1

CONTROL OF NATURAL GAS

IN AN EMERGENCY
2
Table of Contents
4......... Facts about Natural Gas
5......... Emergency Procedures
5......... Natural Gas Escaping Outside
5......... Natural Gas Burning Outside
5......... Natural Gas Escaping Inside
6......... Natural Gas Burning Inside
6......... Endangered Gas Piping and Meters Inside Building
6......... Natural Gas in Manholes, Vaults and Sewers
7......... Relief Valves in Distribution Systems
8......... Gas Installation Procedures
12....... Gas Detection
Control of Natural Gas in an Emergency
Published by Alagasco
2001 Edition
3
Introduction
This booklet has been prepared by Alagasco to guide police and fire personnel in
emergency situations that involve natural gas odors, leaks or fires.
Fire and police personnel usually reach an accident scene before the gas
emergency crew, and they should know in advance the procedures to use in gas
emergencies
Illustrations shown in this booklet demonstrate typical Alagasco meter
installations. Different components are identified, but pay special attention to the
location of the inlet control valves.
4
Facts about Natural Gas
A. Natural Gas contains mostly methane. It is non-toxic and will not pose any
harm of asphyxiation unless it displaces the oxygen in a confined area. Tests show that
concentrations of up to 25% natural gas mixed with air have no harmful effects.
B. Natural gas is lighter than air, and it will rise and diffuse quickly when it
escapes in an open area. When natural gas is restricted to a closed room, the gas will rise
to ceiling level. Remember this when you ventilate a room by opening the windows from
the top and bottom.
C. Natural gas should not be confused with liquefied petroleum gas. This type of
gas is more often called LP, bottle gas, propane, butane and several other trade names.
Liquefied petroleum gases are all heavier than air and collect in low places.
D. Natural gas is odorless in its natural state, but an odorant is added to give it a
distinctive odor (similar to rotten eggs) for your protection.
E. Burning natural gas creates a high radiant heat. Combustibles should be
sprayed with water to prevent ignition by this radiant heat.
F. Natural gas has to reach 1100-1200 degrees F
o
before it will ignite. This
temperature can be reached by flint sparks, matches, pilot lights or sparks from electrical
switches or motors.
G. Natural gas has a heat content of approximately 1000 (BTU) per cubic foot.
To burn, natural gas must be mixed with air in concentrations of approximately 4%-15%.
Below or above these concentrations, natural gas usually will not burn. It can be detected
by its characteristic odor or by gas detection instruments.
H. Natural gas may be distributed at low (approximately psig), medium (2
psig-60psig) or high pressure (above 60 psig).
5
Emergency Procedures
In the event of a gas fire or gas leak notify the gas company at once. For direct
contact with the gas company, call the appropriate emergency number listed in the back
of this booklet. Gas emergency service is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.
Give the location and details, whether inside or outside, as well as your name and station.
1. Natural Gas Escaping Outside
If natural gas escapes from the ground, an open pipe, a manhole, an excavation, a
sewer or a vault, clear a safe area around the gas leak and rope or barricade it off and
prohibit smoking.
Extinguish all open flames. Be alert to other sources of ignition such as
machinery or electrical equipment. Check other buildings in the area, basements in
particular, for any sign of gas odors. Restrict or re-route traffic until Alagasco personnel
can bring the gas emergency under control.
If possible, fire and police personnel should check with Alagasco before
instructing the public in the immediate area of the emergency what measures, if any,
should be taken.
Notifying the gas company beforehand might prevent alarming the public
unnecessarily. Manholes or vaults can usually be vented by removing their covers
temporarily. *See pg. 9.
2. Natural Gas Burning Outside
If natural gas is burning outside, fire personnel should not try to extinguish the
fire. Burning gas will not explode, but it might ignite surrounding combustibles. Clear a
safe area around the gas leak and rope or barricade it off.
Do not operate gas valves in the street or gas company control stations, have
Alagasco employees do it. If the wrong valve is turned, it could create another
emergency. Spray water on any combustibles in the area if they are in danger of igniting.
Do not use water on burning natural gas at its point of escape. If this point is in an
excavation, the hole will be filled with mud, making the repair slower and more
hazardous.
