Where To Place Gas Leak Detector?

Natural gas is used for various domestic as well as industrial purposes. It is used mainly for heating and cooking for homes, offices, and other business or commercial properties. It is also used in industrial units such as textiles, fertilizers, and power generation plants.

So, gas has turned out to be one of the necessities of life over the years. While the utility of gas is beyond any doubt, its inherent risks cannot be ruled out as well. Gas is highly inflammable. It can catch fire instantly while exposed to a spark or a flame. It can cause an explosion. When the gas burns, it consumes oxygen and generates carbon dioxide, while its incomplete burning may generate carbon monoxide.

That's why it is also considered dangerous for the environment. Prolonged exposure to gas may result in serious medical and health issues in humans. The most dangerous thing about gas is that it is colorless and odorless, hence cannot be detected instantly. Hence the detection of leakage of gas is important.

Natural Gas – What’s It?

The gas supplied in homes and industries through pipelines is Natural Gas. Natural gas is a mixture of various gases, naturally present in different parts of the world, deep under the earth’s surface. Historically, it was considered to be a by-product of oil. But now it is extracted and transported to various parts of the world as a viable and economical energy source.

The major part of natural gas is methane, while nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and helium are also in traces. Methane is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases causing serious climate change. Methane is an odorless and colorless gas. To make it somewhat noticeable, without using Gas Leak Detector, an odorizing agent is mixed in a very small quantity in natural gas, like Mercaptan, which smells similar to rotten eggs.

Gas Leaks – Reasons And Consequences

Leakage is the biggest threat associated with using gas in residential and non-residential properties. It is an even more serious threat in industrial units.  

Reasons

Leakage of gas mostly happens at the end-user level. It mostly leaks due to unprofessional and faulty installation of different gas appliances, such as boilers, cookers, gas ovens, burners, gas stoves, heaters, and flues. Gas may start leaking from any gas installation at any time due to a sudden fault. Gas may also leak from pipelines, especially at the joints and bends. Loose connections also result in gas leakage.

Consequences

Gas leakage has serious consequences, especially when it remains unnoticed for longer. The major outcomes of gas leakage may be summarized as under.

• Fire – gas being a flammable material can catch fire instantly. Leaking gas can catch fire with a flame or electrical spark. This can happen anywhere but the most vulnerable area is your kitchen. If the gas starts leaking from any gas installation in or around the kitchen, it is much more likely that a fire may erupt. The most serious of such fire eruptions is that they can easily spread across other parts of the property, especially where other gas appliances are installed.
• Explosion – When leaked gas accumulates in one place such as a closed compartment, it is very much likely to explode. Such an incident may prove fatal for the building and the occupants. Such explosions often occur in industrial units resulting in huge damage to property and machinery, apart from casualties.
• Medical and health problems – Consistent exposure to leaked gas may result in serious health issues in humans. The victim of gas leakage can face nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death.

The impact of gas leakage is alarming, so a perfect system is needed to avoid such happenings. It has also forced the authorities to regulate the use of gas. Gas safety laws in the UK specifically deal with this sensitive issue.

Gas Safety Regulations

In 1998, the UK Government enforced a gas safety law, “Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998”. Under this law, all homeowners and commercial property owners are bound to get their property inspected annually to ensure safe usage of gas installations and appliances. It also secures the property owners to get a gas safety certificate, which is valid for 12 months and has to be renewed annually.

Under this law, the annual gas safety inspection includes examining all gas pipe networks and appliances installed in the property to ensure they are safe for the occupants. This yearly gas safety check also covers the perfect installation of gas appliances per the specifications and checking for any gas leakage. Regular and timely maintenance and servicing of the gas appliances are mandatory for the property owners, per this law's provisions.

The law was amended in 2018 under the name “Gas Safety Regulations (Installation and Use) – (Amendment) 2018 (The Regulations)”. This amendment concerns the annual gas safety check and the expiration of the gas safety certificate.

Gas Safety Certificate

A gas safety certificate is mandatory for all residential and commercial properties. This document proves that the gas appliances and installations in this building have been examined and are fit for use.

That also means that the appliances are in perfect working condition and there's no gas leakage detected during the inspection.

A gas safety certificate is issued by a qualified gas safety engineer, listed on the official website of the gas safe register. The gas safe register is responsible for registering engineers authorized to inspect and work on gas appliances, including boilers. The gas safety engineer will examine all the appliances and pipe work and point out any defect, if found in any gas appliance. Once the faults are removed, he can give you the required gas safety certificate.

This certificate is valid for 12 months and must be renewed before expiration. While the gas safety certificate proves that the gas installations in your property comply with the gas safety standards, there is always a possibility of sudden gas leakage from any appliances or pipe work. Hence, some gas leakage detection systems must be in place to avoid any unwanted happening. That's where gas leak sensors or detectors come into play.

