Gas Emergency Procedures PDF

GAS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES LPG = Heavier than air Natural Gas - Lighter than air DANGER Suffocation/Ignition/Explosion/Noise OUTSIDE LEAKS A. First arriving fire unit equipped with full bunker gear and breathing apparatus should attempt to locate leak. 1. Officer-in-charge should notify servicing ga...

GAS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES LPG = Heavier than air Natural Gas - Lighter than air DANGER Suffocation/Ignition/Explosion/Noise OUTSIDE LEAKS A. First arriving fire unit equipped with full bunker gear and breathing apparatus should attempt to locate leak. 1. Officer-in-charge should notify servicing gas company via alarm office of the following items A. Address B. Nature of emergency (fire, explosion, leak, vehicle, plant, tank, commercial or residential, all information possible. The more information the better to assure correct dispatch of properly equipped emergency gas crews) C. Location of incident command post (safe distance upwind) D. Directions for all responding emergency units, including gas company, to come into area E. Name of Fire Officer-in-Charge of scene 2. Fire Department action to be considered: A. Police dispatch for crowd and traffic control. Florida Power and Light (FPL) dispatch for emergency crews B. Prevent smoking in area. C. Give precaution to other sources of ignition and observe for wind direction changes. D. Evacuate area (if necessary) a minimum of two hundred feet (200’) in all directions, and continuously monitor gas migration with explosive meters off Foam 1 and Haz-Mat 1. E. Notify gas inspectors, City or County. This is determined by location of incident. F. If an injury, death or property damage over $1,000.00 occurs from a fire and or an uncontrolled release of LPG, the State of Florida, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Standards, Bureau of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Inspection, which is charged with the safety regulation of liquefied petroleum gas in Florida wherever this product is stored, distributed, transported and utilized, shall be notified G. Rope off area of danger. H. Keep out all unauthorized personnel. (Let in only properly identified emergency personnel). I. Keep apparatus at a safe distance upwind with standby lines charged and ready or charged standpipe or sprinkler system, if inside leak. J. All lines are hand laid. Do not use apparatus to lay lines unless leak is Edited: 3/23/09 already burning. K. If service area is deemed hazardous, shut off should be made at meter or main control valve to affected building only. No attempt should be made by fire service to close main control valves to City block. 1. Let gas flame burn until gas supply can be shut off. 2. Use hose lines to protect exposures or to break up leaking gas concentration above leak if not burning. Do not flood area where leak must be repaired. 3. Do not extinguish flame until shut off is complete. 4. Any valves that are closed should be properly locked and tagged. 5. Gas control valves are closed when valve handle is at right angles to piping. 6. No gas lines that are closed will be reopened except by gas company personnel. INSIDE LEAKS A. First arriving Fire Unit Officer and not more than two Fire Fighters shall enter building in full bunker gear, with breathing apparatus, fire extinguishers and hand tools, plus high rise standpipe equipment kit (only if building has standpipe) to locate leak. 1. Officer-in-charge should notify the servicing gas company (if known), via Alarm Office of the following: A. Address and City B. Nature of emergency (fire, explosion, leak, etc.), the more information the better to assure properly equipped emergency gas crews. C. Location of incident command post (safe distance upwind of building). D. Name of Fire Officer-in-Charge at scene. E. Request City or County gas inspector. This is determined by location of incident. F. If an injury, death or property damage over $1,000.00 occurs from a fire and or an uncontrolled release of LPG, the State of Florida, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Standards, Bureau of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Inspection, which is charged with the safety regulation of liquefied petroleum gas in Florida wherever this product is stored, distributed, transported and utilized, shall be notified 2. Fire Department action to be considered: a. Prevent smoking in area. b. Give precaution to other ignition sources. NOTE: Leave all light switches as they are. (If on, leave on, if off, leave off). c. Monitor gas migration with explosive meter. d. Evacuation of building, if necessary (request manpower and possible police assistance). e. Rope off area of danger. f. Ventilation to area and floors above and below, utilize natural ventilation. Edited: 3/23/09 g. Keep all unauthorized personnel out (only properly identified fire and gas crew personnel.) NOTE: Our radios are not explosive proof. h. Keep apparatus at safe distance upwind of building with charged standby lines. Charge siamese connection if building is so equipped. 1. If escaping gas is burning, do not extinguish flame until shut off is complete. 2. Use hose lines to cool metal, protect exposures. (Attention to water damage for floors below.) i. If service to area is deemed hazardous, close valve at individual gas appliance or valve at meter or regulator at wall of building or valve at L.P. tank. (NO attempt by fire service should be made to shut off main gas control valve to City block.) NOTE: Gas control valves are closed when valve handle is at right angles to piping. j. Any valve that is closed should be properly locked and tagged. NOTE: No gas lines that are closed will be reopened except by gas company personnel. RESPONSIBILITIES A. Fire Department will give full consideration to: 1 Public safety 2 Fire department personnel safety 3 Property protection B. Gas company personnel will give full consideration to: 1 Overall safety to personnel 2 Safest method of control or shut down NOTE: They are to make safe only not to repair leak, unless they are the normal serving gas company. C. Joint method of protection and control of areas will be coordinated between the Incident Commander of scene and the gas company official in charge of emergency gas crew. A joint effort shall be initiated giving consideration to individual group responsibilities EMERGENCY GAS CREW PROCEDURES A. Enter danger area only as directed by Fire Department and keep all equipment upwind from danger area or building. 1 Supervisor of emergency gas crews will contact Incident Commander of scene at incident command post. 2 Emergency gas crews should be organized with standby crews out of danger area, if possible, or manning life line for working personnel, if necessary. 3 All gas company personnel in danger area should be properly equipped. This gas emergency equipment will be made available and maintained through the gas company they work for. Edited: 3/23/09