Mission critical facilities may utilize natural gas for a variety of reasons including power
generation, HVAC, and production.
However, natural gas is highly combustible and very dangerous if it were to leak out
into the workspace.
Here are some ways you can identify a natural gas leak in your facility.
Natural gas has a distinctive smell and is potentially the most apparent sign that a
leak has occurred.
The smell is very similar to sulfur or rotten eggs.
You might hear a hissing sound coming out of the pipes.
Natural gas is pressurized so it can move to where it is needed.
When a leak occurs and gas is expelled from the pipe, it will often times make a sound
kind of like air escaping a balloon.
Sometimes, as the gas is expelled from the pipes, it will move lightweight objects around
the site of the leak.
If items near a natural gas pipeline like tags, papers, or dirt, if you are outside,
are moving when they normally wouldn’t be, it could be a sign that a leak has occurred.
Staying aware could prevent disaster, keep your business running, and, most importantly,
save your life.
If you notice a natural gas leak in your facility, immediately engage your local protocols in
regard to handling this situation.
Do not attempt to repair a natural gas leak unless you are properly trained and allowed
to do so in your facility.