why is my propane tank leaking from safety valve made in china

On hot days when the sun is high overhead and a propane delivery has recently been made, the safety relief valve may open slightly allowing excess pressure to vent. If the relief valve is opened, the protective cap will be removed

The safety relief valve is one of the most important and vital valves on any LP Gas container. All propane tanks and cylinders are required by law to be fitted with pressure relief devices designed to relieve excess pressure. The function of a safety relief valve is to keep a propane tank from rupturing in the unlikely event of excessive pressure buildup. Propane tank relief valves are also known as pop off valves, pressure venting valves or relief valves.

Relief valves are held in the closed position by the force of a powerful spring. As long as the pressure inside the tank is less than that of the spring, the valve will remain closed. If tank pressure rises to that of the spring, the valve will open resulting in a hissing sound outside the tank. If the pressure in the tank rises significantly higher than that of the spring, the valve will fully open. When the valve fully opens, it initially makes a loud pop followed by a blast of released propane gas. Once the pressure is released and the tank pressure falls below that of the spring, the valve closes.

Most propane tanks in residential and commercial service have internal safety relief valves. The reason for an internal valve as opposed to an external pressure relief valve is it presents less of an obstruction when moving the tank. Internal relief valves are generally placed near the end of the propane tank on above ground containers.

Found primarily on older tanks, external relief valves operate in the same manner as an internal relief valve with the spring mechanism being outside the propane tank itself. Relief valves on multvalves are always fitted with external safety relief valves. Older tanks with an external relief valve installed on the container are generally replaced with internal pressure relief valves, provided they are connected to a dedicated tank opening specifically designed for the placement of the relief valve.

Because the safety relief valve performs such a vital role in the protection of the propane tank, it should be maintained and repaired by licensed propane professionals only. Do not ever look into a relief valve or stand over it.

A protective cover should be placed over the relief valve to ensure proper operation. If the valve has debris in the upper mechanism of the relief valve and it opens, the debris may cause the valve to remain open resulting in a potentially dangerous situation and/or excessive loss of propane. A simple protective relief valve cover can be made from a plastic bag fastened around the external portion of the valve with a rubber band.

If a you encounter a relief valve that seems to be "hissing" (opened to relieve pressure) do not tap it or mess with it. If the tank has been recently filled in hot weather and the face gauge reads over 80 or 85%, spray some water from a hose on the tank. This may cool it down and reduce the expansion of the liquid in the tank. Call your propane company immediately and inform them of the situation.

Pictured here is a relief valve that was apparently leaking. Instead of calling the propane company to replace the valve, the customer decided to fix the problem himself. Using a soldering iron, he soldered the leak until it stopped leaking. In the process of "repairing" the leak, the customer completely sealed the relief valve in a closed position placing himself and his family in a very dangerous situation.

In this type of situation, a relief valve that is sealed shut will not allow the tank to vent excess pressure if it is overfilled or the pressure inside the tank exceeds the working pressure of the container. In a case where the tank is unable to vent to the outside, the tank is subject to rupturing causing more harm and damage than money saved by trying to fix it yourself. Let the propane company or LPG professional handle any problems with thesafety relief valve.

If you’ve ever hooked up a new propane gas tank and heard a faint hissing sound, your first thought is likely to be, uh oh—there’s a gas leak somewhere. Well, this may be true. Propane tanks will often hint at a slight leak by making a hissing sound, which gets louder as you get closer to the tank. But, there are a few other possible reasons your new tank isn’t working as expected. So next time you hear the hissing and suspect you might have a leaking propane tank on your hands, follow these tips to determine the cause.

If you hear a hissing noise,tune into your sense of smell too. If you smell gas, and you’ve checked the situation is safe, turn the cylinder valve clockwise to the off position. If you are unable to turn it off, leave the area and call your local fire department. In both cases, you’ll need to have a qualified service technician check out your grill for leaks. Generally, a humming sound without the smell of gas is normal.

If you suspect there may be a gas leak from the hose or connectors, and it is safe to do so, you can use a simple test to determine the leak. Prepare a solution of equal parts water and liquid dish soap. Ensure the cylinder valve on the gas tank is closed. Either pour into a spray bottle or use a grilling brush to apply the solution along the gas hose and connections. Open the cylinder valve, and examine the hose and gas line connections for soap bubbles. These bubbles indicate a leak. If you see bubbles, turn off the cylinder valve and replace or repair the area that is leaking by contacting a qualified service technician.

The bleeder valve, also called a fixed liquid level gauge, is typically opened by the delivery person when a tank is filled with propane. If the bleeder valve is not closed entirely, or was blocked from the inside when closed but is now cleared, this may be causing the noise. To fix this, turn the bleeder valve clockwise to ensure it is closed and stop the flow of gas.

Propane tanks can build up extra pressure when they overheat due to expanding liquid in the tank. On extra hot days, the safety relief valve may open to release built up pressure in the tank. The pressure will remove the protective cap, opening the relief valve. It is crucial to not look into the relief valve or tap it with anything. You want to avoid the relief valve opening all the way. The easiest fix is to spray to tank with a water hose to cool it down, causing the relief valve to close entirely.

To set up your propane tank, remove the grill cover entirely and position grill away from flammable materials. Make sure the gas is turned off and the used tank has been removed. Turn the service valve hand wheel to the right so it is turned off, and remove the plastic cap covering the nozzle. Snuggly connect the grill’s gas line to the nozzle, and turn the coupler to the right until everything is screwed in completely. Turn the gas valve on the propane tank to open.

The water heater is known for its high heat and high pressure. The water heater temperature-pressure relief valve (TPR Valve), protects us from this high heat and pressure. So what is the TPR valve, why does it leak, and what should you do about it?

The TPR valve, also called, a pressure relief valve is a specialized valve at your water heater. This valve is typically on the top or side of your water heater.

The valve functions by releasing water if your water heater becomes too pressurized. Since heated water expands, the water heater can become a ticking time bomb if we were to continually build pressure in your water heater.

As seen in the featured image, a TPR valve is required to have a discharge pipe/tube. This tube should be aimed straight to the ground and never go up. This is because hot water will come out of the TPR valve as it releases water. Therefore, extremely hot water should discharge to the ground for safety.

