Fire Services Regulations

Erratic power outages, load-shedding, and the ever-increasing electricity cost in South Africa have had many households ditching their electric geysers for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) geysers.

Like electricity and Natural Gas, LPG can be hazardous and must be treated with the utmost respect. Fear not! Any potential hazard or harm from gas geysers may be 100% avoidable and preventable. As a homeowner, you should follow ALL safety guidelines and regulations prescribed by the South African National Standards (SANS) -  a division of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

If you haven't already bought yourself a gas geyser, for fear that it is not safe, or if you have one and aren't aware of the many safety precautionary measures, then this article is for you. This article will take you through the safety regulations to ensure you enjoy more energy-efficient, cheaper baths and showers.

But first, especially for those still using wasteful electric geysers, let's quickly recap the many advantages of using gas geysers in your home.

• You will enjoy an unlimited hot water supply if your gas cylinders have gas.

• Because hot water is produced ONLY when the hot water tap is turned on, you have precise control of the hot water used.

•  Gas geysers do not store water. Hot water is heated "on demand".

• Gas geysers require a low capital outlay and will save you money because you only "pay" for the hot water you use. There's zero water storage, and flames heat water up faster than coils, costing less than electric geysers.

• Gas geysers require minimal maintenance. (They do, however, need annual services).

•  Gas geysers are compact, small, and easy to install.

• Gas geysers can be retrofitted to your current hot water systems.

It is also important to note that the South African Building Regulations - Energy Usage and Sustainability (SANS 10400X & XA) requires that at least a half – "50% (volume fraction) of the annual average hot water heating requirement shall be provided by means other than electrical resistance heating including but not limited to gas (geyser) water heating, solar heating, heat pumps, heat recovery from other systems or processes and renewable combustible fuel. There is absolutely no doubt that gas geyser is the way to go.

Here's a brief guide to help you stay safe and relaxed, enjoying your hot showers without worrying about possible fires.

Our range of gas geysers has zero risk of vapour-caused explosions because our gas geysers have a sealed bottom, which protects the ignition flame at the bottom of the heater from any gas lurking outside.

Can tankless gas geysers catch fire?

The risk is ZERO to exceptionally minimal because gas geysers only ignite and heat water on demand. Gas geysers also have built-in safety features that will shut the unit down if a problem is detected. When it comes to fire safety, there's no comparison. Tank water heaters like electric geysers actually pose a greater fire risk than tankless gas geysers because of the water pressure that builds up in tank systems. Gas geysers don't have tanks to build up pressure in, so they don't have the risk of a pressure-induced explosion. However, safety measures must be adhered to prevent combustible vapours' emissions.

Precautionary Safety Measures for gas geysers as prescribed by SANS10087-1:2013

If you adhere to the safety regulations, you reduce your fire risk to ZERO.

• Schedule a yearly maintenance check: The best way to ensure your gas geyser is safe is to have a registered installer like us inspect it annually. Yearly gas geyser maintenance should be enough to catch minor issues before they become dangerous. 

• Make sure that there are no flammable substances or materials where your gas geyser is installed. Here're a few common flammable items to look out for:

  • Paint containers

  • Petrol, paraffin, and diesel canisters

  • Cardboard boxes

  • Stacks of paper or fabric

  • Old wooden furniture

* If any of these items are stored in the same room as your water heater, you should move them to another room or get rid of them entirely. 

• Ensure adequate ventilation. Your gas geyser's ventilation system must be installed appropriately. Any flaws in the vent duct's design or installation can cause a dangerous gas leak, which increases the risk of a water heater fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Leave the installation and repairs to be registered and certified gas geyser installers like us. You may think DIY maintenance can save you money, but think again, it can have disastrous consequences. DO NOT install, repair, or maintain your gas geyser on your own. Gas geyser installations, maintenance and repairs are best left to us, the certified professionals.

On the extraordinarily rare occasion that you detect a possible gas leak, take the following steps:

• Immediately extinguish any naked flames.

• Shut off the gas supply at your safety shut-off valve and the cylinder valve.

