– I am really concerned about the development. This can be directly life-threatening if used unknowingly and irresponsibly, says Frank Olav Pettersen. He is the fire chief in the municipalities of Alta and Loppa in Finnmark. Fire chief in the municipalities of Alta and Loppa in Finnmark, warns against the use of gas stoves for heating houses. – These increase the risk of fire and explosion, he says. Photo: Trond Odin Myhre Johansen / news Sky-high electricity prices have made people think differently when it comes to heating the home. The country is now “emptier” of free-standing gas farms that use propane gas. – Completely “Texas” A review news has carried out at several large chains this week shows that there is more or less completely empty of such gas stations in the whole country. – It’s all “Texas” here now. We have just received two fully loaded semi-trailers with 540 cubic meters of gas in each. All are sold and will reach stores throughout the country, says daily manager Frode Viken at FlowTech AS. There is a great demand for gas stoves throughout the country. Frode Viken in FlowTech AS expects to sell almost three times as much as last year. Photo: Flowtech AS FlowTech AS imports, among other things, gas stoves and simple gas cooking torches into Norway. – We sold around 1,500-2,000 gas cylinders last year. By comparison, this year we will end up with close to 5,000, says Viken. – Can blow the roof off the house The fire chief in Alta and Loppa dislikes the fact that so many people switch to gas stoves as a heating source in houses. – The gas is heavier than air, and in the event of a leak will lie along the floor. Even if the propane gas has an added smell, you may not discover the leak until it is too late. Lighting a candle in such cases can have serious consequences, warns the fire chief. – How much damage can an 11 kilo gas cylinder cause? – In the worst case, an explosion in such a bottle can blow the roof off a house, says Pettersen. The sale of portable gas tanks has exploded in Norway. Many people use these heaters to heat houses and homes to save electricity. But they can be highly flammable. Photo: Nyhetsspiller In recent weeks, there have been several fires in Norway, where suspicion is directed at the incorrect use of gas stoves. On Wednesday, two people were sent to hospital after what was probably caused by an explosion in a gas chamber. And on 8 December, 15 people were evacuated after a fire in Fredrikstad. And now we are entering a period with experience-wise many fires. – Can suffocate Kai Arne Trollerud is a safety and competence specialist at Linde Gas AS. He also fears that the irresponsible use of gas stoves in houses can lead to more serious accidents. And it is not just fire and explosion that he is afraid of. – The combustion process in a gas chamber leads to the use of oxygen. If you don’t have enough ventilation, you can have a deficit of oxygen. Then toxic gas can be formed like colossus. – Then the absorption of oxygen in the body is hindered and you die slowly but surely from suffocation. The danger is still not great, but he is there, says Trollerud. – Ensure adequate ventilation and check the gas valve and hose for leaks. If you do that, and follow the propane water regulations, it should be okay to use gas heaters in the house, says the insurance manager at Linde Gas AS, Karl Arne Trollerud. Photo: Linde Gas / Linde Gas Earlier this week, the Gjøvik fire brigade also went out and warned against the danger of cola poisoning. Some newer heaters are also supplied with a so-called ODS valve, which switches off the heater and shuts off the gas when there is too little oxygen in the room. This is shown by a survey carried out by news. This is propane Propane is a colourless, flammable, odorless gas. Propane is heavier than air. Together with air, it can form explosive mixtures, and propane is therefore added with odorants to make it easier to detect leaks during use. The most important use of propane is as a raw material in the petrochemical industry for the production of ethylene (ethene) and propylene (propene). It is also used as a fuel (often mixed with butane) in, among other things, cooking appliances used in cabins, boats and when camping. Propane can be stored in liquid form in pressure tanks and in pressure bottles. Special regulations and precautionary rules must be followed for storage, transport and use. (Source: snl.no) – Follow the rules A propane bottle should never be stored in cellars, and as a general rule always outdoors. And it should never be used without supervision or in the bedroom. These, and a number of other rules, Trollerud believes people must be careful to follow when using gas heaters in the house. – There are a set of rules, propane water rules if you will, that you should familiarize yourself with before using a portable gas stove. If you follow these, it is mostly safe to use a gas heater, says Trollerud, and adds: – But if I were to give three pieces of advice to those who are going to use a gas heater to heat the house, it would have to be to check the bottle and hose for leaks, have sufficient ventilation and place the area far enough away from flammable material. Propane water regulations Ensure adequate ventilation for indoor use Propane must never be stored in attics or basements Store the correct amount of propane at home. You can store up to 55 liters of propane inside the home, as well as a total of 90 liters in an outbuilding, garage or similar. Propane cylinders must be stored and transported upright. The safety valve is designed to release propane in gas phase if the pressure becomes too high. If the bottle is lying down, liquid propane will come out of the safety valve, and this will not necessarily relieve the pressure as intended. In the worst case, the bottle can explode. Use only approved propane equipment and propane storage. Do not expose the bottle to strong heat. Check the equipment regularly for leaks. See leak film HERE. Read and follow the instructions for use on the propane equipment. Do not attempt to repair any damage to the device, regulator or bottle yourself. (Source: viivilla.no) Cheaper? Fire chief in Loppa and Alta, Frank Olav Pettersen, is also in doubt as to whether there will be particularly much savings on heating the house with a gas heater. – I have not calculated exactly the costs of heating a house with an 11 kilo propane bottle. It of course depends on how cold it is and how big the house is. – But in addition to this, it costs to buy a gas stove, propane bottle and gas alarm, if you don’t already have this. Those who decide to start with this type of heating should therefore consider whether it will pay off and whether the risk is worth taking, says Pettersen. A quick calculation news has made, based on Enova’s figures, assumes that the calorific value of 1 kilo of propane is 12.9 kWh. If you have an 11 kilo bottle, you will get a total calorific value of 142 kWh. The price of changing an 11 kilo gas bottle is around NOK 350. Buying new costs NOK 1,200. If we start from changing the gas bottle, it will cost around 250 øre kWh to use gas for heating. By comparison, the spot price in Northern Norway is 78 øre kWh. In Central Norway you pay 103 øre kWh, while the price in the south-east, southwest and west areas is 241 øre kWh.
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The sale of propane gas for fuel and heating has exploded in Norway – news Troms and Finnmark