Additionally, if a pipe were to go up, water will have to work against gravity to empty. So, it is possible a slow drip of the TPR valve will collect water in the tubing and ultimately rust out the valve rather than empty it to the floor.

Terminate not more than 6 inches (152 mm) above and not less than two times the discharge pipe diameter above the floor or flood level rim of the waste receptor.

Be one nominal size larger than the size of the relief valve outlet, where the relief valve discharge piping is installed with insert fittings. The outlet end of such tubing shall be fastened in place.

Typically, the solution to this is through a bladder tank, also named an expansion tank. The expansion tank works by allowing more room for the heated water to expand too. Depending on your location and home, an expansion tank might be required by code.

However, if you find the relief valve to continue to leak even after replacement, you should contact a plumber for assistance. A licensed plumber will be able to evaluate your system and decide on installing an expansion tank or other solutions.

One feature you need to learn more about is the tank’s safety relief valve. All propane tanks, including the cylinders you use for your grill, are required by law to have pressure relief devices that allow for the release of excess pressure inside the tank.

The safety relief valve is designed to protect your propane tank from rupturing in case excess pressure builds up in the tank. It is also called a pop-off valve, pressure-venting valve, or a relief valve.

The safety relief valve is kept closed by a very strong spring as long as the pressure inside the tank is at a safe level. If the pressure in the tank reaches the same amount of pressure of the spring, the safety relief valve is opened. If that happens, you’ll hear a hissing sound coming from the tank as pressure is dissipated. In instances where the pressure in the tank is much higher than that of the spring, the valve will fully open. You’ll hear a pop if that occurs.

Once the pressure is down below the pressure of the spring, the valve closes on its own. If the valve pops open, it may need to be replaced. DO NOT attempt to repair or replace this on your own. This job requires a professional. Contact us to help.

That’s why, when we deliver your propane, we fill your tank to 80% full. You may have noticed that and wondered if it was a mistake. It’s intentional. That remaining 20% of space in your tank remains empty so the propane has space to safely expand in warm or hot conditions.

For safe, expert propane tank installation, Boehlke Bottled Gas can’t be beat! Contact us today for your new propane tank. And don’t forget to ask about our reliable propane delivery!

"Propane is a safe gas, but it is a flammable gas," said Don Gregory, a fire marshal with the Ozark Fire Protection District. "We want people not to have open fire or open flame near their propane tank."

"Losing a little bit of gas in order to ensure that there is proper pressure is a much safer option than having it fail." Gregory added that could mean a possible explosion if the valve fails.

"If it pops off you need to call your propane provider, put a hose on it and cool it off, they will come out and pump out gas, get it to where it is stable." Simon explained.

Using a garden hose to spray off the tank when it is really hot will cool off the tank and lower the pressure inside. You will know it is cooled off when the valve closes back up. If you have any concerns about your propane tank you should call your propane provider.

(a) You must effectively odorize all liquefied petroleum gases by an approved agent of such character as to indicate positively, by distinct odor, the presence of gas down to concentration in air of not over one-fifth the lower limit of flammability. Odorization, however, is not required if harmful in the use of further processing of the liquefied petroleum gas, or if odorization will serve no useful purpose as a warning agent in such use or further processing.

(b) The odorization requirement of (a) of this subsection will be considered to be met by the use of 1.0 pounds of ethyl mercaptan, 1.0 pounds of thiophane or 1.4 pounds of amyl mercaptan per 10,000 gallons of LP-gas. However, this listing of odorants and quantities must not exclude the use of other odorants that meet the odorization requirements of (a) of this subsection.

(a) Each system utilizing DOT containers in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 178 must have its container valves, connectors, manifold valve assemblies, and regulators approved.

(b) Each system for domestic or commercial use utilizing containers of two thousand gallons or less water capacity, other than those constructed in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 178, must consist of a container assembly and one or more regulators, and may include other parts. You must individually list the system as a unit or the container assembly as a unit, and the regulator or regulators.

(c) In systems utilizing containers of over two thousand gallons water capacity, each regulator, container, valve, excess flow valve, gaging device, and relief valve installed on or at the container, must have its correctness as to design, construction, and performance determined by listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Refer to federal regulation 29 C.F.R. 1910.7 for definition of nationally recognized testing laboratory.

(d) You must not construe the provisions of subsection (3)(a) of this section as prohibiting the continued use or reinstallation of containers constructed and maintained in accordance with the standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases NFPA No. 58 in effect at the time of fabrication.

(e) Containers used with systems embodied in this section and WAC 296-24-47509 (3)(c) and 296-24-47513, must be constructed, tested, and stamped in accordance with DOT specifications effective at the date of their manufacture.

(a) You must design, construct, and test containers used with systems embodied in WAC 296-24-47509, 296-24-47513 through 296-24-47517, except as provided in WAC 296-24-47511 (3)(c), in accordance with the Rules for Construction of Unfired Pressure Vessels, section VIII, Division 1, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 1968 edition.

(b) Containers constructed according to the 1949 and earlier editions of the ASME Code do not have to comply with U-2 through U-10 and U-19 thereof. Containers constructed according to U-70 in the 1949 and earlier editions do not meet the requirements of this section.

(a) You must perform welding to the shell, head, or any other part of the container subject to internal pressure, in compliance with the code under which the tank was fabricated. Other welding is permitted only on saddle plates, lugs, or brackets attached to the container by the tank manufacturer.

(b) Where repair or modification involving welding of DOT containers is required, you must return the container to a qualified manufacturer making containers of the same type, and the repair or modification made in compliance with DOT regulations.

(a) You must mark each container covered in subsection (3)(a) of this section except as provided in subsection (2)(d) of this section as specified in the following:

(i) With a marking identifying compliance with, and other markings required by, the rules of the reference under which the container is constructed; or with the stamp and other markings required by the laws, rules or regulations as administered by the state of Washington, department of labor and industries pertaining to such containers.

(ii) With notation as to whether the container is designed for underground or aboveground installation or both. If intended for both and different style hoods are provided, the marking must indicate the proper hood for each type of installation.

(vi) With the wording "This container must not contain a product having a vapor pressure in excess of—p.s.i.g. at 100°F," see WAC 296-24-47509, Table H-31.

