Propane Safety

Your Safety, Our First Priority

As a family-focused and community-oriented company, our number one priority is to keep those whom we serve, work with, and live near safe. We’re here to show you that when used properly, propane is one of the safest fuels available. Understanding how your delivery system and appliances work and learning what to do in case of a safety-related emergency is important for every propane user.

Why Is Propane a Safe Gas?

Propane is a non-toxic gas that won’t cause health issues for consumers. In addition, propane tanks include many features, such as carbon steel construction, puncture resistance, and built-in pressure maintenance devices. These safety features, combined with the following important propane facts, will help keep your residence safe.

Propane Has a Distinct Smell

Propane gas is colorless and odorless. Propane companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell to help warn customers about propane leaks, which can create a safety hazard. The smell is also noticeable when propane tanks are running low to help users become aware of their low fuel level.

Propane Is Less Flammable Than Other Fuels

Like gasoline, propane is flammable but has a much narrower range of flammability than gasoline and a much higher ignition temperature, 920 –1020 degrees vs. 80 – 300 degrees for gasoline.

Propane will only burn with a fuel-to-air ratio of between 2.2% and 9.6% and will rapidly dissipate beyond its flammability range in the open atmosphere-making ignition unlikely.

Unlike gasoline, diesel, methanol, and ethanol, propane is non-toxic. Therefore, if a propane storage tank should ever leak, there would be no danger of contamination of the surrounding soil or water.

Propane Tanks & Cylinders Have Built-In Safety Features

It is essential to understand the components of your propane system so that you can react quickly and appropriately in an emergency.

If your tank is underground, only the cover will be visible above ground. The cap that sits on top of the tank protects several important parts from weather and physical damage. These include:

• All propane tanks, including the cylinders you use for your barbecue grill, are required by law to have pressure relief devices. The regulator controls the pressure of the propane gas coming out of the tank.
• The safety relief valve opens automatically if the pressure inside the tank gets too high. The valve will close again when the pressure returns to normal.
• The tank has a shut-off valve, which you can close to stop propane flowing to your home in case of an emergency.
• The tank gauge displays the percentage of propane in the tank.

Propane flows from your tank to your home through pipes, most of which are underground. There may also be a secondary pressure regulator located on your home’s outside wall to adjust gas pressure further. A shut-off valve in each pipe can be closed to stop gas flow to an individual appliance.