ESDAY, JUNE 16, 198
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BALANCED FLUE HEATERS WHICH ARE HEATERS WITH THE FLUE OUTLET AND AIR INLET CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE OUTSIDE AIR, AND WHICH ARE COMPLETELY SEALED FROM THE ROOM WILL BE USED FOR ALL NEW INSTALLATIONS AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, FOR REPLACEMENT INSTALLATIONS. THE GAS COMPANY HAS ALSO MADE AVAILABLE A FAN-ASSISTED FLUED HEATER. THIS EXPELS BURNT GASES SAFELY IN ACE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CAN BE USED FOR REPLACEMENT WORK OR NEW INSTALLATIONS WHERE BALANCED FLUE HEATERS CANNOT EASILY BE FITTED FOR STRUCTURAL REASONS.
VENTILATION
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF INSTALLING A BALANCED FLUE OR FAN-ASSISTED HEATER WAS THAT THERE WAS THEN NO NEED TO RELY ON ROOM VENTILATION. STEPS WILL BE TAKEN BY THE GAS INDUSTRY TO ENCOURAGE ALL CUSTOMERS TO CHANGE OVER TO THESE APPLIANCES, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SHOWER SAFELY WITHOUT NEEDING TO OPEN A WINDOW.
+ IT CANNOT BE EMPHASISED TOO STRONGLY HOWEVER THAT IN ALL
WINDOWS OR OTHER CASES, VENTILATION IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. DOORS MUST BE OPENED WIDE, HE SAID.
LPG CYLINDERS
THE GAS CONSULTANTS' REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PROGRAMMED WITHDRAWAL OF LPG CYLINDERS FROM EXISTING MULTI-STOREY DOMESTIC BUILDINGS AND THAT CYLINDERS SHOULD NOT BE USED IN FUTURE IN SUCH BUILDINGS.
+ESSENTIALLY, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, THE REASONING BEHIND THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT, IN A FIRE, LPG CYLINDERS CAN OVERHEAT, EXPLODE AND CAUSE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, WHICH MAY ENDANGER ADJOINING FLATS.+
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT THIS RECOMMENDATION. IN REACHING THIS DECISION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS HAD REGARD TO THE OPINION OF EXPERT ENGINEERS AND RELEVANT HONG KONG AUTHORITIES THAT REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG ARE SO STRONG THAT THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO SUFFER THE EXTENSIVE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IMPLIED BY THE CONSULTANTS. THERE WOULD ALSO BE GREAT PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY IN SEEKING TO REPLACE SOMETHING LIKE ONE MILLION LPG CYLINDERS CURRENTLY IN CIRCULATION.
RATHER THAN SEEKING TO WITHDRAW AND BAN LPG CYLINDERS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED, FIRST, TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PIPED GAS WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND, SECOND, TO ENSURE THAT STEPS ARE TAKEN TO MAKE CYLINDER LPG A SAFER FUEL TO STORE, HANDLE AND USE,
+THE SAFETY OF LPG CYLINDERS, WHICH AT PRESENT ACCOUNT FOR THE LARGEST PART OF THE GAS MARKET IN HONG KONG, WILL BE IMPROVED WITH A SERIES OF MEASURES ALREADY AGREED WITH THE OIL COMPANIES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE MEASURES, WHICH AGAIN WILL BE BACKED BY LEGISLATION, MILL COVER AMONG OTHER THINGS CYLINDER INSPECTION, CHECKWEIGHING, ODOUR ISING AND LEAK DETECTION.