| Given advancements during the last couple of | | | | Also, propane will not ignite when mixed with air |
| decades in production, handling and storage, and | | | | unless the ignition source reaches 940 degrees |
| natural advantages over other petroleum | | | | Fahrenheit. Contrast that with gasoline, which can |
| products, propane is a low-risk choice for your | | | | ignite at 430 degrees. |
| outdoor fire pit or patio heater. | | | | Especially when observing common sense safety |
| Of course, if you smoke when handling a propane | | | | precautions, similar to what are presented here or |
| cylinder, or use matches or lighters to check for | | | | in outdoor fire pit or patio heater operating |
| leaks, or pour lighter fluid or gasoline on your gas | | | | manuals, the chances of injury or death as a |
| fire pit or outdoor patio heater, all that safeness | | | | direct result of a propane accident are extremely |
| may go up in smoke, along with a few other | | | | remote. |
| things. | | | | Why? When liquid propane leaks out, it vaporizes |
| Storing propane cylinders indoors or subjecting | | | | and disintegrates into the air. Because it is |
| them to very high temperatures also is a no-no. | | | | released from a pressurized cylinder as a vapor, it |
| For instance, if propane leaks from a cylinder | | | | cannot be ingested like gasoline or alcohol fuels. |
| stored in a basement, the gas can drift across | | | | Rigorous safety standards now govern the |
| the floor to a pilot light on a furnace or water | | | | manufacture of propane equipment and appliances. |
| heater and cause an explosion or fire. Propane is | | | | Propane tanks do not explode, implode, rupture or |
| heavier than air and accumulates at the lowest | | | | come apart on their own. In fact, it takes a lot of |
| point in an enclosed area. | | | | time and effort to make a propane tank explode. |
| Repairing connections and other mechanisms on a | | | | A key advancement was the creation and |
| propane cylinder, outdoor fire pit, or patio heater | | | | regulation of the "overfilling prevention device" |
| without adequate training, or allowing children to | | | | (OPD), which is easily recognizable by the |
| mess with any such mechanisms, also truncates | | | | triangular hand wheel at the top of the valve. The |
| safety. | | | | hand wheel connected to the valve stem is |
| That said, millions use propane safely in a growing | | | | tamper proof and not interchangeable with a |
| number of ways in homes, industry, farming, and | | | | container not fitted with the overfill prevention |
| transportation. More than 14 million families use | | | | equipment. |
| propane to fuel their furnaces, appliances, air | | | | This backup safety device helps ensure that the |
| conditioners, water heaters, outdoor fire pits, grills, | | | | filling process shuts off when the cylinder reaches |
| and patio heaters. | | | | 80% liquid capacity. This allows room in the |
| Since propane gives off minimal emissions, it is | | | | cylinder for changes in fuel volume due to |
| often used indoors to power vehicles, such as | | | | changes in temperature. These cylinders are used |
| forklifts and ice resurfacing machines. In large | | | | with an outdoor fire pit or patio heater fueled by |
| cities, millions more use this clean-burning | | | | propane. |
| alternative for buses, taxis, and other service | | | | Unlike other petroleum products, propane is |
| vehicles. Propane is one of the lightest, simplest | | | | nontoxic, so it does not harm soil and water. |
| hydrocarbons in existence. | | | | Since it does not endanger our environment, the |
| 700,000 farms use propane in a variety of ways, | | | | EPA does not regulate the placement of propane |
| including irrigation pumps, standby generators, and | | | | tanks above or below ground. |
| grain dryers. | | | | All in all, you can have confidence using an outdoor |
| Point is, many people use propane in many ways | | | | fire pit or patio heater fueled by propane. As with |
| and do so safely. Compared to other petroleum | | | | any hazardous material or activity, human error is |
| products, propane has a narrow range of | | | | an important factor we cannot always control or |
| flammability. To ignite, the propane-air mix must | | | | predict. However, applying common sense |
| contain from 2.2% to 9.6% propane vapor. If less | | | | guidelines in using and storing propane should |
| than 2.2%, too sparse to burn. More than 9.6%, | | | | eliminate about any chance of accident or injury. |
| too rich. | | | | |