3. Natural Gas Escaping Inside
If natural gas escapes inside a building, immediately ventilate the area, starting
where the gas concentration is the strongest.
If the gas is escaping in a large amount, clear the building of its occupants. Shut
off open flame devices by manual controls, but do not operate electrical switches. The
6
fire fighter may determine it is necessary to shut off the gas to the building at the service
valve. The importance of this action should be weighed against the fact that turning off
the gas in commercial or industrial areas might seriously disrupt important production
processes and possible create further hazards.
Again notify the gas company for information to help evaluate the circumstances.
If fire or emergency personnel turn off a valve, leave it off, then immediately notify
the gas company.
After the valve has been turned off, only gas company employees should turn it
back on because they have the training necessary to evaluate the conditions and
determine when the gas should be turned on again.
4. Natural Gas Burning Inside
If natural gas is burning inside a building, turn the gas off at the meter or, if
available, an outside valve. If the gas cannot be safely turned off, spray the combustibles
in the area with water until the gas company emergency crews can control the flowing
gas.
If it appears the inside piping or meter installations are going to be endangered by
a non-gas fire, the fire personnel in charge will determine if it is necessary to turn the gas
off.
Again notify the gas company for assistance in evaluating the situation. If a fire is
caused by a gas appliance burning out of control, it is usually enough to shut off the gas
at the appliances valve. If this is not practical, or the valve cannot be located, shut off
the gas at the meter supplying the appliance.
Underground valves should be operated and controlled by Alagasco
employees only.
5. Endangered Gas Piping and Meters Inside Building
If natural gas piping or meters inside a building appear to be endangered, notify
Alagasco at once. The gas company is equipped to shut off the gas supply. If the
situation requires that the gas supply be turned off immediately, do so only if it can be
done without exposing fire personnel to harm. Underground valves should be
operated and controlled by Alagasco employees only.
6. Natural Gas in Manholes, Vaults and Sewers
If natural gas is suspected to be entering or escaping from manholes, vaults or
sewers, notify Alagasco at once.
7
Company personnel can assist in the identification and source of the type of gas
involved. They can distinguish between sewer gas, pipeline gas and gasoline vapors.
Unless life is in danger, do not try to put the flames out if gas becomes ignited;
burning gas will not explode. Spray the combustibles in the area with water and rope or
barricade the area off. Clear the area of bystanders and prohibit smoking.
When the manhole cover is removed, take precautions to prevent sparks; and
never enter a manhole, vault or sewer if there is even a possibility that gas or vapors are
present.
Always check the atmosphere in and around these areas with a gas detector before
entering. Ventilate those areas by natural means or by the use of approved mechanical
blowers, and never enter the area without being equipped with the appropriate protective
equipment. Have standby assistance available.
Be sure to check surrounding buildings in the area (on both sides of the street) and
their basements of any sign of gas. Shut off open-flame devices but do not operate
electrical switches if natural gas is present, ventilate by opening windows and doors and
follow the same procedures in Natural Gas escaping Inside. *See pg. 6.
7. Relief Valves in Distribution Systems
Gas systems are protected from accidental over pressuring by relief valves. Gas
company control points with relief valves are sometimes referred to as district regulating
stations, city gate situations or town border stations.
Each pressure-reducing regulating station has a gas regulator set to maintain a
fixed downstream pressure. If there is a problem and the regulator fails to correctly limit
downstream pressure for any reason, the relief valve will open to protect the system. If
this occurs, gas is vented into the atmosphere, often accompanied by a loud, high-pitched
noise.
Natural gas is much lighter than air and diffuses upward into the atmosphere.
When a relief valve is venting gas to the atmosphere, it is performing its correct
function. It should not be cut off or restricted for any reason. If anyone sees or hears
a relief valve venting gas to the atmosphere, fire and police personnel should call the gas
company immediately and wait until a gas company employee arrives and makes
corrections.
8
Gas Installation Procedures
Example 1 shows a standard relief valve installation. The relief valve may be
distinguished as one connected to a discharge pipe extending upward usually with a rain
cap on the end. Usually a cutoff valve is installed below the relief valve with a lock to
keep it in an open position. The lock is to prevent unauthorized persons from tampering
with the valve.
