The loss of life due to consecutive natural gas explosions in Istanbul and Ankara has brought the issue of natural gas safety in homes and workplaces back to the agenda. So what should be done against natural gas explosions?
A total of 4 people lost their lives due to natural gas explosions in Istanbul and Ankara. With the explosions caused by natural gas, the issue of natural gas safety has come to the fore again. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Expert Şenay Koçyiğit Özdoğan and Ankara Natural Gas Certificates Businessmen's Association (ANDOSİAD) member Mürsel Kamçı talked about the cause of natural gas explosions that cause loss of life and property, individual and institutional measures that can be taken to prevent natural gas explosions, and closing the boiler with a cabinet. He made statements to Halide Tonga from Elips Haber on issues such as the danger of
OHS Specialist Özdoğan stated that natural gas explosions are caused by gas compression and said, “Natural gas explosion may be caused by a leak or combi boiler equipment failure. It accumulates due to such leakage. When natural gas mixes with air between 5-15 percent of the closed volume, it causes an explosion. The main cause of explosion is contact with fire or sparks. The most important reason for natural gas explosions in homes is the lack of maintenance of combi boilers, stoves and natural gas systems. It needs to be serviced at least once a year. Houses are generally stuffy. "When there is not enough air flow in homes, air accumulates and gets compressed, and when it comes into contact with fire, it causes an explosion," he said.
Pointing out the danger of changing the location of combi boilers in homes without supervision, Özdoğan said, “Engineers adjust the location of the combi boiler according to calculations. People should definitely not change the location of the boiler at their own discretion. It is very dangerous to install closed cabinets in combi boilers. "As much as possible, the combi boiler should be in places with the best ventilation," he said.
TİM Engineering Chairman of the Board of Directors and ANDOSİAD member Mürsel Kamçı said that solenoid valves have a preventive feature against natural gas explosions and said, “Maintenance should be done at least once a year. Gas alarm devices can be placed in homes and workplaces. At the stage of gas installation, a solenoid valve must be connected to the gas inlet, that is, the meter inlet. "When the detector smells gas, it cuts off the gas directly from the connection at the entrance of the flat," he said.
Emphasizing that faster and more reliable results can be obtained if certified natural gas companies are authorized for periodic maintenance checks in homes and workplaces, Kamçı said: “For example, there are 1.5 million subscribers in Ankara. Başkent Gaz is insufficient to carry out periodic inspections of these subscribers. Even though it is a very large institution, it cannot keep up with its inspections. If you say you can control all these subscribers in 1 year or 6 months, how will you do this? But there are over 500 certified companies in Ankara. "If these companies were authorized, these checks could be done quickly."
