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Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 5:06 pm
by Captain Cook
A recent post by a member talking about using swapand go bottles prompted me to open this discussion.
Last night I googled gas bottle exposions and was horified at the devistation and deaths that they have caused. It alsobrought to mind an incident that happened to me.
I was in the Winnie down in portland and needed to get a 4 kg gas refill - I couldn't locate a filling station, in desparation I pulled into a servo that had swap and go. They had several 4 kg bottles in the cage, the first one that I looked at was 2 years out of date and had rust spots on it.It had the tape around the connection point indicating that it was full. I queried the attendant regarding having bottles that were out of date and was told they only sell them. The attendent said that the swap and go people were responsible for the bottles.

Gas bottles must be inspected every 10 years, this includes pressure testing and an internal and external inspection for evidence of corrosion.

Most bottles corrode from the inside as the LPG has a % of moisture which will react to any untreated metal or part with damaged surface finish, if it was on the outside it could be noticed. Some people swap their old out of date or nearly out of date bottles, you never know what sort of treatment the S&G bottles have received from previous owners so it really is a lottery as to what you get, The explosions happen from a small gas leak and the gas collecting and concentratiung in a small area, there has to be an ignition source introduced to ignite the gas. You can fire a bullet through the bottle without it exploding as you need that ignition source.

My safety rules.
Initial purchase get a quality new bottle from a reputable supplier.
Always use your own bottle and inspect it prior to and after refils.
Replace the bottle if it sustains any damage at all
Store the bottle in a well vetillated
Always turn the gas off at the bottle first.
Check to see if the bottle is turned off
Replace the bottle after 9 years at the most Best to drill a hole in it so it cant be used again.
Use the BBQ in a well ventilated area with the Gas bottle as far from the BBQ as posibble.

Can you think of anymore

Captain

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 5:43 pm
by rotten
In most areas you can't re-fill your own bottle anymore and swap and go is the only way. I bought my own bottle only to find nobody would fill it.

I bought a c02 bottle with hopes of refilling myself also. It was so much drama that I just swap that now too.

I do check the bottle im swapping to make sure its at least current and won't take a dodgy or suspect bottle.

Sent from my 45 kg gas and 6 kg c02 bottle to minimise changeovers

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 6:21 pm
by Captain Cook
rotten wrote:In most areas you can't re-fill your own bottle anymore and swap and go is the only way. I bought my own bottle only to find nobody would fill it.

I bought a c02 bottle with hopes of refilling myself also. It was so much drama that I just swap that now too.

I do check the bottle im swapping to make sure its at least current and won't take a dodgy or suspect bottle.

Sent from my 45 kg gas and 6 kg c02 bottle to minimise changeovers
My BBQ Galores does refills and I can watch them do it, So does BCF.

Cheers

Captain

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 6:55 pm
by Davo
I now take mine to Rays Outdoors and they do both my 4kg and 9 kg together for about $34

My 4kg is starting to get closer to the 10 year mark as I bought it when I first got my Q120 back in I think it was 2005 so only 2 yrs left but I think I might retire it next year for a new one....outside is getting pretty rusty. while it was my main bottle when I bought the Q120, it is now my spare when the 9kg runs out halfway during a cook up like it usually does....with a bit of help form the ratbag named Murphy :lol:

Yes...Gas is not to be toyed with and should be respected like any explosive or flamable substance.

Cheers

Davo

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 1:27 pm
by Smokey
Capt, I wouldn't advise people to drill a hole in the tank unless they are sure its completely empty.
A small amount of vapour can still explode from a red hot piece of drill swarf.
I wouldn't do it unless I removed to valve head altogether and sat the bottle upside down for a while

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 1:49 pm
by sydking
I pulled in to a local servo 2 nights ago - Ole mate was filling up gas bottles.

I filed up fuel... - he came inside and served me - While the gas bottle was getting filled from the bigger tanks that he left going - The gas smelt SO bad inside the shop. I told him mate go outside and do that first i will wait.

He said no all good..... By this time the smell of gas was Soooo strong. I paid and literally ran out the servo doors

Looked over at the gas bottle and its bloody POURING out - Never seen anything like it - the whole outside was gas everywhere - I didnet even want to start the car but thought stuff it im outa here this guy is a hazard.

Drove past the next morning and the place was still standing....... But farr out......

I dont even like to leave my charcoal chimney on the cooker thats attached to my gas bottle for too long...

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 2:14 pm
by Smokey
I was pumping fuel one day and some bloke pulls up next to the shop entry , pulls out a 9kg and plonks it on the ground.
Then he just opens the valve so gas starts pissing out.
I said "Mate, What are you doing?"
He said "Im getting it refilled but its a quarter full" :roll:
Turn it OFF you F wit :lol:

Ive been in a gas explosion and let me tell you that 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over your face and torso dont feel to great.
Almost (Prolly did) get me addicted to pethadine.

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 8:40 pm
by urbangriller
Something I tell everyone at BBQ School: Gas is under pressure, open the valve a half to 4/4 of a turn, the gas will still come out and if you do have a problem, its not six or seven turns to shut it down!

Chris

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 9:00 pm
by mymonaro
sydking wrote:I pulled in to a local servo 2 nights ago - Ole mate was filling up gas bottles.

- The gas smelt SO bad inside the shop.
..
I was in my local Ray's Outdoor store a couple of weeks ago and down the back of the store I could smell gas.

I went to the front counter, informed the sales assistant. In an extremely off-hand manner the assistant's reply was that the gas bottles for customers are refilled out the back of the store, in the warehouse area, still indoors though and the gas comes in through the doorway.

Good job there were no naked flames!

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 10:51 pm
by peteru
So, what authority does one contact in NSW to complain to about dodgy practices? I've just checked two gas bottles I swapped at Bunnings in the last week. One has an inspection date of 08-02, the other has no markings at all. Both bottles have been just painted on top of whatever sh1t was stuck to them, so it was quite easy to just wipe the paint off in one area with the finger, to reveal globs of cooking grease under the paint. The other bottle looks like it has rust flakes peeling off, but I'm not going to pick on that...

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 11:16 am
by urbangriller
The AGA is what you want: http://www.aga.asn.au/index.html

Cheers
Chris

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 9:42 pm
by peteru
Thanks Chris,

I had a look at the AGA site, but I can not find anything that would suggest what to do about a retailer that is in breach of the regulations.

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 10:29 am
by urbangriller
peteru wrote:Thanks Chris,

I had a look at the AGA site, but I can not find anything that would suggest what to do about a retailer that is in breach of the regulations.
There is only the feedback form:

http://www.aga.asn.au/customerfb

I guess they are another toothless tiger!

Chris

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:10 pm
by Captain Cook
Talk to the store manager and ask to make a formal complaint, do not give them the bottles.
The ACCC is the place to report it.
You can call the AGA and ask them what you should do.

Captain

Re: Gas Bottles - Safety Considerations

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:23 pm
by Bentley
I can see why folks want a plumbed NG line to their gasser! One of the main reasons I love...ahh, no sense in rubbing it in! :twisted: