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LPG notifiable accidents
[ Last Updated 20 January 2010 ]
This is the list of the 9 LPG notifiable accidents for which the investigation was completed between July and September 2009.
1 - Event summary: An elderly gentleman was found deceased in a room with the window closed and an LPG cabinet heater operating. The heater was initially tested by a gasfitting company who found nothing wrong with it. The heater was subsequently retrieved for further examination.
| Event ID |
080620 01 |
| Event date |
29/07/2007 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
CO Poisoning (Incomplete Combustion) |
| Casualty |
Fatality |
| Injury |
Asphyxiation, Toxicity |
| Property damage level |
No property damage |
| Outcome of investigation |
It was concluded that carbon asphyxiation from products of incomplete combustion, given off by the cabinet heater, had occurred. After intensive examination and testing of the heater by experts, in New Zealand and England, it was concluded that a light back condition had developed. Factors giving rise to the light back, however, could not be determined. Consequently, it was decided to carry out further work to see if any factors that increased the propensity for light back with the make and models of heater could be identified. |
2 - Event summary: An elderly, infirm female died at her home after her nightdress or dressing gown caught alight when an LPG cabinet heater was operating.
| Event ID |
090624 03 |
| Event date |
24/06/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| casualty |
Fatality |
| Injury |
Burn |
| Property damage level |
No property damage |
| Outcome of investigation |
The cause of death is subject to a coroner's inquest. There was no apparent fault with the heater which had evidently been operating in the full on position. |
3 - Event summary: Owner of 2008 cabinet heater advised:
- He had twice taken his heater to a service agent after observing flame abnormalities about the plaque but that no problem had been diagnosed.
- He took the heater back a third time after the flame had disappeared from the plaque and the heater was then dismantled.
- The service agent advised him that ceramic cement had become dislodged, causing a light back condition, and that the heater should no longer be used.
- On examination it was evident that heat damage had occurred behind the burner.
| Event ID |
090723 04 |
| Event date |
14/07/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
Other, Unknown (Gas) |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
Light back identified. According to a service agent this was caused by holes in grout about plaques. An appliance testing laboratory had previously identified factors that considered increased the propensity for light back to occur with this particular make and model of heater. Consequently, an audit of these heaters was initiated. |
4 - Event summary: The owner had her LPG cylinder refilled. She transported it in her vehicle and connected it to a cabinet heater in her art shop. She reported a funny noise from the heater followed by the appearance of flames, initially from the front of the heater. She went to turn the heater off but the flames were too intense. About a minute after lighting the heater there was a loud bang from the heater. She quickly left the shop and called the Fire Service. A section of street was closed during the fire suppression.
| Event ID |
090806 01 |
| Event date |
03/08/2009 |
| Site |
Commercial |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
Network Disruption |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the room containing the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
Gas leakage from heater or connection point suspected, with ignition occurring during, or soon after, attempts to ignite heater. The heater was considered too badly fire damaged to assess the source of the leakage. |
5 - Event summary: There was a flash fire from a cabinet heater during ignition that self extinguished. The user ran out onto the street with her cat and a passerby called the Fire Service. On arrival, the attending Fire Service officers found LPG was leaking about the regulator connection area to cylinder valve so they took the leaking equipment outside.
| Event ID |
090807 02 |
| Event date |
07/08/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the room containing the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
Leakage in area of cylinder connection suspected, possibly due to missing O- ring seal. Attending Fire Service officer noted there was no O-ring on the regulator bull nose and that there was a groove in QCC bull nose that have may have been machined for O-ring. |
6 - Event summary: After smoke alarm activated, the Fire Service attended the fire that occured in kitchen and roof area of golf club restaurant.
| Event ID |
090814 01 |
| Event date |
08/08/2009 |
| Site |
Commercial |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Other |
| Event |
Overheating |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Extended to the room and structure containing the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
Two gas ovens and a gas fire deep fryer appeared to be too close to combustible materials. Fire Service investigator raises questions of suitability of stainless steel cladding in direct contact with gypsum wall material. He suggested checks of similar installations elsewhere regarding proximity to combustibles and stainless steel cladding directly over gypsum. |
7 - Event summary: An LPG heater ignited as the elderly, infirm owner was attempting to turn it if off at the cylinder. The fire blew itself out but the heater was damaged beyond repair. The owner's hair was singed in the fire. The owner called the Fire Service who noted that gas was leaking where the regulator connected to the cylinder and that the cylinder had not been completely turned off.
| Event ID |
090813 04 |
| Event date |
13/08/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
An investigating fire safety officer concluded that the clip on regulator was not securely fitted to the adaptor and had been moved sufficiently to leak during attempts to turn the cylinder off (attending fire crew found the cylinder still partially on). Leakage may have been caused by unmodified, pre 1989 Schultz Rakow regulator. (This type had been recalled for refitting as it is capable of leaking when clipped on with insufficient force). |
8 - Event summary: An owner was using gas ring on a 4 to 5 year old BBQ when the gas ran out. He changed the cylinder and turned on the gas. Flames then appeared in the area where the hose connected to the cylinder. The Fire Service were called and they cooled the cylinder before turning off the cylinder.
| Event ID |
090829 01 |
| Event date |
29/08/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Outside (Above Ground) |
| Equipment |
Barbecue |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
The Fire Service advised that the cause has been determined as a perished hose. The owner agreed that the hose did appear perished although it had been kept under cover. It is significant, however, that the fire was observed to originate in the area where the regulator connected to the cylinder and that the owner had not leak tested after making the connection. This case exemplifies the need for continued publicity on the need for regular maintenance of gas appliances and to carry out soapy water leak tests when connecting regulators to cylinders. |
9 - Event summary: Police confirmed media reports that:
- A man and woman had been found dead in the bedroom of their home in the morning by their children.
- The cause of death was suspected to be carbon monoxide poisoning.
- The bedroom contained an outdoor table top patio heater.
- The deaths were believed to have been accidental and had been referred to the coroner.
| Event ID |
090803 02 |
| Event date |
30/08/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Other |
| Event |
CO Poisoning (Incomplete Combustion) |
| Casualty |
Fatality |
| Injury |
Asphyxiation, Toxicity |
| Property damage level |
No property damage |
| Outcome of investigation |
The cause of death has been investigated by the Police and coroner. During tests, excessive levels of carbon monoxide were emitted in the products of combustion of a Meteor P1093 table top patio heater retrieved by the Police. Due to safety concerns the supplier initiated a public recall for Meteor P1093 and P1092 patio heaters. Four audits were initiated regarding safety and compliance with Meteor P1093 heaters. Educational and safety warning initiatives were taken regarding information on the safe use of patio heaters. |
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