Western Australia and the Northern Territory are wonderful places to call home, but with their wide open spaces and rugged beauty comes the common threat of extreme weather.

While your personal safety should be your number one priority in the lead up to and during severe weather conditions, we also recommend following standard safety procedures to your LPG installation.

Bushfire safety

To provide LPG users with adequate reassurance that their LPG cylinders will not contribute to any further escalation of potential fire damage. It is strongly recommended that the following simple procedures be followed:

 For any installation, check as follows:

1. Remove flammable materials away from LPG cylinders.
2. Ensure cylinders are upright and secured on a firm base.
3. Ensure the cylinder safety relief valves are directed away from the building and from each other.
4. Ensure the cylinder valves are easily turned “off”.

 Pre-summer check

• Ensure your LPG cylinders are secured to a solid structure and on a solid base to prevent falling over.
• Ensure the safety relief valves or cylinder vent face away from building and each other.
• Clear any combustible materials away from gas cylinders.
• Check to ensure the cylinder valves are easily turned “off”.

 If fire approaches:

• Ring 000 and follow the Emergency Responder’s instructions.
• Turn the cylinder off (in clockwise direction) at valve on top.
• Leave the cylinder where it has been installed.
• Leave the cylinder in an upright position and do not attempt to disconnect or remove it. LPG cylinders should be secured in an upright position as they’re designed to vent gas if they become over-pressurised or when heated.
• Make sure there are no cylinders stored indoors or underneath the property, including barbecue or leisure cylinders.
• If exposed to heat, and if safe to do so, hose down the cylinders with water to reduce the pressure.

 Never do any of the following:

• Never place LPG cylinders inside a house or structure during a fire as it can present a hazard to fire fighters.
• Never lay cylinders on their side.
• Never cover cylinders with wet material to keep cool – these materials may dry out and burn, heating the cylinder.

Cyclone safety

In areas where cyclonic conditions are common, it’s strongly recommended the following procedures be followed for LPG:

For any LPG installation, check as follows:

• Remove any debris which may become a missile during high wind conditions.
• Ensure your LPG cylinders are in the upright position and firmly secured and restrained.
• Ensure the cylinder valves are turned “off”.
• Close all manual valve outlets on bulk tanks.

If a cyclone approaches:

• Turn off all supply valves and appliances in the home. Don’t forget barbecue, caravan and workshop cylinders or bulk vessels.
• For LPG storage depots, use restraining straps to bind cylinders together. Cylinders should be removed from loading ramps and positioned at ground level.
• Leave the LPG cylinder where it has been installed.
• Don’t place cylinders indoors or underneath buildings – they’re best left in an open and free venting environment.

Pre-cyclone check:

• Keep the storage area clean and tidy and ensure your LPG cylinders are secured to a solid structure and on a solid base to prevent falling over.
• Ensure there are adequate restraining materials available. A tightly bound rope at approximately two-thirds the height of a cylinder may be adequate, but a more robust ratchet strap may be preferred.

Stay up to date

Remember to tune in to local news services and the Bureau of Meteorology for information and updates on severe weather in your area.