(viii) With marking indicating the maximum level to which the container may be filled with liquid at temperatures between 20°F and 130°F, except on containers provided with fixed maximum level indicators or which are filled by weighing. Markings must be increments of not more than 20°F. This marking may be located on the liquid level gaging device.

(b) Markings specified must be on a metal nameplate attached to the container and located in such a manner as to remain visible after the container is installed.

1If the aggregate water capacity of a multicontainer installation at a consumer site is five hundred one gallons or greater, the minimum distance must comply with the appropriate portion of this table, applying the aggregate capacity rather than the capacity per container. If more than one installation is made, each installation must be separated from another installation by at least twenty-five feet. Do not apply the MINIMUM DISTANCES BETWEEN ABOVE-GROUND CONTAINERS to such installations.

2Note:The above distance requirements may be reduced to not less than ten feet for a single container of one thousand two hundred gallons water capacity or less, providing such a container is at least twenty-five feet from any other LP-gas container of more than one hundred twenty-five gallons water capacity.

(e) In the case of buildings devoted exclusively to gas manufacturing and distributing operations, the distances required by Table H-23 may be reduced provided that in no case you locate containers of water capacity exceeding 500 gallons be located closer than 10 feet to such gas manufacturing and distributing buildings.

(g) The minimum separation between liquefied petroleum gas containers and flammable liquid tanks must be 20 feet, and the minimum separation between a container and the centerline of the dike must be 10 feet. The foregoing provision must not apply when LP-gas containers of 125 gallons or less capacity are installed adjacent to Category 4 flammable liquid tanks of 275 gallons or less capacity.

(a) Valves, fittings, and accessories connected directly to the container including primary shutoff valves, must have a rated working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g. and must be of material and design suitable for LP-gas service. You must not use cast iron for container valves, fittings, and accessories. This does not prohibit the use of container valves made of malleable or nodular iron.

(b) Connections to containers, except safety relief connections, liquid level gaging devices, and plugged openings, must have shutoff valves located as close to the container as practicable.

(c) Excess flow valves, where required must close automatically at the rated flows of vapor or liquid as specified by the manufacturer. The connections or line including valves, fittings, etc., being protected by an excess flow valve must have a greater capacity than the rated flow of the excess flow valve.

(d) Liquid level gaging devices which are so constructed that outward flow of container contents must not exceed that passed by a No. 54 drill size opening, need not be equipped with excess flow valves.

(e) Openings from container or through fittings attached directly on container to which pressure gage connection is made, need not be equipped with shutoff or excess flow valves if such openings are restricted to not larger than No. 54 drill size opening.

(f) Except as provided in WAC 296-24-47507 (5)(a)(ii), you must locate excess flow and back pressure check valves where required by this section inside of the container or at a point outside where the line enters the container; in the latter case, you must install in such manner that any undue strain beyond the excess flow or back pressure check valve will not cause breakage between the container and such valve.

(h) You must equip containers of more than 30 gallons water capacity and less than two thousand gallons water capacity, filled on a volumetric basis, and manufactured after December 1, 1963, for filling into the vapor space.

(a) Pipe, except as provided in WAC 296-24-47511 (6)(a) must be wrought iron or steel (black or galvanized), brass, copper, or aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy pipe must be at least Schedule 40 in accordance with the specifications for Aluminum Alloy Pipe, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) H38.7-1969 (ASTM, B241-1969), except that the use of alloy 5456 is prohibited and must be suitably marked at each end of each length indicating compliance with American National Standard Institute specifications. You must protect aluminum alloy pipe against external corrosion when it is in contact with dissimilar metals other than galvanized steel, or its location is subject to repeated wetting by such liquids as water (except rain water), detergents, sewage, or leaking from other piping, or it passes through flooring, plaster, masonry, or insulation. Galvanized sheet steel or pipe, galvanized inside and out, may be considered suitable protection. The maximum nominal pipe size for aluminum pipe must be 3/4 inch and must not be used for pressures exceeding 20 p.s.i.g. You must not install aluminum alloy pipe within 6 inches of the ground.

(i) Vapor piping with operating pressures not exceeding 125 p.s.i.g. must be suitable for a working pressure of at least 125 p.s.i.g. Pipe must be at least Schedule 40 ASTM A-53-69, Grade B Electric Resistance Welded and Electric Flash Welded Pipe or equal.

(ii) Vapor piping with operating pressures over 125 p.s.i.g. and all liquid piping must be suitable for a working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g. Pipe must be at least Schedule 80 if joints are threaded or threaded and back welded. You must use at least Schedule 40 (ASTM A-53-1969 Grade B Electric Resistance Welded and Electric Flash Welded Pipe or equal) if joints are welded, or welded and flanged.

You must protect aluminum alloy tubing against external corrosion when it is in contact with dissimilar metals other than galvanized steel, or its location is subject to repeated wetting by liquids such as water (except rainwater), detergents, sewage, or leakage from other piping, or it passes through flooring, plaster, masonry, or insulation. Galvanized sheet steel or pipe, galvanized inside and out, may be considered suitable protection. The maximum outside diameter for aluminum alloy tubing must be 3/4 inch and must not be used for pressures exceeding 20 p.s.i.g. You must not install aluminum alloy tubing within six inches of the ground.

(c) In systems where the gas in liquid form without pressure reduction enters the building, you must use only heavy walled seamless brass or copper tubing with an internal diameter not greater than 3/32 inch, and a wall thickness of not less than three sixty-fourths inch. This requirement does not apply to research and experimental laboratories, buildings, or separate fire divisions of buildings used exclusively for housing internal combustion engines, and to commercial gas plants or bulk stations where containers are charged, nor to industrial vaporizer buildings, nor to buildings, structures, or equipment under construction or undergoing major renovation.

(f) The use of threaded cast iron pipe fittings such as ells, tees, crosses, couplings, and unions is prohibited. You must use aluminum alloy fittings with aluminum alloy pipe and tubing. You must use insulated fittings where aluminum alloy pipe or tubing connects with a dissimilar metal.

(g) Strainers, regulators, meters, compressors, pumps, etc., are not to be considered as pipe fittings. This does not prohibit the use of malleable, nodular, or higher strength gray iron for such equipment.

