What to do and where to call if there is a smell of gas at the entrance? Leak Detection Procedure

Domestic main gas is an inexpensive type of fuel that is still used to create favorable living conditions in private and low-rise buildings. Thanks to gasification, citizens can use stoves and ovens, and boiler owners never suffer from a lack of heating and hot water.

At the same time, gas is a source of danger, and if the installation or use of gas equipment is violated, property and residents of high-rise buildings themselves may suffer. One of the first signs of a potential hazard is an unpleasant odor.

To prevent irreversible consequences, there are instructions for both residents and employees of Gorgaz. In this article, we will examine in detail what to do if there is a smell of gas in the entrance, where you need to call and to whom to report a leak.

What to do when gas odor is detected?

It is a mistake to assume that blue fuel comes directly from the bowels of the earth to homes. In fact, it goes through several stages of processing along the way from the mine to the gas stove. The composition of the gas changes so that it arrives in residential buildings and in enterprises suitable for use and safe for people.

The basis of the fuel mixture is approximately 75-80% methane, in addition to it there are carbon dioxide, propane, butane, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor.

The high pressure of the main gas, reaching 11 MPa or more, is not suitable for domestic use, so it is reduced to a working value of 1.2 MPa on gas distribution systems

Is it possible to get methane poison in the entrance? Probably not. But a large concentration of it in the air at the entrance or in the apartment can lead to the explosion or fire - but this is already a real danger for a multi-storey building.

Consider the causes of leakage of household fuel in a residential building and find out what actions are taken when there is a smell of gas in the entrance.

Causes of bad gas smell

In order to prevent and protect people and buildings from the negative consequences of using explosive household mixtures, special substances are added to them - odorants. The unpleasant odor from the leak belongs to them, and not to the natural gas itself, which smells almost nothing.

Most often used as a marker for domestic gas methyl mercaptan - gas with the same disgusting smell as rotten cabbage. Even a small amount of this “flavor” is quickly determined by the average user, and confusing it with something else is quite difficult.

Fear that foul-smelling poisonous additives can be dangerous is not worth it - their concentration in household fuels is quite small to cause harm to health

In addition to methyl mercaptan use ethyl mercaptan, which also has a pungent odor and good volatility.

Unfortunately, too restless residents often confuse the smell of gas with other sharp “aromas”. Sometimes situations get to the point of absurdity: a spilled bottle of White Spirit or a leaked spray of kerosene cause a call to the Ministry of Emergencies.

Do not forget what kind of fake call are provided administrative sanctions - fines 1-1.5 thousand rubles. And if this is a false message about a gas leak in a public institution - it’s already coming criminal liability with all the ensuing consequences: either a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles, or a term of up to 5 years.

But not everything is so scary. If the call is found to be erroneous (an old grandmother “overdid it” or a small child decided to save the house without understanding the smells in the stairwell), firefighters or gas service representatives will simply turn around and leave.

According to statistics, in Moscow about 150 applications are received daily with complaints of the smell of gas (10 years ago there were about 700-800). But only 5% of the total are confirmed, the rest are erroneous

It is clear that man is not gas analyzerTherefore, it cannot accurately determine the composition of substances in the air, therefore, experts urge to include the mind and soberly assess the situation.

Why do household gas leaks occur?

It is easier to respond at critical times if the reason is obvious.

But at the entrance, just with the definition of the cause, difficulties can arise, because the smell can seep from three places:

• Street;
• flat;
• basement.

On the street, gas pipes are most often laid underground and brought out in front of the wall of a multi-story residential building.

Pipes and fittings of the gas main are mounted according to the requirements of GOST and SNiP, at a certain distance from the windows and doors of houses to protect against accidental mechanical damage

A pipe hole in the street is an extremely rare phenomenon. Strong steel withstands trees that fell during a hurricane and hammer blows. But if the tightness of the pipe is broken, the gas outlet in the free space is difficult to determine by smell. But you can hear a noise, like a hiss with a whistle.

If a crack or hole is located near the entrance door, then part of the gas will fall inside the house - hence the possible smell from the street.

If a breakdown in a pipe on the street can still be visually observed or determined by noise, then a leak in the room cannot be immediately found - locked doors will prevent this

The simplest thing you can do is quickly notify your neighbors of suspicion. At this stage, it is often found out that someone had leaked at home because of worn hose or a broken burner. The equipment may break down in the basement if a boiler is installed there or a branch to the stove is laid (although this is prohibited by the installation requirements).

