Liquefied petroleum gas is a flammable gas which has the potential to create a hazard. Therefore it is important that the properties and safe handling of LPG are understood and applied in the domestic and commercial/industrial situations.

• Liquefied petroleum gas is stored under pressure. The gas will leak from any joint or connection which is not sealed properly.
• Liquefied petroleum gas is heavier than air. Any significant leak will move downwards and stay on the ground. LPG will accumulate in any low-lying area such as depressions in the ground, drains or pits.
• Since LPG is stored in two phases, liquid and gaseous, there is potential for either a liquid leak or a gas leak.
  • If the Liquefied petroleum gas leak is a gas leak it may not be seen (because LPG is colourless), except where the leak is of sufficient size to be seen shimmering in the air.
  • When a liquid Liquefied petroleum gas leak occurs, the gas release will be seen as a patch of ice around the area of the leak, or as a jet of white liquid. This white appearance is due to the cooling effect created by the rapid expansion of the LPG liquid into a gas. The condensing atmospheric moisture makes the leak visible.
  • In concentrated amounts and in uncontrolled conditions, Liquefied petroleum gas has the potential to create a fire or an explosion.

There are a number ways in which you can greatly reduce LPG consumption and thus help the overall conservation of LPG:

• When you are cooking, first keep all your ingredients ready before lighting the burner. This will help you to lower LPG consumption.
• Save LPG by covering all vessels that you place on the burner. Covered vessels cook faster and retain the flavors of the food, while conserving LPG at the same time.
• If there is a break in cooking, turn the LPG off and then relight the burner to begin cooking again. Over time, this can result in a significant reduction in the usage of LPG.
• Use same-sized vessels and burners. For example, use a small burner for a small vessel. This will help to reduce the volume of LPG used.
• Avoid wasting LPG by re-heating food.
• Reduce the quantity of liquid used. The more the liquid content, the more LPG required to cook it.

You can use LPG safely if you apply simple safety rules.

• Choose an LPG supplier who can provide you with well-maintained LPG cylinders, and after-sales support.
• Always close the cylinder or tanks valves after use.
• Use a child-safe regulator on the LPG cylinder for domestic use.
• Ensure that your LPG supplier provides a supply of LPG that is odorised to allow you to smell any leaking LPG.
• Always use LPG appliances, and other gas equipment that is approved for use, and meets all local safety standards.
• Check for gas leaks on a regular basis.
• Always use LPG rubber tubes that have an ISI mark.
• Always close the LPG cylinder or tanks valves after use.
• Never check for gas leaks using a lit match. Always use a solution of soapy water and look for bubbles coming from around valves and pipe joints. These bubbles indicate a gas leak.
• Replace the LPG cylinder hose on a regular basis, and replace any damaged or worn hose with a new hose.
• Stand the cylinder upright and make sure that any hose connection between the cylinder and the appliance does not come into contact with or near the gas burner.
• If you smell or find a gas leak:
  1. Turn off the gas supply valve from the cylinder of the tank.
  2. If possible turn off the appliance.
  3. Turn off or remove any other source of ignition.
  4. Ventilate the room by opening doors and windows.
  5. Inform your gas supplier immediately.
  6. Leave the house or apartment, and advise your neighbours.
  7. If you think that there is a danger of a fire, call the Fire Service.

In general the answer is no. The reasons are listed below :

• Domestic cylinders are generally not properly secured into the vehicle and this makes them vulnerable in a crash situation.
• The domestic cylinder valve arrangement is incorrect for the proper operation of the vehicle fuel supply requirements.
  1. The cylinder valve is not provided with excess flow protection, which means that if the valve or supply line is sheared in a crash situation, there will be an uncontrolled flow of LPG into the vehicle interior.
  2. The domestic cylinder valves and the attachments which are typically being used to connect domestic cylinders into vehicles are generally not designed to operate under liquid LPG condition and therefore may not be suitable for the use which is being applied.
  3. The interior of a vehicle can become very hot in some climates. This means that there is a potential for the safety relief valve of the cylinder to open and release excess pressure, again creating a safety hazard within the interior of the vehicle.
  4. In some cases the cylinders are not provided with a safety valve. The flexible connection between the cylinder and the steel line to the engine forms a weak link in the piping system and is therefore vulnerable to rupture, leading to LPG entering the vehicle space.

The design of the gas converter or gas regulator, installed within the engine space that provides fuel to the engine, is generally designed to take liquid LPG and convert it to vapour LPG. Usually a small bore copper or steel line is used to transfer the Liquefied petroleum gas from the cylinder in the rear of the vehicle to the engine. This is because domestic cylinders are installed into the rear of the vehicle in an upright or lying-on-the-side position.

In both the above cases, only vapour gets transferred from the cylinder to the engine. This is because the cylinder does not have an internal tube that takes the liquid Liquefied petroleum gas from the cylinder into the supply line to the engine. Due to this, the engine gets starved for fuel during increased load conditions like accelerating or climbing up a slope