How gas explodes in an apartment: causes of explosions and tips for safe use of gas
Have you noticed how resonant news about gas explosions in residential buildings becomes? Have you ever wondered why this happens? The answer is simple - not only residents of gasified buildings may be at risk, but also those who do not use this type of fuel at all. Therefore, after a gas explosion in an apartment, everyone wants to know the reason.
By tracking tragic stories, people increase their knowledge about the causes of leaks, operating rules, and possible violations. The legislation describes in some detail the requirements for gas pipelines, equipment and use cases. But rarely does anyone look into the legislative acts in order to correctly install a slab or cylinder, install or move pipes. And specialized services are not able to track all the actions of residents.
To get a complete picture of the causes of domestic explosions, their scale and consequences, we analyzed the incidents recorded by statistics. The article below contains a list of sources of danger, as well as expert advice on correcting deficiencies, even if the dangerous equipment belongs to strangers.
The content of the article:
Main causes of gas explosion
To understand why ordinary household gas can explode, just look at the reports from gas services. The “honorable” first place in prevalence is occupied by the illiterate storage of propane cylinders.
Leaking old containers lie for years on mezzanines, in closets, and kitchen niches under the window. One small spark is enough to explode the accumulated fuel.
In second place are errors associated with careless installation of equipment - falling cylinders or heating them by nearby heating devices quite often causes detonation.
On the third there were malfunctions main gas pipeline, leaks due to installation errors: leaky connections, worn hoses, incorrect connection of plates. This also includes unauthorized changes to the design that exclude effective ventilation, and independent connections of additional equipment.
The fourth place is given to the inattention of users who allow liquid to flood the nozzles of the stove. Once on the nozzle, water extinguishes the fire, but does not block the gas outlet. The accumulation of explosives in the absence of ventilation quickly reaches critical values.
And the last, fifth place has been held for many years by the irresponsibility of owners of old cylinders. Having decided to give the container a new life, practical residents saw, cut, in various ways open the tankto adapt to different needs. This is a big mistake.
Even a seemingly completely empty cylinder always contains residual gas. Therefore, every action aimed at an independent autopsy is a step towards disaster.
Differences in the explosion of methane and propane
Looking at the statistics of domestic gas explosions, it is easy to notice the dependence of the frequency of incidents on the type of fuel. There are many more accidents due to propane than when using methane.
Professional gas workers explain this by the fact that methane is used when supplying fuel through the maintained pipelines. Networks are regularly checked, repaired and updated. The operation of equipment with propane, on the contrary, is rarely controlled and, in fact, is left under the responsibility of ordinary users.
The power of a methane explosion is almost twice as powerful. However, propane produces more heat - it is more efficient as a fuel. Therefore, the explosion of propane cylinders is accompanied by intense combustion, and the main destructive force of methane is a blast wave.
Explosive concentration of methane
The lower value of the explosive concentration of natural gas is 4.4% of the total volume of air masses. Peak explosiveness is reached at a concentration of 9.5%. When the air is filled to more than 17%, methane simply burns, does not threaten an explosion, but can have a toxic effect on humans.
It is possible to accurately calculate the concentration of natural gas in the air only with the help of instruments - special sensors. But it is easy to understand that a leak has occurred even when the air mass is filled with 1 percent. It is when this value is reached that a person is able to clearly distinguish the specific smell of a substance.
Explosive concentration of propane
The chance of causing an explosion due to a propane leak appears when 1.7% of the mixture is in the air. Explosive remains at concentrations up to 10.9%. Like methane, propane-butane mixtures can have a detrimental effect on the nervous system. At the same time, victims complain of increasing symptoms of poisoning.
Since household balloon mixtures They are odorless and are supplemented with odorants – strong-smelling substances. Having a very pungent odor, such substances quickly attract the attention of gas equipment owners in the event of a leak. Therefore, with due attention, it is not difficult to notice the danger in time.
Domestic gas explosion prevention
Knowing why gas most often explodes in apartments, you can draw up a list of actions to prevent accidents.
It will include:
- operation of authorized equipment within its expiration date;
- connection and installation performed by licensed professionals;
- proper storage and installation of cylinders;
- coordination of all project changes with the gas service;
- regular inspection of the gas pipeline, connections and equipment by gas workers;
- maintaining the ventilation system in working order;
- cooking on a gas stove in the constant presence of capable adults;
- use the equipment strictly for its intended purpose.
In addition, it is important to listen for odors and monitor the tightness of the valves, cranes, flange connections. At the slightest suspicion, contact the gas service that supplies fuel.
Since apartment buildings make residents dependent on each other, sometimes you have to look after more than just your own gas equipment. If neighbors violate safety regulations, you must write a statement to the gas service.
It must indicate the exact address, the reason for the appeal, the names of the residents who signed the application, information about the violators, and the date of recording. The reason may be the presence of prohibited equipment, violation of operating rules, or the smell of gas.
Procedure in case of explosion threat
An incorrectly opened or dropped cylinder will leave no choice - the substance will detonate instantly. And when a leak is detected, there is almost always time to neutralize the gas. Leaks can be detected in four ways: through gas analyzers, by soaping the joints, by the appearance of an odor, or by feeling the emanating cold from the joints.