Example 2 shows a standard meter facility on a utilization pressure system, which
has operating pressures in the piping on both sides of the meter at about one-quarter
pound per square inch. This device is used for small commercial buildings or single
dwelling homes and is usually located outside, in basements or under houses. The
standard cut-off valve can be operated (opened or closed) by turning it 90 degrees.
9
Example 3 shows a standard meter facility on a medium pressure system. This
installation is different from example 2 in that a regulator is included to reduce the
pressure of the incoming gas from pounds per square inch to utilization pressure of about
one-quarter pound per square inch. The standard cut-off valve can be operated (opened
or closed) by turning it 90 degrees.
10
Examples 4 and 5 display meter facilities for multiple dwelling buildings. There
is a master control valve, which turns off the gas to all the meters in the manifold, and
there is also a valve on the inlet side of each separate meter. This allows gas to be turned
of to a single apartment without disrupting service to other areas in the apartment
complex. The standard cut-off valve can be operated (opened or closed) by turning it 90
degrees.
11
Example 6 displays meter facilities used for large industrial or commercial gas
users, which can be located outside the building, inside the building or in their own
separate buildings. Cut off valves for these facilities are usually of a different design,
allowing them to be turned off in one direction only, turning off the gas in commercial or
industrial areas might seriously disrupt important production processes and could
possibly create further hazards. Notify the gas company for information to help evaluate
the circumstances.
12
Gas Detection
Petroleum products, marsh gas, industrial gases and sewer gas have odors that are
sometimes mistaken for natural gas. There are many types of gas detection instruments,
and Alagasco employees are glad to use these instruments in order to assist in any way
possible. The odor of natural gas is regulated by the company in order for it to be
detected in emergency situations. It is recommended that fire and police personnel
familiarize themselves with the odor to ensure quick identification.
13
Remember
NOTIFY ALAGASCO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
DO NOT allow open flames, smoking or spark-producing objects in either open
or closed areas, if the presence of un-ignited combustible gas is suspected.
DO NOT make an effort to extinguish flames of escaping gas unless life is in
danger.
DO NOT open or close an underground gas valve at any time. Let the gas
company handle this situation.
DO NOT use canister-type gas masks when gas is involved. Only positive
pressure gas masks with proper air supply should be used.
DO NOT operate valves on gas company installations such as regulator stations or
border stations without first consulting gas company personnel.
DO NOT ring doorbells, operate electrical switches or use the telephone in areas
where the presence of unignited combustible gas is suspected.
Customers should call Alagasco at once when they detect unusual odors,
which they suspect might be gas. This should be done immediately. Emergency
service is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, and telephone operators are
on duty. Emergency service calls will receive prompt attention. Emergency
numbers are listed in the back of this booklet and in all local telephone directories.
We urge fire and police personnel to emphasize this message to the public on
occasions which seem appropriate.
The information contained in this booklet is intended to serve only as a guideline
for otherwise trained and skilled public safety personnel. While this information is
believed to be accurate as of the date written, Alagasco does not warrant its accuracy
and completeness and specifically disclaims any liability whatsoever for its application in
any given factual situation. While it is impossible to eliminate the possibility of hazard to
life or property in a natural gas emergency, it is hoped that these guidelines will aid
those in charge of handling a natural gas emergency situation so as to reduce the
exposure to person and property.
14
Company representatives are available 24-hours-a-day to assist in emergency
situations. They may be contacted at the hone numbers below:
Anniston 236-7566
Birmingham 324-5512
Clanton 755-5162
Demopolis 289-4254
East Lauderdale 247-3334
Eutaw 372-3365
Gadsden 546-5203
Jasper 221-9014
Leeds 699-5165
Marion 683-6156
Montgomery 832-4477
Opelika 887-4800
Pell City 338-1045
Phenix City 297-6249
Prattville 832-4477
Selma 872-2357
Talladega 362-4116
Tuscaloosa 349-1050
AFTER HOURS AND HOLIDAYS CALL
1-800-292-4008
PUBLISHED BY:
Alagasco
605 Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Updated on March 2001