Paul Harris with Generator Services, Inc reached out to share a reminder about propane tank requirements. Paul was recently part of a meeting with investigators about a facility fire that occurred in another state. He shares,
All propane tanks are required by NFPA 58, chapter 5.9.8.1 to have an excess flow valve in the event of a fuel line failure. This applies to both liquid or vapor withdrawal.
5.9.8.1 All container openings … shall be equipped with internal valves or with positive shutoff valves AND either excess-flow or backflow check valves.
In the other state, a manufacturer’s defect caused a fire that reached the debris accumulated under the engine. The fire caused the liquid LPG line to rupture. LPG flowed directly onto the fire, which then involved the building. Had a functioning excess flow valve been in place, the fire would likely not have gotten out of the generator’s enclosure.
