubt about any function of the cabinet heater and its associated gas fittings, ask your gas supplier to arrange for a service inspection.
• Plaques
  If the plaques or bricks at the front of the heater are damaged, or if part of the retaining cement is missing, they should be immediately replaced by a competent person. The heater should not be used in a damaged condition.
• Old Heaters
  If your heater is over 10 years old, you should consider replacing it with a new mobile heater so that you keep up to date with the very latest designs and technology.

All gas appliances should be serviced regularly by a competent person.

Issued in the interest of consumer safety by THE IRISH LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS ASSOCIATION. Use of mobile heaters which are damaged can result in the production of CARBON MONOXIDE, the silent killer.

Carbon Monoxide (also known as CO) is a poisonous gas that is produced when fuels such as coal, wood, petrol, oil, LPG (propane and butane) or natural gas do not have enough oxygen to burn completely. Carbon monoxide is highly dangerous and you cannot see or smell it. Carbon Monoxide Alarms May Save Your Life Carbon Monoxide can be produced where faulty equipment or faulty installations are used to burn any fuel, such as solid fuel, oil or gas.Carbon Monoxide alarms can make a very effective contribution to secure the safety of you and your family. However, there are some points you need to be aware of to use these alarms effectively.

What Type Should I Use?
Many different alarms are available but we recommend that the alarm you buy should comply with EN 50291, and this should be marked on the box. We recommend that it also carries the Kitemark from BSI (or an equivalent), who test and certify that it does conform to EN 50291. Also, we only recommend those alarms that have an "end-of-life" indicator - this is an option that only some alarms offer. This indicator should not be confused with any "fault" indicator.

One Alarm May Not be Sufficient
If all your fuel-burning appliances (including their exhaust flues and air supplies) are in the one room, then one detector in that room may suffice. If the appliances/flues are located in more than one room, then an alarm should be fitted in each of those rooms. An alternative strategy, particularly more suited where the appliances and/or flues are spread across too many rooms, is to locate the alarms in the living rooms and bedrooms. In this situation, note that the manufacturers usually recommend installing the alarms at breathing height rather than at high level.
If the alarm(s) cannot be heard in any living rooms and in all the bedrooms, more advanced alarms that include the provision for interconnecting them can be used. In this case, if one of a set of interconnected alarms detects CO, it will trigger the other units to also sound an alarm, allowing you position extra ones close to the living rooms and bedrooms, where they will be audible.
You MUST test the alarm regularly and replace it when it reaches the end of its life. Carbon Monoxide alarms have a limited lifetime, and the manufacturer will specify when it should be replaced. We recommend those units that incorporate an end-of-life indicator. Examples of Carbon Monoxide alarms that comply with these requirements are the Honeywell SF450EN, the Ei Electronics Ei204EN & the Kidde Night Hawk 900-0259.

Where Can I Get One?
Carbon Monoxide alarms are available from many heating equipment suppliers, hardware stores, DIY outlets, etc. You can also obtain an alarm from many main gas suppliers.

Do not use a Carbon Monoxide alarm as a substitute for the proper installation and regular servicing of appliances, vents and flues. Always follow the alarm manufacturer's instructions and if any aspects are unclear, contact them directly for further guidance. For more information on Carbon Monoxide, go to www.carbonmonoxide.ie

The Health & Safety Authority has issued a Safety Alert to all those involved in filling self-fill cylinders. These cylinders are typically used on road-marking trucks and forklift trucks. Please note that the majority of cylinders, including all cylinders for domestic use, are not of the self-fill type and can only be filled safely using special filling machines used in cylinder filling plants - this alert is not related to those cylinders. It is critical that every time you fill a self-fill cylinder, its last test date is checked, and any cylinders out-of-test (10 years since last test) are segregated and not used until they are retested by Flogas (or replaced).

This requirement, along with others dictating when a self-fill cylinder must be taken out of service due to damage, are on the metal filling instructions which were affixed on or adjacent to all filling systems for self-fill cylinders installed by Flogas. Replacement filling instructions are available from Flogas on request to the Service Department.

We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone who has a filling system for self-fill cylinders that they have to carry out (or arrange to have carried out) an annual inspection of the unit and the area around the unit to comply with Irish Standard IS 3216. A suitable inspection form is available on request from the Service Department of Flogas for this purpose. ANY repair to any parts of the filling system requires specialist liquid-LPG skills and should only be done by a Flogas liquid-LPG approved contractor, but the inspection itself may be carried out by most gas contractors. Alternatively, contact the Service Department in Flogas on 041 9831041 to have Flogas carry it out. 

In your home, safety comes first. If you are having a gas appliance installed, serviced or repaired, always use a Registered Gas Installer (RGI). Only a Registered Gas Installer is fully insured, trained in gas safety, and permitted to work on gas installations.

Find out more - download our important Safety Information for Gas Users leaflet here.

Download our 'Gas Safety at Home' leaflet here