Evaluating the natural gas explosion that occurred in a building in Çorum, which killed 1 person and injured 33, OHS experts recommend using detectors that cut off the gas in case of a leak, even in homes.
Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl noted that it is mandatory to have a vent in places where natural gas is used, such as the kitchen, and where the combi boiler is located if there is one. “If we have detected the smell in case of a natural gas leak, one of the actions to be taken is to ventilate that area,” he said.
Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan said, “In case of a leak, if the electricity is on, we will not turn it off. If it's off, we won't turn it on. We will not open the refrigerator door. We will not use mobile phones. No metal will hit another metal in any way. All of these are sufficient for that spark. If there is an explosive volume, it explodes with a single spark.”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Vice Dean, Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl, and Faculty of Health Sciences Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, evaluated the natural gas explosion that occurred in a building in Çorum, which killed 1 person and injured 33.
Lessons should be learned from accidents, and certain precautions should be taken
“We should try to prevent these accidents from happening again by learning lessons from accidents and taking certain precautions,” said Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl, reminding that natural gas, a flammable gas, causes an explosion when its concentration with oxygen in the air meets ignition sources.
Natural gas explosions are not large enough to collapse a building, but they destroy walls
Stating that there are precautions to be taken and procedures to be followed in case of a natural gas leak, Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl said, “Natural gas is an odorless substance. It is odorized. The reason for its odorization is to be detected in case of a leak, any seepage, or when the stove goes out. Sometimes the kettle boils over, and the stove goes out. Gas starts to fill the inside without burning, and then when it exceeds a certain limit, it turns into an explosion. For natural gas, this limit is approximately 5 percent. Therefore, as soon as it exceeds 5 percent by volume, it has the potential to explode, and this explosion is devastating. This explosion will not be large enough to damage the building's columns or collapse the building. But it demolishes walls and breaks windows.”
Alarm-alerting detectors can be used in homes
Stating, “It is mandatory to have a vent where natural gas is used, in the kitchen, and where the combi boiler is located if there is one. The reason is to dilute the air inside,” Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl continued:
“One of the incorrect practices is; vents are closed because it feels cold. In such a case, the accumulation of natural gas cannot be prevented. There is a practice mandated by distribution companies in workplaces: detectors. Without these detectors, the gas is not turned on, and when detectors detect a gas leak, they automatically cut it off from the meter. Detectors are not mandatory in homes. But these are not very expensive materials either. We can use the alarm-type ones in homes, which don't cut off the natural gas but at least give an alert sound.”
Turning off the light can also cause an explosion!
Pointing out that there is also a possibility of fire after a natural gas explosion or any other explosion, Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl said, “Small fire extinguishers used in cars can also be kept in homes for fire fighting and prevention. Or there could be a fire blanket. Negligence should not be shown in these matters either. But the biggest deficiency is the lack of education… In a natural gas leak, we don't know what to do when we detect the smell. The stove goes out. The lady of the house tries to light it again, thinking it's off. However, since she doesn't know how much gas has accumulated, she should wait a bit, open the window, ventilate the inside, and then light the stove again. Otherwise, we face an explosion. A tiny spark, an electrical contact, even pressing the switch to turn on the light, even a spark that will be generated, can ignite it. Lights are on; one might say, 'Oh, I'll turn them off so it doesn't explode.' Yet, turning them off also leads to an explosion.”
Vents must be open!
Explaining that vents allow natural gas to burn easily by providing oxygen from outside, and also delay the accumulation of natural gas in case of a leak by ensuring air entry, Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl continued:
“But in winter, they are covered to block the cold because it gets cold. In such a case, if there is a leak or a carbon monoxide leak, it can rise to a certain level, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning and subsequent explosions. It is essential to open that vent! The second thing is detectors. They make a sound as soon as they detect a gas leak, just like a fire detector. In case of a natural gas leak, if we have also smelled it, one of the actions to be taken is to ventilate that area. For this, opening the window and trying to evacuate the natural gas, which is lighter than air and will accumulate at the ceiling, towards the window and outside with something like a broom or a towel would be a very correct action. When these are done, 80 to 90 percent of accidents are already prevented.”
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan: “We will not touch anything electrical”
Evaluating the matter, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at the Faculty of Health Sciences, stated that if the volume of natural gas in case of a leak is between 5 and 15 percent, it explodes with great force when combined with any ignition source. He said, “In case of a leak, if the electricity is on, we will not turn it off. If it's off, we won't turn it on. We will not open the refrigerator door. We will not use mobile phones. No metal will hit another metal in any way. All of these are sufficient for that spark. If there is an explosive volume, it explodes with a single spark. First, we will open the window. We will not touch anything electrical. We will not touch cell phones. We will go outside and notify the relevant authorities.”
Detectors both alarm and cut off natural gas in case of a leak
Noting that an explosion can occur within seconds, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan also pointed to precautions to be taken for natural gas in homes, stating that there are warning devices for natural gas, and that detectors both give an alarm and cut off natural gas in case of a leak.
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan stated that an explosion occurs when the area with a natural gas leak is filled with 5 percent or more gas, saying, “An explosion occurs when the leak is between 5 and 15 percent of the volume. When an explosion occurs with a high pressure of about 5 bar, it blasts through walls.”
Beware of glass balconies!
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan pointed out that detectors that alarm and cut off natural gas as soon as it reaches a certain level should also be used in homes, stating, “Furthermore, there are air outlet vents in bathrooms and kitchens where natural gas is used. We absolutely must not close these. If we have enclosed the balcony with glass, let's also open vents outside the balcony so that incoming natural gas can go out. Some people close these vents because it feels cold. This also causes natural gas to accumulate there.” He concluded his remarks.