(h) All materials such as valve seats, packing, gaskets, diaphragms, etc., must be of such quality as to be resistant to the action of liquefied petroleum gas under the service conditions to which they are subjected.

(i) You must test all piping, tubing, or hose after assembly and proved free from leaks at not less than normal operating pressures. After installation, you must test piping and tubing of all domestic and commercial systems and prove it to be free of leaks using a manometer or equivalent device that will indicate a drop in pressure. Test must not be made with a flame.

(j) You must make provisions to compensate for expansion, contraction, jarring, and vibration, and for settling. This may be accomplished by flexible connections.

(a) Hose must be fabricated of materials that are resistant to the action of LP-gas in the liquid and vapor phases. If wire braid is used for reinforcing the hose, it must be of corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel.

(d) Hose subject to container pressure must have its correctness as to design construction and performance determined by being listed (see WAC 296-24-47501(15)).

(f) Hose and hose connections on the low-pressure side of the regulator or reducing valve must be designed for a bursting pressure of not less than 125 p.s.i.g. or five times the set pressure of the relief devices protecting that portion of the system, whichever is higher.

(ii) For use inside buildings the hose must be of minimum practical length, but must not exceed 6 feet except as provided in WAC 296-24-47507 (5)(a)(vii) and must not extend from one room to another, nor pass through any walls, partitions, ceilings, or floors. You must not conceal such hose from view or used in a concealed location. For use outside of buildings, the hose may exceed this length but you must keep it as short as practical.

(iii) The hose must be approved and you must not use it where it is likely to be subjected to temperatures above 125°F. You must securely connect the hose to the appliance and you must not permit the use of rubber slip ends.

(iv) The shutoff valve for an appliance connected by hose must be in the metal pipe or tubing and not at the appliance end of the hose. When shutoff valves are installed close to each other, you must take precautions to prevent operation of the wrong valve.

(a) You must provide every container except those constructed in accordance with DOT specifications and every vaporizer (except motor fuel vaporizers and except vaporizers described in subsection (11)(b)(iii) of this section and WAC 296-24-47509 (4)(e)(i)) whether heated by artificial means or not, with one or more safety relief valves of spring-loaded or equivalent type. You must arrange these valves to afford free vent to the outer air with discharge not less than five feet horizontally away from any opening into the building which is below such discharge. The rate of discharge must be in accordance with the requirements of (b) or (d) of this subsection in the case of vaporizers.

(b) Minimum required rate of discharge in cubic feet per minute of air at 120% of the maximum permitted start to discharge pressure for safety relief valves to be used on containers other than those constructed in accordance with DOT specification must be as follows:

(c) When the surface area is not stamped on the nameplate or when the marking is not legible, the area can be calculated by using one of the following formulas:

Area = (Overall length + 0.3 outside diameter) x outside diameter x 3.1416.Note:This formula is not exact, but will give results within the limits of practical accuracy for the sole purpose of sizing relief valves.

The rate of discharge may be interpolated for intermediate values of surface area. For containers with total outside surface area greater than two thousand square feet, the required flow rate can be calculated using the formula, flow rate-CFM air = 53.632 A0.82.

Valves not marked "air" have flow rate marking in cubic feet per minute of liquefied petroleum gas. These can be converted to ratings in cubic feet per minute of air by multiplying the liquefied petroleum gas ratings by factors listed below. Air flow ratings can be converted to ratings in cubic feet per minute of liquefied petroleum gas by dividing the air ratings by the factors listed below.

(d) Minimum required rate of discharge for safety relief valves for liquefied petroleum gas vaporizers (steam heated, water heated, and direct fired).

(ii) Obtain the minimum required rate of discharge in cubic feet of air per minute, at 60°F and 14.7 p.s.i.a. from (b) of this subsection, for this total surface area.

(e) You must set container and vaporizer safety relief valves to start-to-discharge, with relation to the design pressure of the container, in accordance with Table H-26.

(f) Safety relief devices used with systems employing containers other than those constructed according to DOT specifications must be so constructed as to discharge at not less than the rates shown in (b) of this subsection, before the pressure is in excess of 120% of the maximum (not including the 10% referred to in (e) of this subsection) permitted start to discharge pressure setting of the device.

(g) In certain locations sufficiently sustained high temperatures prevail which require the use of a lower vapor pressure product to be stored or the use of a higher designed pressure vessel in order to prevent the safety valves opening as the result of these temperatures. As an alternative the tanks may be protected by cooling devices such as by spraying, by shading, or other effective means.

(h) You must arrange safety relief valves so that the possibility of tampering will be minimized. If pressure setting or adjustment is external, you must provide the relief valves with approved means for sealing adjustment.

(i) You must not install shutoff valves between the safety relief devices and the container, or the equipment or piping to which the safety relief device is connected except that a shutoff valve may be used where the arrangement of this valve is such that full required capacity flow through the safety relief device is always afforded.

(k) You must plainly and permanently mark each container safety relief valve used with systems covered by WAC 296-24-47509, 296-24-47511, and 296-24-47517, except as provided in WAC 296-24-47511 (3)(c) with the following: "Container type" of the pressure vessel on which the valve is designed to be installed; the pressure in p.s.i.g. at which the valve is set to discharge; the actual rate of discharge of the valve in cubic feet per minute of air at 60°F and 14.7 p.s.i.a.; and the manufacturer"s name and catalog number, for example: T200-250-4050 AIR—indicating that the valve is suitable for use on a Type 200 container, that it is set to start to discharge at 250 p.s.i.g.; and that its rate of discharge is four thousand fifty cubic feet per minute of air as determined in (b) of this subsection.

(l) Safety relief valve assemblies, including their connections, must be of sufficient size so as to provide the rate of flow required for the container on which they are installed.

(m) You must install a hydrostatic relief valve between each pair of shutoff valves on liquefied petroleum gas liquid piping so as to relieve into a safe atmosphere. The start-to-discharge pressure setting of such relief valves must not be in excess of 500 p.s.i.g. The minimum setting on relief valves installed in piping connected to other than DOT containers must not be lower than 140% of the container relief valve setting and in piping connected to DOT containers not lower than 400 p.s.i.g. Such a relief valve should not be installed in the pump discharge piping if the same protection can be provided by installing the relief valve in the suction piping. The start-to-discharge pressure setting of such a relief valve, if installed on the discharge side of a pump, must be greater than the maximum pressure permitted by the recirculation device in the system.

