Safety recommendations for use of propane and butane gas

Ventilation openings

• Use the appropriate grille.
• Never block that air vent with plastic or other objects.
• The upper part of the opening must be located 30 cm from the ground.

The evacuation 'shunts'

The collective section of these circuits or breathing vents, depending on the common facilities in the building, must be cleaned periodically, as frequently as specified according to the number of users.

Cookers, stoves and gas home appliances

• The technical service must review the appliances, at least once a year.
• At least every six months, the technical service must perform smoke analysis.

The gas stopcocks

• You and your whole family should know how where the main stopcock for your installation is.
• Never cover the stopcocks with bottles, boxes or other objects.
• Close the general stopcock quickly in the event of emergency.

The rubber hoses

• These are the weakest part of the installation, with an expiry date set by law, which must be clearly marked by the manufacturers.
• The stopcocks, the copper pipes, the nozzles, the jubilee clips and the rubber hose must be certified, as must any material or appliance assigned to use with gas.
• Special care must be taken not to force, wrinkle, nor tug at the rubber hose.
• Do not allow the rubber hose to come into contact with the hot zones.
• Never use the rubber hose as a hanging line for small items under the building.
• Do not allow the unqualified to touch or tamper with the installation.

The bottles

• Propane and butane gas weigh more than air, so the bottles, when full and empty, must always be kept vertical.
• Bottle changing must always be performed with the head cock closed, so the amount of gas given off into the atmosphere - which is innocuous and inoffensive - is kept to the minimum.
• The bottle changing operation must never be performed near to sources of heat or fire, such as lighters, cigarettes or stoves.

The flame

• Attention must be paid to gusts of wind, as these may put out the flame.
• Take care to avoid spilling liquid on the burner, as it may put out the flame.
• If the flame goes out, the severity will depend on the time the gas is leaking for, on the proper location of the openings and grilles, and on the good control of the situation.

Switching electric circuits on or off

If there is gas leakage, you must not put any electric circuit on or off, as they produce discharges able to cause a fire or explosion.

When faced with an emergency

If you smell gas indoors:

• Shut off the stopcocks.
• Do not touch the electric mechanisms.
• Provide currents of air.
• Once you have left your home, as quickly as possible, call: CEPSA GAS Emergencies. At your service 24 hours a day, on telephone: 902 100 224.