Natural Gas Leak Operations Protocols

Natural Gas Leak Operations

• Immediate action: Air monitoring upon arrival for any suspected/confirmed gas leak.
• Personal Protective Equipment: SCBA mandatory in the hot zone.
• Evacuation: All civilians must leave potentially hazardous areas.
• Zone Establishment: Hot, warm, and cold zones must be established.
• Hot Zone: An area with at least 10% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) gas concentration.
• Command: SFD maintains command for uncontrolled gas leaks.
• Gas Company Responsibility: Upon arrival, the gas company handles leak control.
• Building Procedures: Minimum personnel, continuous air monitoring, immediate evacuation if gas is detected.
• Cut Gas Lines: Air monitoring, life safety prioritised, zone establishment as above. SFD personnel cannot clamp gas lines.
• Air Monitoring: Personnel in the hot zone with a confirmed ignitable atmosphere should be continuously monitored and covered by a charged hose line.
• Building Entry: Minimum personnel entry, slow movement for accurate monitoring, evacuation if gas is detected.
• Building Isolation: Gas leaks within buildings must be isolated from their nearest non-hazardous point.
• Ignition Sources: Control/isolation of potential ignition sources when leaks can’t be immediately controlled.
• Ventilation: Natural ventilation should be used for buildings with gas accumulation, possibly assisted with positive pressure ventilation at a safe, monitored location.
• Gas-Powered Equipment: Do not attempt to place gas-powered equipment back into service, including relighting pilot lights.
• Underground Gas Lines: Continuous monitoring, monitoring of soil cracks, avoid placing soil on top of cut lines.
• Law Enforcement: Traffic control required for possible road closures when a cut gas line is involved.

Standard Operating Guideline

• SFD.085 standardizes response procedures for suspected and confirmed natural gas leaks.
• All personnel working in a suspected or confirmed gas leak hot zone should wear personal protective equipment including SCBA.
• All civilians should be evacuated from any area with a suspected or confirmed gas leak.
• A hot zone, warm zone, and cold zone should be established and maintained around any gas leak.
• The fire department should not leave the scene of a gas leak until they have determined the leak is controlled and the scene is safe.

Building Procedures

• All entries into buildings with suspected gas leaks should involve a minimum number of personnel to size up the situation and provide continuous air monitoring.
• Personnel movement inside the building should be slow to allow the monitors to accurately measure gas concentrations in the air.
• Any readings on gas monitors inside a building should trigger an immediate evacuation of the building.
• Confirmed gas leaks inside a building should be isolated from the closest possible isolation point in a non-hazardous area, if possible.
• Potential ignition sources, such as electrical service, should be controlled/isolated from a safe distance if the leak cannot be immediately controlled.
• Buildings with gas accumulation should be ventilated using natural ventilation and may be assisted with positive pressure ventilation operated in a monitored and safe location.
• Fire department personnel should not attempt to place any gas-powered equipment back into service including extinguished pilot lights.

Cut Gas Lines Procedures

• Upon arrival, immediately begin air monitoring to determine the area affected and the potential hazards to life and property.
• Immediately address any potential life safety issues.
• Establish hot, warm, and cold zones based on initial air monitoring.
• If a natural gas leak is confirmed, request the gas company to respond to the scene.
• If the gas leak is near a building, ensure that the building's interior is monitored, including the attic area.
• SFD personnel will not clamp gas lines.
• Law enforcement should be requested for traffic control when a cut gas line involves possible road closures.
• When an underground gas line is leaking, the area should be continually monitored.
• In dry conditions with visibly cracked soil, cracks in the soil should be monitored, as the gas can travel long distances through fissures.
• Soil should not be placed on top of a cut gas line as this can facilitate the underground travel of gas.

Incident Response

• Upon arrival at a suspected gas leak, fire personnel should immediately initiate air monitoring.
• All personnel operating within the "hot zone" must wear personal protective equipment, including SCBA, until the area is deemed safe through air monitoring.
• Civilians should be evacuated from any hazardous or potentially hazardous area or buildings during a suspected or confirmed gas leak.
• Fire personnel should establish and maintain a hot zone, warm zone, and cold zone around any gas leak. The hot zone encompasses areas with a gas accumulation of 10% LEL or greater.
• RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) should be established per SFD guidelines whenever a crew is within the hot zone.
• Incident commanders must consider deploying a charged hose line based on ignition hazards.
• Only a minimum number of personnel should enter the hot zone to assess the situation, determine the source of the leak, and, if possible, isolate the leak.
• SFD will establish and maintain command of all uncontrolled natural gas leaks within its territory and will communicate with all other agencies at the scene, including utility companies.
• When the gas company arrives, they assume responsibility for controlling the leak, while fire department personnel maintain overall command of the scene, provide assistance as needed, continue monitoring for gas, and ensure the safety of all personnel and property.
• Fire personnel should not leave the scene until they have determined that the leak is controlled, and the scene is safe.

Building Response

• All entries into buildings suspected of having gas leaks should involve the minimum number of personnel needed to assess the situation and provide continuous air monitoring. Personnel movement inside the building should be slow to allow monitors to accurately measure gas concentrations.
• Any gas readings on monitors inside a building should trigger an immediate evacuation.
• Confirmed gas leaks inside a building should be isolated from the closest possible isolation point in a non-hazardous area.
• Potential ignition sources, such as electrical service, should be controlled/isolated from a safe distance if the leak cannot be immediately controlled.
• Buildings with gas accumulation should be ventilated using natural ventilation and may be assisted with positive pressure ventilation operated in a monitored and safe location.
• Fire department personnel should not attempt to place any gas-powered equipment back into service, including extinguished pilot lights.

Cut Gas Line Response

• Upon arrival, immediately begin air monitoring to determine the affected area and potential hazards to life and property.
• Immediately address any potential life safety issues.
• Based on initial air monitoring, establish hot, warm, and cold zones.
• If a natural gas leak is confirmed, request the gas company respond to the scene if not already dispatched.
• If the gas leak is near a building, ensure that the building's interior is monitored, including the attic area.
• SFD personnel will not clamp gas lines.
• Law enforcement should be requested for traffic control whenever a cut gas line involves possible road closures.
• When an underground gas line is leaking, the area should be continually monitored.
• In dry conditions with visibly cracked soil, cracks in the soil should be monitored, as the gas can travel large distances through fissures.
• Soil should not be placed on top of a cut gas line as this can facilitate the underground travel of gas.

This quiz covers essential protocols for handling natural gas leak operations. It includes immediate actions, personal protective equipment, zone establishment, and responsibilities of the SFD and gas company. Understanding these procedures is critical for ensuring safety during hazardous situations.