(n) The discharge from any safety relief device must not terminate in or beneath any building, except relief devices covered by subsection (6)(a)(i) through (vi) of this section, or WAC 296-24-47507 (4)(a) or (5).

(o) You must not locate container safety relief devices and regulator relief vents less than 5 feet in any direction from air openings into sealed combustion system appliances or mechanical ventilation air intakes.

(i) You must construct vaporizers in accordance with the requirements of subsection (3)(a) through (c) of this section and you must permanently mark them as follows:

(iv) Vaporizers may be installed in buildings, rooms, sheds, or lean-tos used exclusively for gas manufacturing or distribution, or in other structures of light, noncombustible construction or equivalent, well ventilated near the floor line and roof.

When vaporizing and/or mixing equipment is located in a structure or building not used exclusively for gas manufacturing or distribution, either attached to or within such a building, you must separate such structure or room from the remainder of the building by a wall designed to withstand a static pressure of at least one hundred pounds per square foot. This wall must have no openings or pipe or conduit passing through it. You must provide such structure or room with adequate ventilation and it must have a roof or at least one exterior wall of lightweight construction.

(v) Vaporizers must have, at or near the discharge, a safety relief valve providing an effective rate of discharge in accordance with subsection (10)(d) of this section, except as provided in WAC 296-24-47509 (4)(e)(i).

(vi) You must provide the heating medium lines into and leaving the vaporizer with suitable means for preventing the flow of gas into the heat systems in the event of tube rupture in the vaporizer. You must provide vaporizers with suitable automatic means to prevent liquid passing through the vaporizers to the gas discharge piping.

(vii) The device that supplies the necessary heat for producing steam, hot water, or other heating medium may be installed in a building, compartment, room, or lean-to which must be ventilated near the floorline and roof to the outside. You must separate the device location from all compartments or rooms containing liquefied petroleum gas vaporizers, pumps, and central gas mixing devices by a wall designed to withstand a static pressure of at least one hundred pounds per square foot. This wall must have no openings or pipes or conduit passing through it. This requirement does not apply to the domestic water heaters which may supply heat for a vaporizer in a domestic system.

(viii) You must equip gas-fired heating systems supplying heat exclusively for vaporization purposes with automatic safety devices to shut off the flow of gas to main burners, if the pilot light should fail.

(iii) Vaporizers of less than one quart capacity heated by the ground or surrounding air, need not be equipped with safety relief valves provided that adequate tests demonstrate that the assembly is safe without safety relief valves.

(i) In accordance with the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code—1968 that are applicable to the maximum working conditions for which the vaporizer is designed.

(iii) Vaporizers may be connected to the liquid section or the gas section of the storage container, or both; but in any case there must be at the container a manually operated valve in each connection to permit completely shutting off when desired, of all flow of gas or liquid from container to vaporizer.

(iv) You must locate vaporizers with capacity not exceeding 35 gallons per hour at least 5 feet from container shutoff valves. You must locate vaporizers having capacity of more than 35 gallons but not exceeding 100 gallons per hour at least 10 feet from the container shutoff valves. You must locate vaporizers having a capacity greater than 100 gallons per hour at least 15 feet from container shutoff valves.

(v) Vaporizers may be installed in buildings, rooms, housings, sheds, or lean-tos used exclusively for vaporizing or mixing of liquefied petroleum gas. Vaporizing housing structures must be of noncombustible construction, well ventilated near the floorline and the highest point of the roof. When vaporizer and/or mixing equipment is located in a structure or room attached to or within a building, you must separate such structure or room from the remainder of the building by a wall designed to withstand a static pressure of at least one hundred pounds per square foot. This wall must have no openings or pipes or conduit passing through it. You must provide such structure or room with adequate ventilation, and it must have a roof or at least one exterior wall of lightweight construction.

(vi) Vaporizers must have at or near the discharge, a safety relief valve providing an effective rate of discharge in accordance with subsection (10)(d) of this section. You must locate the relief valve so as not to be subjected to temperatures in excess of 140°F.

(vii) You must provide vaporizers with suitable automatic means to prevent liquid passing from the vaporizer to the gas discharge piping of the vaporizer.

(ix) You must equip vaporizers with automatic safety devices to shut off the flow of gas to main burners if the pilot light should fail. When the flow through the pilot exceeds 2,000 B.T.U. per hour, you must also equip the pilot with an automatic safety device to shut off the flow of gas to the pilot should the pilot flame be extinguished.

(x) You must separate pressure regulating and pressure reducing equipment if located within 10 feet of a direct fired vaporizer from the open flame by a substantially airtight noncombustible partition or partitions.

(xi) Except as provided in (c)(v) of this subsection, you must maintain the following minimum distances between direct fired vaporizers and the nearest important building or group of buildings or line of adjoining property which may be built upon:

(xii) Direct fired vaporizers must not raise the product pressure above the design pressure of the vaporizer equipment nor must they raise the product pressure within the storage container above the pressure shown in the second column of Table H-31. (See WAC 296-24-47509.)

(ii) You must permanently mark tank heaters with the name of the manufacturer, the rated B.T.U. input to the burner, and the maximum vaporizing capacity in gallons per hour.Note:Tank heaters may be an integral part of a fuel storage container directly connected to the container liquid section, or vapor section, or both.

(iv) You must equip tank heaters with an automatic safety device to shut off the flow of gas to main burners, if the pilot light should fail. When flow through pilot exceeds 2,000 B.T.U. per hour, you must also equip the pilot with an automatic safety device to shut off the flow of gas to the pilot should the pilot flame be extinguished.

(v) You must separate pressure regulating and pressure reducing equipment if located within 10 feet of a direct fired tank heater from the open flame by a substantially airtight noncombustible partition.

