Posted on 10/25/2003 6:16:55 PM PDT by SWO
Leaking propane gas from any source is a relevant fire hazard, including and particularly from a propane gas grill. Read the warning label on the side of the tank. Also got to NFPA's website and the NPGA's websites. Firefindings and IAAI are other good websites.
A leak from the grill "wafting" from one apartment to the next and then setting the neighbor's house on fire? Not going to happen.
Dependent upon a number of factors including but not limited to the leak size and the location of the ignition source; but it certainly is a very real possibility.
Propane does ignite, if you have a gas/air mixture concentrated enough.
In almost any circumstance you will have the proper concentration. It only has to be the proper concentration at the ignition source; not uniform throughout a given volume.
But a propane leak will disappate quickly unless tightly confined, and the lower explosive limit (LEL) has to be exceeded to have an ignition potential.
Exact dissipation time will be dependent upon enviromental conditions. In many conditions it will not be "quickly". As I stated above exceeding the LEL will almost always occur in a leak situation.
If you were to open a valve on a propane tank such that you had only a small amount of gas coming out; you could easily stick a match to it and ignite it even though the total quantity of gas released when compared to the volume of the space you are in doesn't come close to the LEL. At some point in space you will almost always have a point at which the LEL is exceeded in a propane leak. Also don't forget you have to be below the UEL.
A gas grill is not going to set fire to the neighbor's apartment by "wafting" gas next door.
Again depends on the size of the leak and the location of the ignition source.
If you want to research it I can give you some sources.
Yeah, sure. The true reason is that the neighbors weren't invited to the barbeque.
But then again, what self-respecting Texan would have a grill small enough to fit on a balcony? ;^)
Well there's a perfectly good reason to ban their use.
Ideal but that's not the way it happens in the real world. When you say "require" it generally is required by the manufacturer that you keep the product in good repair and use it safely - if you look at the instructions.
Also all leaks aren't caused by misuse and abuse. That's one of the reasons OPD's (overfill prevention devices) were not to long ago required by code to be installed in 20 pound propane cylinders. Overfilling of cyliders by suppliers was a major problem resulting in expansion of liquid propane in the cylinder, followed by a build up of pressure that opened the relief valve and discharged the propane. Defectively manufactured hoses and valves are another source.
But you are correct, people should properly maintain and use the equipment properly and that would eliminate a lot of fires. It's really not that simple though to get people to do that. There are all kinds of people in the world.
If a fool sets fire to someones home charge him with criminal neglect.
Careful what you say - that's pretty strong. It happens very often that people make mistakes as dumb as they may seem (eg. leave the stove on or curling iron plugged up); As a fire and explosion investigator I see it every day. But are you going to send a husband or wife with kids to jail because they left the stove on? Or how about sue them for everything they have - assuming they have anything - wipe them out financially? There would be a lot more law suits or people being thrown in jail than you realize.
Apartment renters have the option of buying renter's insurance, much like you buy house insurance. The idea behind that insurance is so you can recover from your losses - at least to some degree. It would probably shock you to know how many people choose not to buy renter's insurance.
Don't regulate everyone for a fools mistakes.
I agree. Any such regulations should be up to the apartment owner's in the form of facility policies. You have the option of staying there or not. The owner's have the option of taking the risk or not that some person will make a mistake and burn the place down. You have the option of buying renter's insurance or not also. It's that simple. I'm not an advocate of creating more regulatory laws.
The same way it is a users responsibility to pay legal and civil penalties if the user harms a by stander with a misused device like an auto or atv.
Lawyers only go after entities with deep pockets, (large companies, corporations or insurance companies) not the guy with no liability insurance and nothing to take. I don't think you should sue someone or throw them in jail for accidentally leaving their stove on. I think if you live in an apartment complex you should understand the risk and buy renters insurance. That's what it's for, to cover the dumb mistakes we all sometimes make. If you choose to live in an apartment complex you are taking a greater risk simply because there are more people living under the same roof and you don't have control of their actions.
Some advise to apartment renters: buy renters insurance and look for an apartment complex that is FULLY sprinklered with and NFPA 13 system, not just a 13R system. The big difference here is that a 13 system has sprinklers in the attic. In an apartment complex if you have a fire in the attic you have major problems and catastrophic damages.
Also, the code requires 1 hour rated walls, ceilings and floors separating each tenant space. In my career as a plans examiner, fire inspector and fire investigator, these are major code violations in apartment complexes that have resulted in people loosing their property.
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