Gas Detectors

Although the gas supplied in homes and commercial or business properties is odorless and colorless, they mix very small quantities of an odorant material such as mercaptan to give it a smell. The smell is like that of rotten eggs. So, if there is a gas leakage, you can detect it by that particular smell.

But it is not a guaranteed method of detection of gas leakage. Sometimes the specific smell may not be as prominent that can attract the occupants' attention. If there is ample fresh air in the property, the leaking gas smell may dilute and may not be traceable by human smelling sense. Hence some devices and gadgets must be installed on the property for the timely detection of gas leakage.

Types Of Gas Leak Detectors

Gas detectors are mainly of two types, portable and fixed. Portable gas detectors are not meant for home use. These are specifically designed for safety personnel. These are handheld and can be carried along while inspecting the building for safety against possible gas leakage. The sensor will beep or give some other alerting sound or light when it detects an accumulation of gas beyond the limits.

Fixed gas detectors are the real solution for homes and commercial or business properties. Such gas detectors can be installed on different points in a property. These detectors operate on a battery or direct power supply.

Fixed detectors are part of a complete gas safety system that collaborates with other safety devices. There are different types of gas detectors based on the detection process:

1. Electronic Gas Leak Detectors – This is the most common type of gas detector, useful for homes, businesses, and commercial properties. Electronic detectors are also known as semiconductor detectors. The sensors installed in this type of detector can detect various gases, including propane, natural gas, and other burnable gases. They are known for their higher accuracy rate.
2. Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors – This type of gas detector responds to the noise or sound generated by a leaking gas. They react to the sound but cannot detect the gas itself. So, not good for residential or commercial buildings. They are more suitable for industrial purposes.
3. Infrared Gas Leak Detectors – These detectors can trace the presence of gas using infrared technology. These are perfect for industrial units and are more accurate than any other type of detector.
4. Multi-Purpose Gas Leak Detectors – Also known as three-in-one detectors. This type of detector can sense the presence of Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, and Natural gas. Suitable for home gas leakage detection systems.

Key Factors In The Selection Of Gas Leak Detectors

While selecting an appropriate gas leak detection device, you need to consider various factors such as:

• Accuracy and Sensitivity – The detector should be able to detect any leakage, may that be the smallest or huge leakage. The sensitivity must also be accurate. A substandard detector may misread the presence of gas.
• Quick Responsiveness – The detector must generate alerts when a leakage is detected. A delayed response may be useless.
• User-Friendly Operation – The gas detector should be easy to handle. It must be user-friendly. It should be easy to install, easy to operate, and easy to maintain. But never compromise on accuracy and reliability.

Where To Install A Gas Leak Detector

Appropriate installation of gas leak detectors is a crucial factor. The detector is meant to sense the presence of a hazardous gas, such as natural gas. Hence the detector must be installed at a perfect place and height. If installed at the wrong places or heights, the detector may not give the desired results, thus negating its utility.

Consider Sensitive Locations

The first thing to consider while placing a gas leak detector is the appropriate location in a home or commercial building. Gas detectors should be installed in places that are near possible gas leaking points, such as the kitchen. Gas tends to accumulate in certain pockets, such as a closed compartment or corners having less ventilation. You must consider these factors wisely before deciding where to install a gas leak detector.

Natural gas tends to diffuse into the fresh air quickly. Hence, a detector installed near an open space with ample fresh air will be useless.

Consider Height

The height of the detector is also critical. Different gases have different density levels. Some are heavier than air while others might be lighter than air. Heavier gases will settle at the bottom alongside the floors, whereas the lighter gases will accumulate on top, near the ceiling.

Propane and gasoline are high-density gases and are heavier than air. Hence these gases will accumulate near the floors. So, if you want to protect your property against these gases, you must install a leak detector near the floors. The perfect location will be 6 inches above the floor.

On the other hand, natural gas is lighter than air, hence tends to travel upward. Install the detector near the ceiling if your property has a natural gas leakage.

Avoid These Places

Never install your gas leak detectors in the following locations:

• Near entrances and windows. There is a free inflow of fresh air at these locations, so installing a gas leak detector will be the wrong option. Avoid it.
• Places that are not static and are likely to vibrate. A place, which is expected to vibrate will not be a suitable area to place your gas detector. It may damage the device.

Conclusion

Natural gas or any other hazardous gas may leak and accumulate at certain locations of your property. Any such eventuality may lead to serious mishaps, like an eruption of fire, explosion, and health issues. This may damage your property and create serious health issues for the occupants.

Hence it is important to have a gas leak detection system in place. The main device of this protection and safety system is a gas leak detector. The selection of appropriate devices is most important. Select a device that is suitable for your property. Even more important is the location to install the gas detector.

Though not legally required, installing gas leak detectors in appropriate locations on your property is always better. Invest a little in these devices that may prove beneficial, even beyond your expectations.