(vi) You must maintain the following minimum distances between a storage tank heated by a direct fired tank heater and the nearest important building or group of buildings or line of adjoining property which may be built upon:

(vii) No direct fired tank heater must raise the product pressure within the storage container over 75% of the pressure set out in the second column of Table H-31. (See WAC 296-24-47509.)

(iv) You must protect the vaporizer section of vaporizer-burners by a hydrostatic relief valve. The relief valve must be located so as not to be subjected to temperatures in excess of 140°F. The start-to-discharge pressure setting must be such as to protect the components involved, but not less than 250 p.s.i.g. You must direct the discharge upward and away from component parts of the equipment and away from operating personnel.

(vi) You must equip vaporizer-burners with automatic safety devices to shut off the flow of gas to the main burner and pilot in the event the pilot is extinguished.

(vii) You must locate or protect pressure regulating and control equipment so that the temperatures surrounding this equipment do not exceed 140°F except that equipment components may be used at higher temperatures if designed to withstand such temperatures.

(viii) Pressure regulating and control equipment when located downstream of the vaporizer must be designed to withstand the maximum discharge temperature of the vapor.

(a) The "filling density" is defined as the percent ratio of the weight of the gas in a container to the weight of water the container will hold at 60°F. You must fill all containers according to the filling densities shown in Table H-27.

(b) Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, you must charge any container including mobile cargo tanks and portable tank containers regardless of size or construction, shipped under DOT jurisdiction or constructed in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Chapter I specifications according to 49 C.F.R. Chapter I requirements.

(c) Portable containers not subject to DOT jurisdiction (such as, but not limited to, motor fuel containers on industrial and lift trucks, and farm tractors covered in subsection (5) of this section, or containers recharged at the installation) may be filled either by weight, or by volume using a fixed length dip tube gaging device.

(ii) Are used exclusively to house equipment for vaporization, pressure reduction, gas mixing, gas manufacturing, or distribution, or to house internal combustion engines, industrial processes, research and experimental laboratories, or equipment and processes using such gas and having similar hazard;

(i) Buildings, or separate areas of buildings, used exclusively to house equipment for vaporization, pressure reduction, gas mixing, gas manufacturing, or distribution, or to house internal combustion engines, industrial processes, research and experimental laboratories, or equipment and processes using such gas and having similar hazard; and when such buildings, or separate areas thereof are constructed in accordance with this section.

(A) Liquid piping inside the building must conform to the requirements of subsection (8) of this section, and must not exceed 3/4 iron pipe size. Copper tubing with an outside diameter of 3/4 inch or less may be used provided it conforms to Type K of Specifications for Seamless Water Tube, ANSI H23.1-1970 (ASTM B88-1969) (see WAC 296-24-47505 Table H-24). You must protect all such piping against construction hazards. You must keep liquid piping inside buildings to a minimum. You must securely fasten such piping to walls or other surfaces so as to provide adequate protection from breakage and so located as to subject the liquid line to lowest ambient temperatures.

(B) You must install a shutoff valve in each intermediate branch line where it takes off the main line and it must be readily accessible. You must also place a shutoff valve at the appliance end of the intermediate branch line. Such shutoff valve must be upstream of any flexible connector used with the appliance.

(C) You must install suitable excess flow valves in the container outlet line supplying liquid LP-gas to the building. You must install a suitable excess flow valve immediately downstream of each shutoff valve. You must install suitable excess flow valves where piping size is reduced and it must be sized for the reduced size piping.

(F) Where flexible connectors are necessary for appliance installation, such connectors must be as short as practicable and must comply with subsection (8)(b) or (9) of this section.

(a) At least one attendant must remain close to the transfer connection from the time the connections are first made until they are finally disconnected, during the transfer of the product.

(d) Gas or liquid must not be vented to the atmosphere to assist in transferring contents of one container to another, except as provided in WAC 296-24-47511 (5)(d) and except that this must not preclude the use of listed pump utilizing LP-gas in the vapor phase as a source of energy and venting such gas to the atmosphere at a rate not to exceed that from a No. 31 drill size opening and provided that such venting and liquid transfer must be located not less than 50 feet from the nearest important building.

(e) Filling of fuel containers for industrial trucks or motor vehicles from industrial bulk storage containers must be performed not less than 10 feet from the nearest important masonry-walled building or not less than 25 feet from the nearest important building or other construction and, in any event, not less than 25 feet from any building opening.

(f) You must perform filling of portable containers, containers mounted on skids, fuel containers on farm tractors, or similar applications, from storage containers used in domestic or commercial service, not less than 50 feet from the nearest important building.

(g) The filling connection and the vent from the liquid level gages in containers, filled at point of installation, must not be less than 10 feet in any direction from air openings into sealed combustion system appliances or mechanical ventilation air intakes.

(j) Marketers and users must exercise precaution to assure that only those gases for which the system is designed, examined, and listed, are employed in its operation, particularly with regard to pressures.

(k) Pumps or compressors must be designed for use with LP-gas. When compressors are used they must normally take suction from the vapor space of the container being filled and discharge to the vapor space of the container being emptied.

(l) Pumping systems, when equipped with a positive displacement pump, must include a recirculating device which must limit the differential pressure on the pump under normal operating conditions to the maximum differential pressure rating of the pump. You must protect the discharge of the pumping system so that pressure does not exceed 350 p.s.i.g. If a recirculation system discharges into the supply tank and contains a manual shutoff valve, you must incorporate an adequate secondary safety recirculation system which has no means of rendering it inoperative. You must keep manual shutoff valves in recirculation systems open except during an emergency or when repairs are being made to the system.

(n) You must shut down agricultural air moving equipment, including crop dryers, when supply containers are being filled unless the air intakes and sources of ignition on the equipment are located fifty feet or more from the container.

(e) You must install a backflow check valve, excess-flow valve, or a shutoff valve with means of remote closing, to protect against uncontrolled discharge of LP-gas from storage tank piping close to the point where the liquid piping and hose or swing joint pipe is connected.

(a) Electrical equipment and wiring must be of a type specified by and you must install it according to chapter 296-24 WAC Part L, for ordinary locations except that fixed electrical equipment in classified areas must comply with subsection (18) of this section.