• Open as many doors and windows as possible to let fresh air in. If the LPG cylinder is stored inside, take it outside.

• Check the connections that screw into the LPG cylinder for damages

• Brush a 50/50 soapy mix of dish-washing liquid and water around the cylinder's valve – any large bubbles indicate a leak.

• If there is no cylinder leak, reconnect the cylinder, open the cylinder valve and safety shut-off valve, and then brush the soapy mix.

General Fire Services Regulations pertaining to Gas Geysers and their Installation

•  The local fire department shall be consulted early when LPG storage is planned on a site.

• Homeowners are advised on using approved fire protection appliances and when to use such appliances. The acquisition and installation of a dry powder fire extinguisher (at least 9 kg) that complies with SANS 1910 shall be required for installations of combined capacity in excess of 100 kg of gas. The extinguisher shall be installed near the installation. It shall be securely mounted, and its position shall be indicated in an approved manner with appropriate symbolic signs.

• Loose or piled combustible material (like those mentioned above) and weeds and long grass shall not be permitted within 3 m of any container.

• Only when required use dikes, diversion curbs, or grading to prevent the accumulation of fluid flow that has flash points below 93,4 °C under LPG containers.

• LPG cylinders should be located at least 3 m from the centre line of the wall of bunded areas containing flammable or combustible liquids.

• Where LPG installations are closer than 3 m to any other compressed gas, special fire protection precautions shall be considered, for example, a firewall.

No part of an LPG container shall be located in the area 1,8 m horizontally from a vertical plane beneath overhead electric power lines over 600 V.

• Structures such as firewalls, concrete barriers, and other similar structures shall be avoided around or over-installed containers. A maximum of two walls joined perpendicularly shall be allowed.

*NOTE The minimum required distance from drains is 2 m, irrespective of the number of cylinders. Where not more than two cylinders are used, the minimum distance from a boundary is 1 m, unless the boundary is a firewall, in which case the cylinders may be placed directly against the boundary. Where more than two cylinders are used, the minimum distance from a boundary is 3 m, unless the boundary is a firewall, in which case the cylinders may be placed directly against the boundary.

• The planning for effective measures to control inadvertent LPG release or fire shall be coordinated with local emergency handling agencies, such as fire departments. Planning shall consider the safety of emergency personnel.

•  In extreme fire risk situations, the provision of a fire hose reel may be required by the local fire department.

• Access to and around the installation shall be provided for fire-fighting purposes, and this area shall be always kept free of obstacles.

• People on premises where LPG is stored shall receive instructions and training following the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) to enable them to understand fire precautions and the actions to be taken in the event of fire or leakage of LPG. Those training to fight LPG fires shall be aware that these fires should not usually be extinguished unless the source of LPG can be isolated. At commercial and industrial sites, notices setting out the emergency procedures shall be prominently displayed near the LPG storage area. At domestic installations, the user shall be provided with full instructions, including actions to be taken in an emergency.

• Fire protection in major gas installations can be conducted in rational design as described in SANS 10400.

THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ADVISED OF EACH INSTALLATION USING THE APPROVED PLANS

It is vital for all homeowners with gas installations already installed on their property, or those planning on doing so in the future, to ensure compliance with all the above regulations – not only to ensure you adhere to stipulations within your home- owner’s insurance policy but also to make sure you and your precious family are safe from any gas related disasters.

Get a registered gas installer like us to have a look at your proposed project before work starts. We offer consultations and supply quotes free of charge. Having our knowledge on hand from the outset will make it much less likely that you will run into regulatory problems with your gas installation.

Be safe and compliant. Contact us and have a gas geyser installed in your home today.

We only work with registered suppliers and certified installers, making our gas geysers and gas geyser installations the best, most affordable and safest alternative to electric geysers.

*Please note that not all the regulations have been placed on this page. This is purely a basic guide from SANS 10087-1:2013.

Here’re some useful Fire Services contacts: 

• Emergency response number: 1011110111

• Disaster Management Center: 012 848 4602

Provincial fire brigades: find contact details for your local fire brigade here.