Propane Safety

Propane safety

Almost 90% of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas fires in homes between 1994-1998 involved ignition by some form of equipment. The most common types were open-fired grills, hot water heaters and stoves. In the United States, LP-gas for residential use is almost exclusively propane; however, butane is also an LP-gas.

Facts & Figures*

In 1998, there were 1,600 LP-gas fires in U.S. homes, resulting in 41 deaths, 260 injuries and $30.8 million in direct property damage.

The leading cause of LP-gas fires from 1994-1998 was part failure, leak or break.

(*From NFPA's U.S. Home Product Report: Forms and Types of Materials First Ignited in Fires, December 2001)

Safety Tips:

Handle any propane-powered equipment cautiously and always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Cylinder tanks for equipment such as stoves and ovens must be located outside of the home.

Never store or use propane gas cylinders larger than one pound inside the home.

Never operate a propane-powered gas grill inside the home.

Have propane gas equipment inspected periodically by a professional for possible leaks or malfunctioning parts.

Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions when lighting a pilot.

If you smell a strong odor of gas, leave the area immediately and call the fire department from outside the home.

For more information visit, the Propane Education and Research Council Web site.

Updated 3/02

NFPA Fact Sheet

Propane cylinder Overfilling Prevention Devices (OPD)

An Overfilling Prevention Device (OPD) is a safety device incorporated into the filling valve of a propane cylinder (i.e., those used on gas grills, RVs, etc.). The device shuts off the flow of gas to a cylinder after 80% capacity has been reached. This limits the potential for release of gas when the cylinder is heated, averting a fire or possible injury.

Facts & Figures

As of April 1, 2002, OPDs are required on all propane cylinders between 4 and 40 pounds propane capacity, per the 1998 edition of NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. Cylinders of this size manufactured after September 30, 1998, were required to have an OPD. A typical gas grill cylinder holds about 20 pounds of propane.

Propane cylinders with OPDs can be identified by a triangular hand-wheel (pictured above). Some earlier model cylinders were produced with a round hand-wheel but "OPD" is stamped on the brass valve body.

After April 1, 2002, propane cylinders not equipped with an OPD must be retrofitted with the device before refilling can occur or properly disposed of and replaced with an OPD-equipped cylinder.

Many propane dealers will retrofit older cylinders with an OPD. As there is a charge for this, it may be more economical to replace the entire cylinder, especially if it is rusty. In many parts of the U.S., exchange cylinder racks can be used to swap an empty cylinder without an OPD for a full cylinder equipped with an OPD, for a nominal fee, eliminating the need to dispose of the cylinder or to have it retrofitted.

Dispose of propane cylinders safely. Questions about safe disposal should be answered by local fire departments, hazardous waste collection sites, or propane refillers.

The 2001 edition of NFPA 58 modified requirements to exempt horizontal cylinders manufactured before October 1, 1998, from requiring OPDs. Also exempt are cylinders used for industrial trucks, industrial welding and cutting gases (these cylinders must be labeled with their use).

Updated: 3/02

Does your backyard gas grill have the new required safety valve?

NFPA reminds consumers propane cylinder upgrade goes into effect April 1, 2002

Quincy, MA, March 15, 2001—A new provision of an existing safety code developed by NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) which takes effect on April 1, requires overfilling prevention devices (OPDs) on propane cylinders weighing between 4 and 40 lbs., commonly used for appliances like outdoor gas grills.

An OPD is a safety valve that shuts off the flow of gas to a cylinder after 80 percent capacity has been reached. This limits the potential for release of gas when the cylinder is heated, averting a fire hazard or personal injury. Since 1998, all new propane cylinders from 4- to 40-pound propane capacity, have been equipped with OPDs.

Cylinders manufactured after September 30, 1998, are equipped with OPDs and require no change.

Older cylinder models must now be retrofitted with the device before refilling can occur, under the requirement, or the cylinder should be discarded properly and replaced with an OPD-equipped cylinder. Many filling outlets have the capacity to retrofit or recycle obsolete cylinders. In many parts of the U.S., exchange cylinder racks can be used to swap an empty cylinder without an OPD for a full cylinder equipped with an OPD, for a nominal fee, eliminating the need to dispose of the cylinder or to have it retrofitted.

NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, a consensus code developed by NFPA which contains the new provision, is adopted in every U.S. state and is enforceable by the authority having jurisdiction in individual states, be it the fire service, building officials, state agencies, or other bodies. Because adoptions within states are not always to the current editions, there are some states that have not adopted either the 1998 or 2001 edition of the Code, which include the OPD requirement.

However, because manufacturers have been producing OPD-equipped cylinders since 1998, these cylinders will eventually replace the non-OPD cylinders even in states where the current NFPA 58 has not been adopted.

"OPDs will protect against overfilling cylinders and decrease the number of possible fires from this source," said Ted Lemoff, principal gases engineer at NFPA. "This requirement will enhance consumer safety."

How can one tell if a cylinder currently lacks an OPD? If the cylinder valve has either a round or star-shaped hand wheel, it needs an OPD. OPDs have hand-wheels that are triangular in shape, but a small number of early production OPD-equipped cylinders did not. These are stamped "OPD" on the brass valve body.

Costs to upgrade or replace a cylinder vary. For information on discarding an old cylinder, please contact your propane refiller, hazardous waste collection site, or local fire department.