LPG Safety in the Spotlight

Are you LPG ready for the year ahead?

Maintenance checks – preparing to trade!

You may have packed away your LPG appliances and equipment for the winter and not used them for some time.  Our advice is to make sure you check the condition of your equipment well ahead of the trading season. Start checking and servicing equipment now and thinking ahead.

LPG hoses, tubes and regulators are perishable/have limited usability and will need to be replaced over time. For example, pressure regulators need to be replaced every 10 years. Flexible hoses develop splits and cuts due to wear and tear.

If you noted faults on appliances last year and haven’t yet checked and sorted these, then avoid leaving this to the last minute to resolve.   For example, did some of the on-off controls (knobs) on appliances go missing at the end of last season? Or did you note problems lighting up an appliance?

Remember any faults that were there at the end of last year’s events and festival season are still there!

Heavily used LPG appliances being brought out of winter storage.

Here are our top tips for checking the condition of your LPG equipment and some key examples of what to look out for.

1. Check the regulator and the pigtail that goes into the cylinder – make sure the thread is undamaged. This is the first part of the installation that the gas goes through -so needs to be in good conditions to ensure it remain gas tight.

A damaged POL nut – where the regulator and hose connect to the LPG cylinder. Note the damage to the tread – this will prevent proper gas tightness and could result in gas leakage.

A damaged POL nut – this connection had been accidently trapped in a vehicle door and dragged across the ground during transit, leaving it unusable.  This was not noticed by the trader until the morning when they needed to trade some months after stowing away.

2. Double check that the flexible hoses are not stretched, cut or cracked. Ensure they have not been flattened/crushed under the weight of equipment during storage.

 

 

 

 

 

Damaged armoured bradding on hose.

 

 

 

A cracked hose fitting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A flexible hose that is cracking and splitting. This hose should not remain in use and should instead be replaced.

 

3. Check clips or hose restraints to ensure they are not cracked, twisted or pulled. Damaged hose connections could undermine the gas tightness of the installation. Replace any unsuitable clips such as Jubilee clips or plastic cable ties.

 

 

 

Avoid connecting hoses with plastic cable ties. This is not a safe and suitable connection. The hose could be easily pulled away from the gas supply, releasing flammable gas.

 

Plastic cable tie

 

 

 

Check for unnecessary hose lengths and incorrect hose clips.  This image shows images of incorrectly attached unsuitable hoses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Make sure appliances are free from damage, complete and stable e, g, stockpot legs are all intact and not wobbling. Check for missing knobs and broken controls as this can constitute an “At Risk” scenario making the appliance unsuitable for use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cooking appliance with a missing control/knob.

 

 

 

 

 

The control knob has completely broken off this wok range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Check support/ancillary equipmentg. benches/tables, used to set up and support appliances, to ensure they are still stable in good condition and properly support appliances e.g. prevent toppling.

 

6. Check if safety warning signs are looking tired, worn or missing. Renew and replace signage on transport lockers and compartments and for use alongside LPG installations and trading set ups.

 

Examples of relevant safety signage to warn others to the presence of LPG.

 

 

 

 

7. Set up the installation and check for leaks. Consider carrying out a practice run – set up LPG equipment, connect the gas, turn on appliances, spray leak detection fluid over all the joints and connections and check for bubbles. Remember bubbes means troubles!  The appearance of bubbles is an indication of a gas leak and will require further remedial action.

Examples of leak detection test – the appearance of bubbles indicates that gas is leaking, the installation is not gas tight and connections need further attention. For example, tightening, renewing, replacing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essential Safety Kit for maintaining LPG installations:

• Leak Detection Fluid – to check for leaks (and water to rinse and remove this after use).
• Propane spanner – to tighten and loosen the cylinder valve.
• Gloves and goggles – for safe handling and to minimize ‘cold burns’ from the LPG.
• Emergency contact numbers – for the gas supplier and a trusted competent LPG Gas Safe engineer.

 

 

 

 

Remember! Whilst you are encouraged to check for wear and tear and to routinely check for leaks when setting up your installation, only a qualified and competent Gas Safe registered engineer can carry out gas works which includes:

• Replacing flexible hoses and POL nuts.
• Setting up new regulators.
• Replacing/repairing knobs and control points on appliances.

Do not undertake gas work yourself, irrespective of how competent and seasoned you are as a trader!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For details of safe “On and Off” procedures for connecting, opening and closing the gas supply check out our free guides on the NCASS Gas Safety Hub.

 

Make sure you have arrangements in place for your gas safety servicing.

Make timely arrangements with a Gas Safe Registered LPG engineer to repair and service your installation and appliances.  They will know what you need to replace and repair. Get an engineer to sort this early, don’t leave it to the last minute as they may not have the availability to help you out if you leave it too close to when you need to trade and last-minute costs are often higher. You may be charged more for last minute weekend and evening gas work.

Find your nearest NCASS Gas Engineer Partner (GEP) https://www.ncass.org.uk/find-a-gas-engineer-2/

Find your gas equipment – Hamiltons Gas Products https://www.gasproducts.co.uk/

 

How to check a Gas Engineer is qualified to work on LPG installations

Are you looking for a Gas Safe Registered LPG engineer? As well as being Gas Safe Registered, an engineer must be specially qualified to work on LPG installations.

NCASS have a prepared the following free guide which can be downloaded from the Free Resources area of the NCASS Gas Hub website. This can help with checking if an engineer is qualified to work on LPG. It includes a handy guide to commercial catering qualifications and what categories they cover.

How to check a Gas Engineer is qualified to work on LPG installations.pdf

 

Looking for a competent LPG engineer?

As part of the NCASS commitment to increase standards around LPG usage and safety within the hospitality sector, we have created our Gas Engineer Partnerships (GEPs).

GEPs are qualified and competent Gas Safe Registered LPG engineers that have been carefully selected based on their implementation of the correct mobile LPG standards.

The Gas Engineer Partnerships ensure that our members can access assured and competent gas engineers that meet the standards we have set, so members can rest assured they are acting and operating in compliance.

Find your nearest Gas Engineer Partner (GEP) – tried and trusted engineers competent in LPG. Log into the members only gas engineer page.

https://www.ncass.org.uk/find-a-gas-engineer-2/

 

More information

For more useful advice and information check out all the previous features “LPG Safety in the Spotlight” on the NCASS Gas Hub.

Check out our free guides on the NCASS Gas Hub Free Resources area. https://www.ncass.org.uk/gas-safety-week-resources/