Natural Gas Fires
safewrite pointed out a historically high number of fires and explosions involving natural gas.
As someone who installed and serviced furnaces and boilers, I can give some thoughts on this recent phenomenon.
Counterfeit materials: Pipe unions, couplings, and pipe with even a pinhole leak can cause a massive explosion, especially in a energy efficient "tight house." The best prevention is having a traceable supply chain; knowing were the parts were manufactured, not just who sold them to you.*
Qualified personnel: Most of the old-timers who installed and repaired natural gas systems have moved on: a lack of knowledgeable and qualified technicians may result in an installation that on the surface may be passable, but will fail months or even years later. It can also be a lack of qualified design personnel.
Meticulous installation: ALL joints need to be tested with a bubble leak detector after installation. Pressure testing of the gas main lines in the structure with dry nitrogen and a leak down test should be done before the service is turned on.
Damage to the infrastructure: Nicking of the protective sheath of a iron gas main by an excavator for a new sewer, electric service or water main is a major problem. The contractor doesn't want to have his job held up or be fined. Or the contractor may simply not notice the damage. Either way, the gas main is re-covered without repairs. Moisture will attack the iron pipe and the pipe will fail with often catastrophic results, sometimes decades later. The resulting forensic investigation can narrow down when and who did the initial damage.
*Example of counterfeit materials: A reputable contractor had to change out of the Square D breakers in a new central heating and cooling plant installation for a large building. The owner complained that some of the breakers failed thermal scans. The breakers were later found to be counterfeit. It cost the contractor several thousand dollars to replace the breakers with legitimate ones.
As someone who installed and serviced furnaces and boilers, I can give some thoughts on this recent phenomenon.
Counterfeit materials: Pipe unions, couplings, and pipe with even a pinhole leak can cause a massive explosion, especially in a energy efficient "tight house." The best prevention is having a traceable supply chain; knowing were the parts were manufactured, not just who sold them to you.*
Qualified personnel: Most of the old-timers who installed and repaired natural gas systems have moved on: a lack of knowledgeable and qualified technicians may result in an installation that on the surface may be passable, but will fail months or even years later. It can also be a lack of qualified design personnel.
Meticulous installation: ALL joints need to be tested with a bubble leak detector after installation. Pressure testing of the gas main lines in the structure with dry nitrogen and a leak down test should be done before the service is turned on.
Damage to the infrastructure: Nicking of the protective sheath of a iron gas main by an excavator for a new sewer, electric service or water main is a major problem. The contractor doesn't want to have his job held up or be fined. Or the contractor may simply not notice the damage. Either way, the gas main is re-covered without repairs. Moisture will attack the iron pipe and the pipe will fail with often catastrophic results, sometimes decades later. The resulting forensic investigation can narrow down when and who did the initial damage.
*Example of counterfeit materials: A reputable contractor had to change out of the Square D breakers in a new central heating and cooling plant installation for a large building. The owner complained that some of the breakers failed thermal scans. The breakers were later found to be counterfeit. It cost the contractor several thousand dollars to replace the breakers with legitimate ones.