Standards - LP-Gas Inspections
Our program has seven field inspectors and a supervisor that has an assigned area as well. Most of the inspection items are to the most recent version of NFPA 58, The LP-Gas Code, with a few references to laws and regulations as well. Three "truck inspectors" perform calibrations on meters to be sure these are delivering what the customer paid for, which also means the company is not giving it away! The five "site inspectors" look at tanks, piping and systems or various sizes, including industrial and residential locations as well as mobile food units. We don't perform inspections of any systems or appliances inside buildings, that is under the city or county building inspectors.
Delivery Trucks
Our inspectors use certified, calibrated 100 gallon provers to test the meters on delivery trucks, which is a weights and measures function. They also check the vehicle for for a number of safety items and proper markings.
Dispensers
Many of these are at retail locations, primarily to fill grill cylinders or cylinders mounted to a vehicle, such as an RV. Historically these meters have been stable, so the calibration is checked every other year, with a site inspector reviewing everything except the calibration the next year.
Bulk Plants
These locations have a tank or tanks of over 4000 gallons water capacity and could be at the LP-Gas company, a farm or industrial plant with . Some of these plants store the propane, which is then distributed elsewhere or they may use it on site for things such as grain drying, heating animal houses or as a blowing agent for plastic molds. Due to their size, operations and maintenance documents are required, as well as a fire safety analysis. Every bulk plant is a little different in their size and layout, but must meet the same code requirements.
Mobile Food Units
More commonly called food truck or trailers, there has been a rapid increase in these business the last few years. In North Carolina they are licensed/permitted by county health departments. If they have an LP-Gas tank and appliances they are subject to an inspection by our program, with many operators contacting us to be sure their propane system is safe. We also work with the builders of these units, so they understand the requirements and the installations are correct the first time.
Autogas
Propane intended for use in powering vehicles is called Autogas. It is the same gas used for heating and cooking. These dispensers are similar to ones used to fill cylinders, but has some safety features that allow customers to fill their vehicles.
Other Inspections
Propane in smaller containers can be used in many places, but there are requirements on many things such as indoor use and storage, distances from property lines and spark sources and limits on the number of containers that can be stored or displayed together. The requirements certainly depend on the situation. Our staff inspects cylinder exchange cabinets (where one would trade your empty cylinder for a full one), tanks installed at homes or businesses, as well as locations that may have cylinders inside building, for things such as floor cleaning equipment. We also are present at both the Mountain State in September and the State Fair in October, before they open and then daily, performing about 2500 inspections each year at all the vendors to be sure their tanks and lines are compliant and the event is a safe one for all in attendance.