Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPGas) is a common fuel used in commercial vehicles due to its cost-effectiveness and lower carbon emissions. However, if not handled with caution, LPGas can pose a severe fire risk, especially in the case of LPGas bottle fires on commercial vehicles. In this blog, we will discuss the causes of LPGas bottle fires, how to avoid them, and the safety features that can help prevent them. It is important to state that in most cases LPGas bottles are rarely the cause of the fire.

Causes of LPGas Bottle Fires on Commercial Vehicles

LPGas bottle fires on commercial vehicles can occur due to a variety of reasons. Some of the common causes are:

2. Heat exposure: Excessive heat exposure due to engine or exhaust system malfunction can lead to the explosion of LPGas
3. Improper installation: LPGas bottle fires can also occur due to improper installation of the LPGas system, such as incorrect placement of the LPGas tank or incorrect sizing of the hoses.
4. Overfilling: Overfilling LPGas tanks can lead to an increase in pressure, which can cause the tank to rupture, resulting in a fire.
5. Accidents: Accidents involving commercial vehicles can also result in LPGas bottle fires, especially in the case of a collision or vehicle rollover.
6. Gas leaks: LPGas bottle fires can occur due to gas leaks caused by damaged valves or regulators, cracked hoses, or faulty fittings.

Avoiding LPGas Bottle Fires on Commercial Vehicles

There are several ways to avoid LPGas bottle fires on commercial vehicles. Some of them are:

1. Maintenance: Regular maintenance of LPGas systems is critical to avoid LPGas bottle fires. It is essential to inspect the LPGas system periodically for any signs of wear and tear or leaks.
2. Installation: Proper installation of the LPGas system is essential to ensure its safety. It is necessary to ensure that the LPG tank is installed in a secure and well-ventilated location.
3. Filling procedures: Correct filling procedures must be followed to avoid overfilling of LPGas bottles or It is necessary to ensure that the bottles and tanks are not filled beyond their recommended capacity.
4. Shielding: Heat shielding should be installed around the LPGas system to prevent excessive heat exposure, which can cause LPGas bottle fires.
5. Driving: Safe driving practices must be followed to avoid accidents that can lead to LPGas bottle fires.
6. Training: Operators must be suitably trained and familiar with what to do in the case of an incident or equipment malfunction.

Safety Features to Prevent LPGas Bottle Fires on Commercial Vehicles

Safety features can help prevent LPGas bottle fires on commercial vehicles. Some of the key safety features are:

1. Pressure relief valves: Pressure relief valves are critical safety features in LPGas They help relieve excess pressure in the LPGas tank to prevent it from rupturing and causing a fire.
2. Excess flow valves: Excess flow valves are another essential safety feature that can prevent LPGas bottle fires. They help regulate the flow of LPG in the event of a hose rupture or breakage, preventing excessive gas leakage and fire risk.
3. Automatic shut-off valves: Automatic shut-off valves can automatically shut off the LPGas supply in the event of a fire, preventing further fuel supply and reducing the risk of explosion.
4. Fire suppression systems: Fire suppression systems can be installed in commercial vehicles to quickly extinguish LPGas fires and prevent them from spreading.
5. The correct fire extinguishers in easy access places.

Conclusion

LPGas bottle fires on commercial vehicles can be prevented with the proper installation, maintenance, and operation of LPGas systems. It is essential to follow safe driving practices and regularly inspect LPGas systems for any signs of wear and tear or leaks. Safety features such as pressure relief valves, excess flow valves, automatic shut-off valves, and fire suppression systems can help prevent LPGas bottle fires and reduce their risk.

SaferFillSystems are proven to be the safest bottles on the market. We pride ourselves with our impeccable and demonstrable safety record. We go above and beyond all current CoPs  when it comes to safety devices and this has kept our customers safe in fires. We take away the ability to over-fill.  We have double check valves not singles (just in-case). Our bottles have large flow relief valves to deal with a “worst case scenario!” quickly and effectively so if the worst happens people have time to react.  We only use the best paint quality as our standard and fit Elaflex liquid phase hoses to EN1762 as standard. These are the same hose you find on the back of a Flogas tanker, because if they use it, so should we.

