In our country, 68 million gas bottles are still in circulationgenerally used for cooking, to operate a DIY appliance or auxiliary heating, or in commercial premises. 90% of these bottles are stored, often at home: however, this represents a real risk for health and the environment. For what ? How to fix it?
Risk of explosion!
To deal with these risks, linked to the storage of gas cylinders in the garden or at home, the National Federation of Firefighters has launched an awareness campaignin partnership with Antargaz. THE first risk incurred by the storage of these gas bottles, full or almost full, is human: it concerns our health, and even our life!
Indeed, a gas cylinder is a potential explosive if exposed to heat. Even if we think it is empty, it still contains a little gas, which exposes firefighters to additional risks during interventions, particularly in the event of a fire.
The latter were also recently injured during intervention in Loire-Atlantique after the explosion of gas cylinders. If the firefighters are of course on the front line, residents are also concerned by this risk and danger of explosion.
Essential recycling!
Only 10% of the gas bottles used return to the distributor when they are empty: everything else is therefore stored, without doing anything with it… Some abandon them in the forest, which this time leads to a environmental risk, gas cylinders can worsen the damage of a fire. Bringing them back to an approved point of sale is a very good solution.
This would avoid manufacturing new ones, and they could be refilled with gas and returned to the distribution circuit. A sort of second life for our unused bottles, after obviously an emptying and a safety inspection.
To properly store your gas bottles safely, here are some tips: if it is butanethen you must keep your cylinder indoors, but not in the basementoften very poorly ventilated; if it is about propanethen your gas cylinder must be stored outside, in a simple shelter.
Your bottle must be kept upright, vertically, on a very stable support, to avoid leaks and any risk of explosion. It is obviously forbidden to fill it out yourself! Check carefully the absence of cracks or cracks on the supply pipes. Finally, if the expiry date indicated on the gas bottle has passed, you absolutely must change it!
Article references:
Storing gas bottles at home is dangerous – France Info
Stop abandoning gas bottles! – National Federation of Firefighters