In all cases it is necessary:
- Organize intensive ventilation.
- Close the gas valve.
- Remove people and animals from the premises and warn neighbors.
- Contact the gas service emergency department.
It’s better to call rescuers as soon as you go outside.Before the specialists arrive, it is advisable to monitor the entrance to the house so that no one can enter the polluted apartments.
The main thing is to leave the room quickly and without panic if a leak is detected. Therefore, if you find difficulties finding taps or opening windows, it is better to leave everything as it is and go outside.
If the explosion has already occurred
The algorithm of actions in the event of an explosion is identical. If possible, turn off the valves and leave the room. When calling, you should indicate the fact of an explosion and seek help from doctors, firefighters and gas workers. The call can be made by calling 112.
In 90 percent of cases, a gas explosion is accompanied by a fire. Therefore, the actions in such an accident are identical to rescue from fire.
To do this you need:
- Press a damp cloth bandage to your face and breathe only through it.
- Determine the path to the exit. If it is blocked by local fires, try to neutralize them by throwing a blanket or thick outerwear over the fireplace.
- If it is not possible to exit through the main entrance, you should evaluate the chances of leaving the premises through the windows.
In some situations, it is wiser to wait for rescuers rather than evacuate yourself.Therefore, it is important to correctly assess the risks and not give in to panic.
After leaving the house, rescuers advise moving away from the building as far as possible and staying at a safe distance until all sources of danger have been eliminated. Emergency services personnel will notify residents of this.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
In the video, the specialist once again lists the main causes of accidents, mentions the need for constant monitoring of the gas pipeline, and shows samples of automatic gas analyzers:
Can a propane tank explode? Yes! Can natural gas explode in an apartment? Yes. Any fuel is a source of danger. Therefore, it is mandatory to comply with all rules and regulations for the storage, installation and operation of gas equipment.
If you have useful information, want to share your experience or warn other users, write. Below is a form where anyone can ask questions, post comments or photos. Participate in discussions and express your competent opinion.
It's all very scary. And it’s surprising to me - could a leak from a small cylinder on the mezzanine cause a large explosion that could destroy the wall of the house?
Hello. An explosive mixture requires 3 components - gas, oxygen, and a source of flame/spark. For an explosion, the gas concentration must be 5-15% of the volume of the room for natural gas and 1.5-9.5% for liquefied gas.
If on low heat, when the stove heats up, the fire jumps to the nozzle, as a result both the burner and the nozzle under the burner burn (while the stove hisses a little), is this dangerous?
Main gas, stove in the apartment.
In Ukraine, calling gas workers when a gas leak is detected is the most stupid solution. It was because of their inaction or as a result of unskilled actions of regular gas workers that we had a number of explosions in houses with tragic consequences.
Not so long ago, an acquaintance of mine almost died in a gas explosion in the Dnieper. Due to a recent injury, he had lost his sense of smell, so he did not smell the gas. But his neighbors smelled the gas. The emergency gas service was called with complaints of a strong smell of gas. They came, looked, said that no leak was found and left without doing anything. And not the next morning there was an explosion followed by a fire and the acquaintance was badly burned. Now these same gas workers are blaming an acquaintance for the incident.
And if you look at a very recent example in Kyiv, the entrance there exploded precisely after the gas workers carried out a scheduled replacement of meters. Many neighbors, after the official gas workers, began to smell gas indiscriminately, as usual, calls with complaints to the gas service led to nothing, until an explosion occurred with the destruction of a dozen apartments.
Another example: In Mariupol, Donetsk region, a dacha neighbor Oleg, who is trained to work with gas equipment, but does not have an official permit, complained about regular gas workers. He says that somehow he had to call them home, either to connect a new stove, or for some other task.As Oleg saw the violations with which the gas workers began to carry out work, he tried to intervene, but they did not allow him, like “it’s impossible.” After the gas workers left, Oleg had to redo everything after them, now at least he sleeps peacefully.
Well, as a starter, let me remind you about the explosion of the entrance to a house in the Dnieper in 2007. Again, after the gas workers arrived and delved into the distribution system, in several houses residents discovered inadequately high pressure in the gas pipes, which began to whistle. They said that they light a stove in the kitchen and the flame reaches the ceiling. They try to close the valve, but it doesn’t work - they can’t cope with the gas pressure. Then there was an explosion, only one wall of the entrance was left, and the blast wave damaged nearby private houses.
My proposal: every apartment should have a gas analyzer with automatic
turning off the gas. If there is no such device, “let’s turn off the gas,” as people say. This measure
must be unconditional.
reference: the cost of such a device is no more than 5 thousand and installation costs 2 tons
I myself replaced my stove with another one with automatic shutdown if the flame goes out
Czech-made combustion stove
Stupid article. If there is a leak, the gas concentration, while not yet explosive, will create a noticeable specific stench. The main reason is the human factor. Weak people, drunks, drug addicts, terrorists and absent-minded people. I put it on the stove, forgot, it ran away and extinguished the flame. And the gas flows. I walked in mechanically and flicked the switch and there was an explosion.