(b) You must not permit open flames or other sources of ignition in vaporizer rooms (except those housing direct-fired vaporizers), pumphouses, container charging rooms or other similar locations. Direct-fired vaporizers shall not be permitted in pumphouses or container charging rooms.Note:Liquefied petroleum gas storage containers do not require lightning protection. Since liquefied petroleum gas is contained in a closed system of piping and equipment, the system need not be electrically conductive or electrically bonded for protection against static electricity (see NFPA No. 77-1972-1973, Recommended Practice for Static Electricity).

(c) You must not open flames (except as provided for in (b) of this subsection), cutting or welding, portable electric tools, and extension lights capable of igniting LP-gas, within classified areas specified in Table H-28 of this section unless the LP-gas facilities have been freed of all liquid and vapor, or special precautions observed under carefully controlled conditions.

(18) Fixed electrical equipment in classified areas. Fixed electrical equipment and wiring installed within classified areas must comply with Table H-28 of this section and must be installed according to chapter 296-24 WAC Part L. This provision does not apply to fixed electrical equipment at residential or commercial installations of LP-gas systems or to systems covered by WAC 296-24-47511.

(a) You must equip each container manufactured after December 31, 1965, and filled on a volumetric basis with a fixed liquid-level gage to indicate the maximum permitted filling level as provided in (e) of this subsection. Each container manufactured after December 31, 1969, must have permanently attached to the container adjacent to the fixed level gage a marking showing the percentage full that will be shown by that gage. When a variable liquid-level gage is also provided, the fixed liquid-level gage will also serve as a means for checking the variable gage. You must use these gages in charging containers as required in subsection (12) of this section.

(b) You must arrange all variable gauging devices so that the maximum liquid level for butane, for a 50/50 mixture of butane and propane, and for propane, to which the container may be charged is readily determinable. The markings indicating the various liquid levels from empty to full must be on the system nameplate or gauging device or part may be on the system nameplate and part on the gauging device. Dials of magnetic or rotary gauges must show whether they are for cylindrical or spherical containers and whether for aboveground or underground service. You must mark the dials of gauges intended for use only on aboveground containers of over 1,200 gallons water capacity.

(c) Gauging devices that require bleeding of the product to the atmosphere, such as the rotary tube, fixed tube, and slip tube, must be designed so that the bleed valve maximum opening is not larger than a No. 54 drill size, unless provided with excess flow valve.

(e) Length of tube or position of fixed liquid-level gauge must be designed to indicate the maximum level to which the container may be filled for the product contained. You must base this level on the volume of the product at 40°F at its maximum permitted filling density for aboveground containers and at 50°F for underground containers. You must calculate the filling point for which the fixed liquid level gage is designed according to the method in this subsection.

AStorage containers other than DOT cylinders.Within 15 feet in all directions from connections, except connections otherwise covered in Table H-28.Division 2.

BTank vehicle and tank car loading and unloading.3Within 5 feet in all directions from connections regularly made or disconnected for product transfer.Division 1.

Beyond 5 feet but within 15 feet in all directions from a point where connections are regularly made or disconnected and within the cylindrical volume between the horizontal equator of the sphere and grade. (See Figure H-1.)Division 2.

FService station dispensing units.Entire space within dispenser enclosure, and 18 inches horizontally from enclosure exterior up to an elevation 4 ft. above dispenser base. Entire pit or open space beneath dispenser.Division 1.

3When classifying extent of hazardous area, you must give consideration to possible variations in the spotting of tank cars and tank vehicles at the unloading points and the effect these variations of actual spotting point may have on the point of connection.

4Ventilation, either natural or mechanical, is considered adequate when the concentration of the gas in a gas-air mixture does not exceed 25% of the lower flammable limit under normal operating conditions.

Figure H-1Note:It is impossible to set out in a table the length of a fixed dip tube for various capacity tanks because of the varying tank diameters and lengths and because the tank may be installed either in a vertical or horizontal position. Knowing the maximum permitted filling volume in gallons, however, the length of the fixed tube can be determined by the use of a strapping table obtained from the container manufacturer. The length of the fixed tube should be such that when its lower end touches the surface of the liquid in the container, the contents of the container will be the maximum permitted volume as determined by the following formula:

***For aboveground containers the liquid temperature is assumed to be 40°F and for underground containers the liquid temperature is assumed to be 50°F. To correct the liquid volumes at these temperatures to 60°F you must use the following factors.

(ii) The maximum volume of LP-gas which can be placed in a container when determining the length of the dip tube expressed as a percentage of total water content of the container is calculated by the following formula.

(iii) The maximum weight of LP-gas which may be placed in a container for determining the length of a fixed dip tube is determined by multiplying the maximum volume of liquefied petroleum gas obtained by the formula in (e)(i) of this subsection by the pounds of liquefied petroleum gas in a gallon at 40°F for aboveground and at 50°F for underground containers. For example, typical pounds per gallon are specified below:

(f) You must stamp fixed liquid-level gages used on containers other than DOT containers on the exterior of the gage with the letters "DT" followed by the vertical distance (expressed in inches and carried out to one decimal place) from the top of container to the end of the dip tube or to the centerline of the gage when it is located at the maximum permitted filling level. For portable containers that may be filled in the horizontal and/or vertical position the letters "DT" must be followed by "V" with the vertical distance from the top of the container to the end of the dip tube for vertical filling and with "H" followed by the proper distance for horizontal filling. For DOT containers you must place the stamping both on the exterior of the gage and on the container. On aboveground or cargo containers where the gages are positioned at specific levels, the marking may be specified in percent of total tank contents and you must stamp the marking on the container.

(g) You must restrict gauge glasses of the columnar type to charging plants where the fuel is withdrawn in the liquid phase only. You must equip them with valves having metallic handwheels, with excess flow valves, and with extra-heavy glass adequately protected with a metal housing applied by the gage manufacturer. They shall be shielded against the direct rays of the sun. Gage glasses of the columnar type are prohibited on tank trucks, and on motor fuel tanks, and on containers used in domestic, commercial, and industrial installations.

(h) Gauging devices of the float, or equivalent type which do not require flow for their operation and having connections extending to a point outside the container do not have to be equipped with excess flow valves provided the piping and fittings are adequately designed to withstand the container pressure and are properly protected against physical damage and breakage.

