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| Safety: The choice is in the hands of the user! |
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Gas used as a combustion fuel can be a cruel master or an obedient servant. It all depends on how it is handled. |
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Handled correctly, with due regard to Safety requirements and commonsense, it will serve you well and provide heat for almost any process you care to name. On the other hand, a devil-may-care attitude could lead to loss of live and limb together with a severe loss of property. |
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| The choice is in the hands of the user! |
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The SAPGA Safety Forum is here to assist members in their quest for a safe and efficient workplace when it comes to matters concerning burner equipment. We have a vast pool of knowledge and experience to call upon and resources available if we cannot answer the question. |
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| In co-operation with the Technical forum, we are able to assess and, if necessary, test a piece of burner equipment or system to establish its suitability, from a safety angle, for a particular application. |
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| This has recently been demonstrated when extensive testing was carried out in an effort to establish the cause of repeated explosions at industrial premises. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the damage to the plant was minimal but the owner of the company, quite rightly, was concerned that there could have been more serious repercussions. |
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| The safety of the equipment was thoroughly investigated and recommendations have been made. |
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| This is the way we like it; let’s nip these situations in the bud before they become major issues. Sasol Gas offer Safety Audits on burner systems and gas reticulation systems in their clients’ premises but if a totally independent survey is required, SAPGA can provide that facility for its members. |
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| Many people have an irrational fear of gas combustion systems; a fear usually brought about by ignorance. It is the purpose of the SAPGA Safety Forum to allay those fears and provide information, guidance and support to SAPGA Members. |
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| In a few months’ time a new tool will be available which, it is expected, will assist in the quest for safer gas burner systems. This is the new SANS 329 standard which replaces the existing SANS74-2:2003 (Industrial thermo processing equipment – Safety requirements of combustion and fuel handling systems). Since SANS 74-2 was introduced in 2003, it has never been gazetted by the Government and therefore had no real potency. Fortunately, quite a number of far-sighted industrial concerns adopted this standard and have embraced its requirements in the design of existing and new plant. Added to this, the major suppliers of combustion equipment have taken the stand that they will not design combustion systems which do not conform to this Standard. |
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| SAPGA is hoping that, when it is published in the gazette, SANS 329 will become legally enforceable. This will be a gigantic leap towards making our factories safer for everyone. |
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| When it is published, the SAPGA Safety Forum will discuss SANS 329 on this web site and will be pleased to answer any questions that you may have. Just send us an e-mail – the detail is on the Contacts page. |
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