Page 13 - sept-oct 2019
P. 13

a hot roadway.  Notably, the       clicking here.                            In the event of an overfill
            RV manufacturer had a history             NFPA 58 sets out proper     and subsequent release of gas,
            of similar claims against it, all in-  filling operations in Chapter 7   how should you respond?  PERC
            volving fires that occurred when   and 12.  Chapter 7 deals gener-    provides guidance in a scenario
            an RV was being operated over      ally with all containers.  Section   that includes an overfilled 20
            a hot roadway.  An alternate       7.4.4.1 provides that the OPD is   pound cylinder stored in a heat-
            ignition theory sponsored by the   intended as a back up safety       ed garage.  After notification
            retailer was that a defect in the   measure to prevent overfills and   of the incident, the four primary
            propane line leading from the      that “other means as provided      objectives are to first isolate
            container to the engine was        in the chapter must be used        ignition sources in the home,
            the initial source of the leak that   when filling containers, even if   and then provide ventilation to
            subsequently ignited and then      an overfilling prevention device   disperse the gas, identify the
            caused the container’s pressure    is present and expected to stop    source of the leak, and finally
            relief valve to activate.          flow into the container before     stop the leak.   Because a “sniff
                   Of course, a likely way     the other means indicate the       test” is not a reliable way to
            the container could have been      container is properly filled.”     determine if an area is safe, gas
            overfilled was if the OPD did not   Chapter 12, which was added       detectors should be used to de-
            function as designed or was        to the Code in 2017, applies       termine the level of flammabil-
            installed incorrectly.  What are   (with a few exceptions) to LP      ity.  PERC also cautions against
            the chances of an OPD failing      gas systems and ASME contain-      using ventilators to “suck out”
            to operate properly?  One study    ers installed on motor vehicles    air from a structure because
            by the Department of Energy in     “where LP-Gas is used for the      doing so draws potentially
            2010 may provide a clue.  It was   engine propulsion of the vehi-     flammable gas into the venti-
            prompted by reported cases         cle.”  While the filling limits from   lator where it can ignite.  Only
            of propane fueled vehicles         Chapter 7 are still applicable,    positive pressure ventilation
            being overfilled.  It consisted of   Section 12.4.7.4 provides that   should be used to remove gas
            monitoring a total of 105 vehi-    “[w]here the overfilling pre-      from the structure.   The PERC
            cles over seven propane fleets.    vention device is used as the      website includes a video and
            The study found that sixteen       primary means to fill the ASME     other materials that describe
            percent of the OPDs failed to      container, the fixed maximum       how a retailer should respond
            prevent an overfill.  As a result,   liquid level gauge or other ap-  to this scenario.    Click here to
            the study made 3 recommen-         proved means shall be used at      download the scenario.
            dations:  1) that fleet operators   least once annually to verify the        Case law provides
            inspect the OPDs to ensure         operation of the overfilling pro-  other illustrations of the types
            proper operation; 2) that users    tection device.”  In other words,   of accidents that can occur
            be trained on proper fueling       the OPD on a propane-fueled        involving allegedly overfilled
            and maintenance practices as       vehicle can be relied upon for     cylinders.   Unsurprisingly, sever-
            well as awareness of an overfill   filling, so long as its accuracy   al involve gas barbeque grills.
            potential; and 3) that industry    is tested at least annually.  The   See Sears, Roebuck and Co.
            groups develop and implement       Code also requires that the test   v. Menegay, 907 S.W.2d 72 (Tx.
            standard inspections to ensure     result be documented and that      Ct. App. 1995); Allstate Ins. Co.
            proper OPD operation.  The         the date of the next annual test   v. Sunbeam Corp., 865 F. Supp
            safety advisory generated as a     must appear on a label affixed     1267 (N.D. Ill. 1994).  On a relat-
            result of the study is available by   to the tank near the fill point.
                                                                                        Continued on page 14...



    13                                 Alabama Propane Gas Association  |  September / October  2019
   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18