Gas-Fired Water Heater Safety
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been working to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths from gas-fired water heaters.
The Commission was briefed on the issue by CPSC staff in June of 1994. The Commission let the industry know that it wanted to see a solution to this problem and that it was considering the development of a Federal regulation that would address the problem of flammable vapor ignition in gas-fired heaters.
Prior to 1994, the Commission staff had been seeking a permanent, technical solution to the hazard of flammable vapors. Commission staff believed that this problem required not only the education of consumers about the proper use and storage of flammable liquids, but also a redesign of water heaters.
Following the June 1994 Commission meeting, industry officials informed the Commission that they were working on a technical solution — a redesign of water heaters — that would eliminate the ignition of flammable vapors by water heaters. Industry also expressed a willingness to work closely in voluntary cooperation with CPSC on the issue.
Giving the industry the opportunity to voluntarily develop the technology necessary to achieve a permanent solution has several advantages over-regulation. The voluntary approach results in manufacturers investing their own resources in developing test methodologies — saving taxpayer dollars and making use of industry’s knowledge and technical expertise about the product they manufacture.
In December 1994, following the water heater manufacturers’ offer to work with CPSC to eliminate the hazard, the Commission agreed to postpone the regulatory process. But, CPSC Chairman Ann Brown expressly stated that industry must make real progress toward a technical solution and on developing a performance standard by which the safety of any new design could be measured.
As part of the CPSC’s participation with industry in the efforts to reach a technical solution to this problem, CPSC staff has been closely monitoring the development of vapor-ignition resistant water heaters by the Water Heater Joint Research and Development Consortium. Three prototypes have already been tested and performed well in flammability tests.
The industry is funding the independent development of that performance test standard. The Gas Research Institute is developing a way to test gas-fired water heaters to ensure that they will not ignite flammable vapors. A technical advisory group consisting of representatives from the gas industry, manufacturers, industry trade associations and CPSC staff, oversees this project.
The Commission has also worked with industry to educate the public on the hazard of flammable vapors. The Commission endorsed a large public information campaign launched by the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association in 1994 which included television commercials and materials designed to appeal to and inform children about the hazard. In addition, the Commission published its own information on the hazard in its home and fire safety brochures.
To reduce the hazard of flammable vapors, consumers should:
- >Make sure gas-fired water heaters are installed according to code requirements;
- Where possible, elevate heaters 18 inches from the floor, whether installed in a basement or garage;
- Never use gasoline to clean equipment or tools;
- Use gasoline only as a motor fuel;
- Store gasoline only in tightly sealed red containers intended for gasoline; and
- Keep all flammable materials and liquids away from gas-fired water heaters.
Usalama wa maji ya joto ya gesi Tume ya Usalama wa Bidhaa ya Watumiaji imekuwa ikifanya kazi kupunguza hatari ya majeraha na vifo kutoka kwa maji ya joto ya gesi. Tume hiyo ilifahamishwa kuhusu suala hilo na wafanyakazi wa CPSC mnamo Juni 1994. Tume hiyo ilisema kuwa inataka kuona suluhisho la tatizo hilo na kwamba ilikuwa ikizingatia kuundwa kwa kanuni ya shirikisho ambayo ingeweza kushughulikia tatizo la moto wa mvuke katika vifaa vya joto vya gesi. Kabla ya 1994, wafanyakazi wa Tume walikuwa wakitafuta suluhisho la kudumu, la kiufundi kwa hatari ya mvuke wa kuwaka moto. "Wafanyakazi wa Tume waliamini kwamba tatizo hili halikuhitaji tu elimu ya watumiaji juu ya matumizi sahihi na uhifadhi wa kioevu cha moto, lakini pia kubuni upya wa ""boilers"" ya maji." Baada ya mkutano wa Juni 1994, maafisa wa sekta hiyo walimjulisha Tume kwamba walikuwa wakifanya kazi juu ya suluhisho la kiufundi - kubuni upya wa joto la maji - ambayo ingeondoa moto wa mvuke wa moto na joto la maji. Kampuni hiyo pia ilionyesha nia ya kufanya kazi kwa karibu na CPSC katika suala hili. Kutoa sekta ya fursa ya kujitolea kuendeleza teknolojia muhimu ya kufikia suluhisho la kudumu ina faida kadhaa juu ya udhibiti. Mbinu ya hiari inaongoza kwa wazalishaji kuwekeza rasilimali zao wenyewe katika kuendeleza mbinu za majaribio - kuokoa dola za walipa kodi na kutumia maarifa ya sekta na utaalam wa kiufundi kuhusu bidhaa wanazotengeneza. Mnamo Desemba 1994, baada ya watengenezaji wa boilers za maji kutoa kazi na CPSC ili kuondoa hatari hiyo, Tume ilikubali kuahirisha mchakato wa udhibiti. "CPSC Mwenyekiti Ann Brown alisema: ""Tunaomba sekta ya viwanda kufanya maendeleo halisi kuelekea ufumbuzi wa kiufundi na kuendeleza kiwango cha utendaji ambacho usalama wa muundo wowote mpya unaweza kupimwa." Kama sehemu ya ushiriki wa CPSC na sekta katika juhudi za kufikia suluhisho la kiufundi kwa tatizo hili, wafanyakazi wa CPSC wamekuwa wakifuatilia kwa karibu maendeleo ya heater za maji sugu kwa mvuke-kuwaka na Water Heater Joint Research and Development Consortium. Aina tatu za kwanza tayari zimepimwa na zimefanikiwa vizuri katika vipimo vya kuwaka moto. Sekta ni fedha maendeleo ya kujitegemea ya kwamba utendaji mtihani kiwango. Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Gesi (GRI) imeanzisha mchakato wa majaribio ya vifaa vya kupasha maji moto vinavyofanya kazi kwa gesi ili kuhakikisha kwamba hazitazima mvuke unaoweza kuwaka moto. Kikundi cha ushauri wa kiufundi kilichoundwa na wawakilishi wa tasnia ya gesi, wazalishaji, vyama vya biashara vya tasnia na wafanyikazi wa CPSC, huangalia mradi huu. Tume pia imefanya kazi na sekta ya kuelimisha umma juu ya hatari ya mvuke flammable. Shirika la Gesi la Marekani (GAS) limetoa taarifa kwa umma kuhusu hatari ya kutumia gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi ya gesi. Kwa kuongezea, Tume ilichapisha habari yake mwenyewe juu ya hatari hiyo katika vijitabu vyake vya usalama wa nyumba na moto. Ili kupunguza hatari ya mvuke wa moto, watumiaji wanapaswa: kuhakikisha kuwa vifaa vya kupasha maji vya gesi vimewekwa kulingana na mahitaji ya kanuni; mahali inapowezekana, kuinua vifaa vya kupasha maji vya 18 inches kutoka sakafu, iwe imewekwa katika chumba cha chini au karakana; kamwe usitumie petroli kusafisha vifaa au zana; tumia petroli kama mafuta ya injini; kuhifadhi petroli tu katika chombo nyekundu kilichofungwa kwa ajili ya petroli; na kuhifadhi vifaa vyote vya kupasha maji vya gesi.