All of this is backed up by our annual test and certification process, so you know, if we are happy, then you are safe!

Will 2023 be the year you finally get Safer?

There are a number of issues being faced by specialist lining and road marking companies. Gas prices are rising fast, with long lead times resulting from international crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Read on as we highlight the ways in which you can save money and streamline your fleet’s LPG costs and usage during these most challenging of times.

Safe & Efficient Refuelling

Road Markers have an everyday need to transfer gas bottles to their fleet vehicles for road drying. It seems that there’s no other option but to manually remove these bottles and freely return the gas which remains at the bottom of the bottles. This is extremely costly and means that your drivers face the risk of working at height to accomplish this. But it needn’t be this way.

Saferfillsystems enable the safe and efficient refuelling of gas bottles from any Autogas or LPG system. Suitable for all lining vehicles, our LPG liquid system can be attached, with all of the bottles connected using Elaflex LPG hoses for optimum filling rates. The filling point is configured to ground level, at your chosen point of convenience, so there’s no need to climb onto the truck for the replacement of your gas bottles. All our bottles are filled up together, at the same time, with no risk of overfilling and no one having to touch a gas bottle at all.

Although Saferfillsystem bottles look similar to traditional gas bottles, they act like LPG tanks – ensuring the refilling of gas on top of that still remaining. So you can add to rather than throw the remaining gas away. You can even just throw £20 of gas in if you want! Costs are further reduced as you buy in bulk, with gas for the Saferfillsystems being an approximate 20p a litre cheaper than that bought in traditional 47kg gas bottles.

We enable our customers to save many man hours and thousands of pounds through improved productivity and the price advantage of buying gas in bulk, not bottles. And we’re making a big difference to those companies having to pay high prices for gas in today’s market.

See the savings that you could make:

• 47kg, Our customers save approx £20/bottle

• 11kg, Our customers save approx £15/bottle

• 19kg Our customers save approx £13/bottle

And remember the gas left in the bottle, stays in the bottle, you just fill on top!

Overcoming Lengthy Lead Times

White lining companies face the increasingly common issue of lengthy lead times on the delivery of gas bottles. Waiting times of 2 to 3 weeks have become regular, with companies at risk of running out of gas and being unable to complete jobs as they can’t dry. The price of shipping gas bottles from the east to the west has risen steeply (from $4,000 to $14,000) due to the combined effects of Covid and the war in Ukraine, meaning gas companies have limited floating bottles, which in turn increases supply lead times to customers. And there’s every chance that prices will rise further during the coming months.

Those companies making the smart investment in Saferfillsystems don’t have to put up with such costly lead times. Our bottles can be refilled quickly and efficiently at gas stations across the UK and Europe. There’s no need for you to have a huge yard with an autogas refuelling point, as you have the hassle-free option of refilling at your local gas station. Plus, you can claim 20% back on the price of VAT and duty.

As Dan Leeson, Development Manager of Saferfillsystems says, “People think there has to be a catch as it’s not possible to increase safety, reduce risk and save time and money but as we have proven time and time again, it is and once you’ve got SaferFillSystems on board you’ll never go back! ”

Are you keen to save time and money in the refilling of LPG? Give Dan a ring on 0161 4652789 or email sfs@permex.co.uk for a chat about Saferfillsystems.

In 2020 the world we work in changed! We were forced to adapt and find ways to succeed in some very challenging circumstances. Some of these changes surprised us at how efficient and effective they made us… SaferFillSystems does that for your LPG system on your vehicles!

Why would you not want a gas system that saves you money, eliminates all lifting and climbing? A system that means no more big clouds of dangerous gas while you fill each gas bottle individually?

The fact that you can eliminate all these risks and let us look after your gas problems for you and we can do all this in a COVID secure manner and from as little as £7.50 per week!

There is only one real question, when are you going to get Safer?

Happy 2021 from SaferFillSystems.co.uk