Fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning incidents occur every year with customers of natural gas and propane companies. When incidents do occur, gas companies typically conduct an investigation into the losses to assess liability and to prepare for potential future claims. The severity of the incident, to some degree, determines the type and sophistication of the investigation. In many cases, investigation into less severe accidents is conducted in-house. With the more serious incidents, engineers are customarily hired to conduct and direct the investigation. This paper addresses the role of the forensic engineer in the investigation of fires, explosions and carbon monoxide incidents related to potential gas company claims.
Confirmation of Odor Fade of Ethyl Mercaptan in New and Used LP Tanks, Natural Gas & LP Odorization Case Study & Best Practices Workshop, Gas Technology Institute
A research project into odor fade in new and used 500-gallon propane tanks was undertaken as a result of litigation related to a catastrophic explosion and subsequent fire that occurred in a modular home in the Rocky Mountain area. The test program involved twelve 500-gallon tanks of various classifications. Six tanks were new, three tanks were converted from anhydrous ammonia to propane and three tanks were old and seasoned.