Vents should not be closed because 'it is cold'!

Evaluating the natural gas explosion that took place in a building in Çorum, in which 1 person died and 33 were injured, OHS experts recommend using detectors that cut off the gas in case of leakage in houses.

Noting that in places where natural gas is used, in the kitchen, if there is a combi boiler, it is obligatory to have a vent where the combi boiler is located, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl said that "In case of a natural gas leak, if we have smelled it, one of the things to be done is to ventilate that area."

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan stated that "In case of leakage, we should not turn off the electricity if it is on. If it is off, we should not turn it on. We should not open the refrigerator door. We should not use mobile phones. Metals should not hit each other under any condition. That is all enough for that spark. If there is explosive volume, it explodes with a spark.”

Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Vice Dean, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl and Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health Sciences, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan evaluated the natural gas explosion that took place in a building in Çorum, in which 1 person died and 33 were injured.

By learning from accidents, some precautions should be taken

Stating that "We should learn from accidents and try to ensure that these accidents do not happen again with some precautions," Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl reminded that natural gas, which is a flammable gas, explodes when the concentration of oxygen in the air meets the ignition sources.

The explosion in natural gas is not large enough to collapse the building, but it breaks down the walls

Stating that there are precautions to be taken and practices to be taken in case of natural gas leakage, Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl said that "Natural gas is an odorless material. It is scented. The reason for its smell is that it is understood when there is a leak, when there is any leak or when the stove goes out. Sometimes the teapot overflows, the stove goes out. It starts to fill without burning gas, and then when it exceeds a certain limit, it turns into an explosion. For natural gas, this limit is approximately 5 percent. Therefore, it has the ability to explode as soon as it exceeds 5 percent in volume, and this explosion is destructive. This explosion will not be large enough to damage the columns of the building and collapse the building. However, it breaks the walls and breaks the windows.”

Detectors that warn with alarms can be used in homes

Expressing that "Where natural gas is used, in the kitchen, if there is a combi boiler, it is obligatory to have a vent where the combi boiler is. The reason is to dilute the air inside," Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl continued his remarks as follows:

"One of the wrong practices is that the vents are closed because the cold is coming in. In such a case, the accumulation of natural gas cannot be prevented. There is a practice that is mandated by distribution companies in workplaces, which is the use of detectors. Without these detectors, the gas does not open, and the detectors automatically cut off the meter as soon as they detect the gas leak. Detectors are not mandatory in homes. However, these are not very expensive materials either. We can use them in homes, not the ones that cut off the natural gas, but at least the ones in the form of alarms by giving a sound."

Turning off the lamp can also cause an explosion!

Pointing out that there is also a possibility of fire after a natural gas explosion or any other explosion, Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl stated that "Small fire extinguishers used in cars can also be kept in homes to fight fire and take precautions. Or it could be a fire blanket. We should not be negligent in these matters. However, the biggest deficiency is the lack of education... In the event of a natural gas leak, we do not know what to do when the smell is detected. The stove goes out. If a person is trying to light it again because it is extinguished. However, since they do not know how much gas has accumulated, they should wait a while, open the window and ventilate the inside, and then turn on the stove again. Otherwise, we will encounter an explosion. A tiny spark, an electrical contact, even pressing the button to turn on the lamp, can ignite a spark that will come out. It can be said that the lamps are on, let me turn them off so that they do not explode. However, turning them off also leads to explosion.”

Vents must be open!

Explaining that the vents provide oxygen from the outside, allowing the natural gas to burn easily, and also delay the accumulation of natural gas in case of leakage as they provide air entry inside. Prof. Nuri Bingöl continued his remarks as follows:

"However, because it is cold in the winter, it is covered to cut out the cold. In such a case, when there is a leak or a carbon monoxide leak, it can rise to a certain level and cause carbon monoxide poisoning and then an explosion. That vent must be opened! And the second is detectors. As soon as it catches the gas leak, it sounds. It is like a fire detector. In case of a natural gas leak, if we have smelled it, one of the things to do is to ventilate that area. For this reason, it would be a very correct behavior to open the window and try to evacuate it from above to the glass with a broom or a towel, since natural gas is lighter than air, since it will accumulate on the ceiling above. When these are done, 80 or 90 percent of accidents will be prevented."

Assist. Prof. Rüştü Uçan: "We will not touch anything electric"

Evaluating the subject, Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, on the other hand, stated that if the volume of natural gas in case of leakage is between 5 and 15 percent, it explodes with great violence with any igniter, and said that "If the electricity is on in case of leakage, we should not turn it off. If it is off, we should not turn it on. We should not open the refrigerator door. We will not use mobile phones. Metals should not hit each other under any condition. That is all enough for that spark. If there is explosive volume, it explodes with a spark. First of all, we will open the window. We will not touch anything electric. We will not touch the mobile phone. We will go out and inform the necessary places.”

In case of a leak, the detectors both give an alarm and cut off the natural gas

Noting that the explosion could occur in seconds, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan also pointed out the measures to be taken for natural gas in homes and stated that there are warning devices for natural gas, and that detectors both give an alarm and cut off natural gas in case of leakage. Stating that an explosion occurs when the area with a natural gas leak is filled with 5 percent or more gas, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that "When the leak is between 5 and 15 percent volume, there is an explosion. When there is an explosion with a great pressure of 5 bars, it explodes the walls."

Beware of glass balconies!

Pointing out that detectors that give an alarm and cut off natural gas when natural gas rises to a certain level should also be used in homes, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan expressed that "In addition, there are air vents in bathrooms and kitchens where natural gas is used. Let's not turn them off at all. If we have closed the balcony, let's open vents outside the balcony with glass, so that the incoming natural gas goes out. Some people close these vents because the cold is coming. These cause natural gas to accumulate there.”

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)