(b) Any appliance that was originally manufactured for operation with a gaseous fuel other than LP-gas and is in good condition may be used with LP-gas only after it is properly converted, adapted, and tested for performance with LP-gas before the appliance is placed in use.

(c) You must equip unattended heaters used inside buildings for the purpose of animal or poultry production or care with an approved automatic device designed to shut off the flow of gas to the main burners, and pilot if used, in the event of flame extinguishment.

(ii) Industrial appliances—NFPA 54A-1969, Standard for the Installation of Gas Piping and Gas Equipment on Industrial Premises and Certain Other Premises.

My deep fryer is a liberty 115000btu propane unit and after using it for about half an hour at 375degrees it quits.. I wonder if I need a new thermocouple? I press the red reset high limit button then turn the gas valve off and wait 2 or 3minutes relight the pilot it comes on turn it to gas on the knob and then I turn the thermostat to 350 or so and nothing happens… Could the high limit be faulty ??? Do I have to wait longer? Will the fryer work without the high limit control??

More importantly, though: how old is this fryer? I know quite a few people who have been in the food service equipment business for a long time and only one of them had ever even heard of a Liberty fryer. It might be time to upgrade: click here to take a look at some new fryers.

I have a pitco deep Gas fryer which was running fine but, unfortunately, yesterday my staff started main burners without refilling oil in the tank. Today, we tried to turn it on but its pilot does not stay lit. As soon as we leave the knob, pilots turns off.Please advise?

Faisal, it sounds like the thermopile is bad and needs to be replaced. If you need help finding the right thermopile for your equipment, give our team a call at 888-388-6372 or use our Live Chat feature on our site and we’ll direct you to the right place!

Either the orifices on the burners and the flue path needs to be cleaned, or your fuel to air mix is incorrect. I’d recommend a service visit to dial in the unit.

Fryers cost 600-700 dollars new. The actual likely culprit is the thermostat is “stacking” – temperatures climb each time the burners cycle on until finally it shuts off on high limit. The high limit is not shot since its obviously doing its job. Replacing high limit and thermostat are probably not worth it since you can buy new for only a few hundred dollars more.

I too have an gas Imperial fryer that the front area is getting hot. Looking underneath I can see how some of the flame is coming forward of the fire chamber. Is there adjustments, maintenance or blockage in heating tubes? Suggestions?

A restricted flue is usually grease or sometimes food that got down in there. If so, then the back of the fryer would need to be taken apart in order to scrape it all out.

A TECH HINT ABOUT AIRFLOW: To make a nice, blue flame, you need 10x the volume of air as there is the fuel gas (natural or LP). On any gas appliance, air is drawn throughthe front to mix with the fuel, is burned and exhausts out the back and up. If the flames are coming forward, then the path for the flame and exhaust gases is blocked.

Sounds like a gas flow issue. Something could be clogged too, like the pilot orifice. At the same time, when turning on gas equipment this does naturally happen to a small extent, so without much more info it is vague to diagnose. If you have more questions, feel free to give us a call at 888-388-6372 or contact us at https://www.etundra.com/about/contact-us/.

I have an Imperial ifs50 recently replaced hi limit now 3 weeks later the pilot stays lit and the burners just slightly f licker ( like just a little gas is coming trouugh) I have a replacement thermostat i temporary wired it in and it still wont light the burners. Possibly the Valve???

Your problem is most likely your combination safety valve. Also make sure you check your burner orifices as well for any obstructions. Click the link at the top of this post to order a new combo safety valve with same day shipping.

I have a American Range fryer Model # AF45 , the problem I’m having is when I go to turn the thermostate on the pilot light goes out every time. I relight the pilot light and go to restart by turning the knob and it goes out. Can you help me in determining what needs to be replaced. Thanks!

You need to go through a process of elimination to determine why the pilot light will not stay lit. You need to test the hi limit, the thermopile, and the combination safety valve to find the culprit. Follow the instructions in the post above starting with “1. If the pilot will not stay lit:”

After testing the Hi limit and finding that it was fine I changed the thermopile and the fryer workes just fine. Thanks for the help. I do have another question for you, Is there a way to test the thermopile to see if it is working without buying a new one. I think I saw some kind of device somewhere to do that. Thanks again for your help!

It is technically possible to test the thermopile without changing it out, but you would need a first-rate voltage meter that went down to millivolts. That’s because the thermopile only registers about 750 millivolts of power when it’s working. That requires a pretty sensitive instrument that’s going to cost you some money.

Unless you already have a voltage meter that is that sensitive, it’s going to be much cheaper to change out the thermopile and see if that fixes your problem.

We have a Pitco Frialator at work. For some reason, in the afternoon around 1 or 2pm the fryer would go crazy bubbling and boiling violently, like there was air coming from the bottom of the fryer. It did NOT have the sound like there was water in it. The fryer has been on all morning and only this happens in the afternoon. We could never figure out what is wrong with it. Please advise.

It sounds like you have two problems: firstly, your thermostatis “running wild” and needs to be replaced. Secondly, your hi limit is also shot and needs to be replaced as well. Running a fryer without the hi limit is extremely dangerous! Oil in the fryer should never, ever boil, and if it is, then you’re running the risk of a serious fire.

I was reading Gerald’s problem. I have 4 pitco units operating and my fry shop. We had the same problems with our systems. We use real potatoes and the starch and small bits would sit in a hot frier for about 4 to 5 hours without a sound. All of a sudden these small bits would surface suddenly and all at once. Makes a horrible sound and is very scary. Our friers are working properly and the temperatures remain proper. We fixed this by (using a long PTFE brush) brushing the bottom of the friers 2 hours after opening and skim the remenants off. We filter our friers at 2-3 pm every day. I hope this may help.

I have a two year old American Range that has been used a total of 6mos. and now has a small tank leak. It is no longer under manftr. waranty. Manf. was willing to give me a deal on new tank but with shipping and labor I’m still looking at $600. Can the leak be succesfully fixed another way? Or a new fryer.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to fix a tank leak on a fryer. I’m surprised it developed a leak so quickly, but in general, when a leak develops it is because of metal fatigue from constant heating and cooling and patching won’t change the fact that the metal is worn. I would suggest purchasing a new fryer here.

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