Public Safety Message and Information

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03/31/2011

Dangerous Snow Loading & LPG Safety
SIERRA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD MONITOR SNOW LOADS ON ROOFS, PROPANE TANKS, NATURAL GAS LINES AND BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS

Public safety agencies are advising Sierra residents and businesses to monitor buildings, LPG tanks and gas lines for signs of excessive loading due to heavy snow loads.

Residents and businesses also should monitor roof vents, chimneys and flues because they need unobstructed access to outside air to provide proper ventilation.  Blockages can lead to carbon monoxide build-up in buildings.  The heavy snow loads may cause chimneys to shift.

Snow loading is expected to continue through the coming weeks.

Ebbetts Pass Fire District is reminding residents and businesses to properly care for LPG tanks and gas lines because the extraordinarily deep snowpack can damage pipes, valves and tanks, leading to leaks.

Anyone who smells propane or natural gas inside or outside a building should call 911.  They also should avoid smoking, starting engines or motors, turning on cooking appliances, using heating-air conditioning systems or using other ignition sources.

Potential structural related snow load danger signs include:

          Sagging of beams and other parts of a building’s structural-support system.

          Newly developed cracks, particularly any that appear above windows or doors and where beams and other support structures are located.  Minor cracks that expand or         contract could be indications of building movement.

          Doors and windows that have recently become significantly harder to open or do not open at all, a sign that a building is settling because of a heavy snow load.

          Serious water leakages inside buildings.

          Recent buckling of interior or exterior siding and finishes, which may be a symptom of settling due to snow loads.

Generally, residents and business owners are not encouraged to try to clear their roofs themselves when the snow load is so heavy.  Potential dangers include injuries caused by falling snow; roof damage caused by removing snow from some areas, but leaving heavy snow loads in others; and electrical hazards from coming into contact with overhead power lines and electrical service drops that are no longer visible.  Seek professional assistance with snow removal from structures.  Residents and businesses concerned about the snow loads on roofs may want to seek the advice of roofing contractors, general contractors or structural engineers.

Residents and businesses also are being advised not to increase temperatures inside buildings, hoping to melt snow on their roofs. The result typically is a layer of ice between the roof and snow pack.

For homes at elevations above 5,000 feet, residents and businesses with LPG questions should contact either their suppliers.

Safety tips for the proper care of LPG tanks during severe weather are given in the following paragraphs.

Ebbetts Pass Fire District recommends that property owners and managers keep contact information, including home and cell phone numbers, current with gas suppliers, homeowner associations, and neighbors.  In a gas emergency, it is important that emergency personnel be able to contact affected property owners.

Checking building ventilation systems is also critical because heavy snowfall can damage roof vents, chimneys and flues.

Blockages can cause combustion waste products to back up in homes and businesses.  One of these waste products, carbon monoxide is potentially lethal.

Operating generators during power outages and alternative heating can also create problems if not used properly.  When using portable generators, keep them outdoors and far away from open doors, windows, and vents to avoid toxic levels of carbon monoxide from building up indoors.

 

Winter Tips For LPG Users

The extraordinary snowfall in the region has created deep snow that can damage LPG pipes, valves and tanks.  Explosions and fires can occur, causing injuries and deaths.

The following safety tips for proper care of LPG pipes, valves and tanks during severe winter weather:

  • Use a broom instead of a shovel when clearing snow off the tank or around the exposed piping, regulator, gauges, or tubing.  Don't use a shovel or anything with metal or hard plastic.  Remove snow from the meter by hand.  Do not use a snow blower near the meter.  Do not attempt to remove ice from the meter.
  • When clearing the roof, avoid shoveling snow onto exposed piping, the regulator or the tank, as well as any meters that may be in use.
  • Do not pile snow and ice over meters, valves and piping.
  • Check regulator vents on the system to be sure they are free of snow or ice, or water that could freeze. (A two-stage system has a regulator on the tank and where the piping enters the building; a single regulator system is located only on the tank.)  If a regulator vent is clogged with ice or snow, immediately contact your supplier.
  • Check all gas appliance exhaust and combustion air vents, such as dryer or furnace vents, to ensure they are clear of snow and ice.

For homes above 5,000 feet of elevation that have an issue with LPG, contact either your supplier. If you smell a gas odor, take the following steps:

  • Leave immediately!  Do not return until given permission by utility or emergency officials.
  • Do not use electric switches, phones or anything that can cause a spark.  Don't turn lights on or off or use any other electrical switches, including garage door openers.
  • Don't open any windows or doors other than the ones you pass through on your way out.
  • Go to a safe location and call 911.
  • Alert your neighbors.
  • Leave all repairs to trained professionals.  Do not try to repair the leak yourself.

Before a snow storm occurs:

  • In areas where heavy snows are expected, cover the regulator, relief valves, and fill valves with a protective cap or "dome."  This dome will keep out snow, ice, or rain which might freeze and clog the regulator.  In systems using more than one regulator, or where the cover is not in place, make certain the exposed regulator vent is in the downward position to keep out moisture.
  • Prior to heavy snow storms, mark the location of the tank and other equipment with snow stakes that should extend well above the maximum anticipated snow depth.  Consumers whose tanks and piping are not presently marked should mark them prior to snow storms.
  • Keep chimneys, flues and vents clear of snow and ice.  Blockages can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide.

Contact local LPG suppliers for more information about heavy snow conditions or, if you observe any of the following conditions:

  • Snow or ice formations located above a meter.
  • The meter is located below a downspout.
  • The overhang or eaves do not fully extend over the meter.
  • The meter is located below a roof valley without a gutter.
  • The meter is located below an exterior water spigot.

 
 

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Public Safety Messages and Information for the Fall & Winter months:

Safety - Winter Driving

Safety - Chimneys and Flues

Safety - Carbon Monoxide

Safety - Winter Grilling

Safety - Influenza

Safety - Winter Storms

Safety - Dangerous Snow Loads & LPG

Safety - Winter Damage

Public Safety Messages and Information for the Spring & Summer months:

Safety - Toy Lighters Have Children Playing With Fire

Safety - Fireworks

Safety - Summer Sun Safety

Safety - Spring & Summer Grilling

Safety - Swimming Safety

Safety - Water Safety for Youth

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