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63 About this deal
So, the "typical industry standard safety device" (LPG detector) was either not working or had been removed and that's what contributed to this "propane fire"... Plumbing World is a plumbers merchant and bathroom showroom that has been trading since 1996 and has gained a vast amount of experience in dealing with individual customer requirements. The street-side main shutoff valve must be opened and closed with a wrench, and, truth be told, gas companies don’t want you operating this valve; they only want their own employees, plumbing and heating contractors and fire department personnel to use it. They’d rather you use the house-side main shutoff valve located after the meter ( Photo 2). When closed, stop valves create a tight seal that prevents any fluid from flowing through the pipe. When closed, gate valves create a small gap between the gate and the seat that allows some fluid to pass through even when the valve is closed.
The propane system is "extremely safe" both in design and in execution". How many RV propane fires have you heard about? The one I posted, probably that triggered this thread, is the only one I've seen in several years. According to the design specs of this device, it probably would not have stopped propane flow (from a small leak at a fitting) and that fire would likely have happened, even with two of these devices installed, one on each tank. The "probably overlooked" safety device that failed, especially in a 15 year old trailer, is the LPG detector that didn't alarm or give any indication that there was an "explosive level of propane in the trailer".... Chances are (and I can't prove this) the LPG detector wasn't even hooked up and had never been replaced, or as old as the trailer was, it may not have even had one in it... When you repair or replace a gas appliance, use these shutoff valves to stop the flow of gas. (Most pros replace the flexible connector when they replace the appliance.) If you discover you have a faulty supply valve, or your system doesn’t have one, turn off the gas using the house side main shutoff valve. Whether you need a pressure relief valve, low pressure straight cut-off valve, or safety excess flow valve, our range of gas safety valves can help prevent sudden pressure changes and allow for cut-offs when warranted. The right equipment for natural gas systemsThe valve on the right in this photo is Marie’s street-side main shutoff; the valve on the left is the house-side main shutoff. In newer homes, these will probably be ball valves.
Fixture shutoff valves can take many appearances, but a common one is a small silver valve with an oval handle with ribbed edges for gripping. An angled fixture shutoff valve, in particular, is used when a water pipe comes out of the wall and needs to angle straight upward to feed supply tubes running to tailpieces on a sink faucet or toilet valve. You likely will have quite a number of these valves in your home. They are inexpensive and relatively durable. As Marshall points out, RV propane tanks can BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion) when in close proximity to fire impinging on the tank. It is also true that neither the Gas Stop valves or other devices would prevent a BLEVE. However, I believe the Gas Stop valves serve the purpose of initially limiting adequate gas from escaping to start a fire or support an explosion. Here's a personal example: Stop valves are typically used in applications where it is necessary to completely shut off the flow of fluid, such as in residential and commercial plumbing. Gate valves, on the other hand, are typically used in industrial applications where it is necessary to control the flow of fluid. It is my understanding that the OPD valve (overflow protection valve) on every propane tank not only limits filling of the tank but also protects the tank when there is nothing connected to the valve. With nothing connected, you can open the tank valve and there will be no escape of propane gas. However, once you connect a hose to the valve, the OPD valve is opened.Most service valves are single-lever ball valves; again, handle parallel to the line means gas is flowing, perpendicular means it’s cut off. On dryers and ranges, this valve is usually hidden behind them and can only be reached by sliding the appliance out from the wall. This service valve will usually be at the end of a fixed pipe and connected to a flexible supply pipe called an appliance connector. Take care not to kink or pinch this flexible pipe. There's just so much you can "add to a trailer before it becomes too heavy to drag behind an underpowered/undersized 4 cylinder turbocharged grocery getter"... Finally, many ice makers and furnace humidifiers are fed by small flexible copper tubes that are connected to larger copper pipes via a very small T-handled device called a saddle valve ( Photo 8). These valves essentially bite into the larger pipe to feed the smaller one. Leaky saddle valves are a major cause of residential water damage and are no longer code-compliant in many areas. If you have saddle valves, replace them with standard supply stops. Since these things can leak like crazy and cause tremendous damage, I’m replacing it with a standard supply stop as soon as I’m done with this story.
When high-temperature resistance is a must, especially in domestic installations, any of our ECVs are a good option. The range also includes electrically insulated valves. Houses with natural gas have a main shutoff valve ( Fig. A) located just before the gas meter. This valve, often called the street-side valve, is normally a rectangular nub ( Photo 1). When the long side of the nub or handle is parallel to the incoming gas line, it’s open and the gas is flowing. When it’s turned a quarter turn, perpendicular to the incoming pipe, it’s closed. Between the water main in the street and the meter, there’s also usually a buried curb stop valve (accessible only by city workers wielding special long-handled wrenches) and a corporation stop, where your house water line hooks up to the water main. Your city absolutely doesn’t want you messing around with these last two valves. If your home is newer and you find a flexible copper pipe running from the meter into your utility room, you probably have a higher pressure gas system. In this case, your inside main shutoff valve ( Photo 3) is probably near your furnace or water heater, just before it enters a flying saucer–shaped doodad called a pressure regulator. There’s also a chance your home—especially if it’s older—doesn’t have a house-side main shutoff valve. Photo 4: Hang a wrench near the shutoff If you’re working near the main or individual gas valve and clearly know the source of the gas leak and that gas hasn’t been leaking for long, shut off the valve and get out. But if you’re uncertain of the source or how long the gas has been leaking, clear yourself and your family out and call the gas company or fire department from a neighbor’s house (not your own—remember, phones can generate sparks!). Always err on the side of caution.But some pilots are pretty darn hard to reach. If you’re uncomfortable with relighting the pilot light, hire a plumber or call your local gas service company. Well, don’t just sit there; get up and locate those valves! Then tag ’em as we explain in Fig. B. In addition to the house-side main shutoff valve, individual gas appliances should have a service or appliance shutoff valve ( Fig. A) that’s immediately accessible, in the same room and within 6 ft. of the appliance. These valves allow you to stop the flow of gas to your dryer, oven, furnace, water heater or gas fireplaces to make repairs or new installations without cutting off gas to your entire home. Are you a mechanical engineer or plumber looking for the best valves for your next project? If so, it’s essential to understand the difference between gate valves and stop valves. Both are popular choices, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between gate valves and stop valves so that you can make an informed decision. What is a Gate Valve? When my full time/long time fire investigator was still alive. I asked him Why do the RV bottles blow up or explode? His answer was no matter if the valve is open/closed IF a fire is burning nearby the heat can and will cause the bottle/tank to vent. Venting propane causes, you guessed it more fire.
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