LPG Appliance, Installation and Network Safety
[ Last Updated 2 July 2007 ]
Appliance Safety
Q. Can All Gas Appliances Designed for Other Countries Be Used in NZ?
A. Not necessarily. Appliances must be designed, tested and adjusted for the specific type of gas and the environment that they are intended to be used.
Q. Why Do My LPG Appliances Not Burn as Consistently as Natural Gas, and How Do I Set Them for Best Performance?
A. As the composition of LPG changes for a fixed setting of air (especially when supplied from a cylinder), the gas used changes from propane to butane and therefore the flame might change, depending on the design and type of appliance.
Q. What are Key Safety Problems with Portable (Including Camping) LPG Appliances?
A. The four major problems are:
- use in small, confined spaces that generally leads to depletion of oxygen, and generation of carbon monoxide.
- lack of maintenance and missing parts that can also lead to carbon monoxide generation.
- improper use. For example, use of reflective plates for making toast leads to reflection of heat to the LPG canister and boiling of the LPG. Upon closing the valve, the boiling continues for a few seconds and pressure build-up leads to explosion of the canister.
- there have been cases where connection systems or piping have not been of sufficient standard.
Installation and Network Safety
Q. What is Key Difference in Requirements for LPG and Natural Gas Reticulation Systems?
A. LPG is heavier than air and any leakage can pool in enclosed areas or low points such as basements, and therefore, in a leakage survey, special attention should be paid to any areas where LPG could accumulate.
The odour can be absorbed more easily in a new reticulation piping system, and therefore a more frequent monitoring of odour level is needed for new systems.
Relief valves and vents systems for LPG must have a wider clearance distance from openings to a building, as LPG does not disperse as quickly as natural gas.
Q. How Often Should an LPG Cylinder Be Tested? Under Which Government Department Does this Matter Fall?
A. Ten years.
The Department of Labour [link to Occupational Safety and Health Service website], is responsible for the administration of LPG cylinders and liquid piping systems. The quality of LPG in liquid form is the responsibility of Energy Safety.
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