XN000022-1993-07-23 — Page 23

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1993

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PUBLIC URGED TO HANDLE LPG INSTALLATIONS WITH CARE

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THE PUBLIC ARE BEING URGED TO HANDLE GAS INSTALLATIONS SUCH LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) CYLINDERS, COOKERS AND WATER HEATERS WITH CARE.

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THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES (GAS STANDARDS OFFICE), MR CHAN SUI-JEUNG, A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT SINCE MAY THIS YEAR, 21 PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND TWO WERE KILLED IN 12 FIRES INVOLVING LPG INSTALLATIONS.

HE SAID THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENTS WAS MISHANDLING OF GAS INSTALLATIONS AND LEAKAGE FROM GAS FITTINGS OR APPLIANCES.

THE LEAKAGE WAS MAINLY CAUSED BY CRACKED RUBBER TUBING, THE JAMMING OPEN OF LPG CYLINDER VALVES, IMPROPER FITTING OF REGULATORS AND MISUSE OF LPG CYLINDERS.

MR CHAN NOTED THAT THE INCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED THROUGH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND CAREFUL HANDLING OF THE AND APPLIANCES.

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"CRACKING OF A RUBBER TUBE IS OFTEN CAUSED BY TUBE. ALL RUBBER TUBES, AS PREVIOUSLY ADVISED BY SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY THREE YEARS, HE ADDED.

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GAS AUTHORITY,

MR CHAN EXPLAINED THAT THE LIFE-SPAN OF A RUBBER TUBE COULD BE CHECKED BY REFERRING TO THE MARKINGS ON THE TUBE.

"LPG USERS SHOULD USE ONLY APPROVED TUBES WHICH HAVE THE MARKING OP GSO-RT-2. ALL TUBES WITHOUT THE MARKING SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A REGISTERED GAS CONTRACTOR, HE ADVISED.

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HE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT IMPROPER FITTING OF RUBBER TUBING COULD ALSO CAUSE A GAS LEAK. UNDER THE GAS SAFETY ORDINANCE ALL GAS INSTALLATION WORK MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY A REGISTERED GAS CONTRACTOR.

ON CYLINDER VALVE, MR CHAN SAID IT COULD BE JAMMED OPEN BY GRITS OR FOREIGN MATERIALS WHEN THE SEAL OF THE VALVE WAS REMOVED.

"THE VALVE SHOULD ALWAYS BE KEPT CLEAN. WHEN THE REGULATOR DISCONNECTED FROM THE VALVE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE VALVE BE CHECKED BEFORE USING, HE ADDED.

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IN THE EVENT OF A GAS LEAK, MR CHAN ADVISED THE PUBLIC NOT TRY TO TAMPER WITH THE VALVE OR STOP THE LEAK BY THEMSELVES.

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"THEY SHOULD CALL THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT (FSD) OR A GAS SUPPLY COMPANY, HE SAID.

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HE ALSO WARNED THE PUBLIC AGAINST PUTTING LPG CYLINDERS ANY HEAT SOURCES AS HEATING UP OF THE CYLINDERS BY SOURCES WAS VERY DANGEROUS.

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