The causes of leakage include the following:

• installation of old or poor-quality equipment;
• violation of installation rules;
• violation operating rules;
• untimely replacement of gas hoses, etc.

Mounting flaws can be identified by the color of the flames: instead of the “right” blue, they have a reddish or yellow hue.

The leakage of the joints can be checked in the traditional way: dip the sponge in soapy water and apply it to a suspicious place. If the soap has foamed, an emergency zone has been found.

We examined the methods for detecting leakage places in more detail. this stuff.

First steps to discover

The smell in the porch most often penetrates from the apartments, so you need to try to find housing where the leak occurred. The only thing that can be done in the corridor is to open wide the windows or windows. If they are closed tightly, you need to open the access door, propping them with a stone or a stick.

According to SP 2.13130.2012, the shutters on the windows in the entrance must be active - that is, it is easy to open and close. This requirement is dictated by fire safety regulations.

Since both pipes and gas equipment are in apartments, all further actions are carried out there.

First of all, it is necessary:

• Open all doors and windows as quickly as possible. If the smell is too harsh, use a cloth for protection.
• If there is a landline telephone in the room, disconnect it from power so that the bell does not sound.
• Overlap cutoff gas tapand all the cranes on the equipment.
• Leave the apartment by shutting off the power supply on the switchboard along the way.
• Make a call to the Ministry of Emergencies, emergency gas or fire service.

Do not go into the house until the specialists drive up and eliminate the danger. If possible, notify all residents of the house of the threat of explosion and make sure that they also leave their apartments.

Now let's find out where to call - if it smells of gas either in the entrance or in the apartment.

A call from a landline phone is made to number 04, but it is better to call from a neighboring house. 112 is the universal number of the unified rescue service, valid even when the SIM card is locked

Mobile operators for such cases provide the ability to make calls to emergency services even with a negative or zero balance:

• Megaphone - 040
• MTS - 040
• Tele2 - 040
• Beeline - 004

Gorgaz employees insist that calls should be made from the street, by mobile phone. Do not call from a gas-covered entrance.

Representatives of the emergency service act according to the instructions. Upon arrival, they must find the place of the leak, register this fact and take measures to eliminate the danger.

Usually, several people are working at the same time in a brigade, therefore, all measures to eliminate a leak end quickly. After the work is completed, the team leader calls the control room, and the team returns to the base.

What should not be done in case of a leak?

One wrong move - and the house can fly up into the air, so let's figure out what you can’t do if there is a smell of gas:

• light matches, use a lighter;
• go into the room with a burning cigarette;
• try to call from a gassed room;
• turn on the light or any electrical appliances;
• turn off the on appliances to prevent sparking.

It is also forbidden to return to the apartment or to the corridor, where there is a smell of gas, until the danger is eliminated by specialists.

The big mistake is to call neighbors by pressing the call button. It can also trigger an explosion. Knocking is recommended - it’s more effective since knocking is usually carried all over the porch

Do not use the elevator because there is a risk of being stuck there.

If the gas exiting the pipe ignites, you must not extinguish it. While the fire is burning, there will be no explosion. It is necessary to open the window and close the valve.

Preventive measures and rules

In order for the unpleasant smell of gas not to bother the residents of the house either in the apartment or in the staircase, a number of requirements must be met. And the most important of them is to use gas stoves and columns correctly, because half of the troubles occur precisely because of the irresponsible attitude towards equipment operation.

Apartment owners must:

• Use serviceable equipment with a valid life;
• apply the technique strictly for its intended purpose;
• follow the schedule of service (annual preventive examinations);
• timely repair the pipeline elements or replace hoses.

Installation and connection of new equipment is carried out by representatives of the gas service.

If the owner of the apartment has independently mounted the hob or connected the oven, the gasman must check the tightness of the connections and document this. Otherwise, such a user is threatened fines.

Any violation is punishable by fines, but this is not the worst. A frivolous owner endangers the health and lives of his family and neighbors

Under no circumstances should welding be performed independently or carry gas pipes to another place.

All transfer, replacement activities must be agreed with the service organization.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Brief and understandable instructions for gas leaks:

General Leak Detection Tips:

The smell of gas does not appear just like that - it is always a signal of danger, requiring composure and utmost attention.

If you live in a multi-storey building connected to the gas supply system, always be on the alert and at the first sign of a leak, call the gas service. Only specialists can determine the cause of the hazard and eliminate it..

An extremely unpleasant odor has appeared in your entrance and you suspect that its cause is a gas leak? Or do you doubt whether this is a leak? Ask your questions to our experts and other visitors to our site who have personal experience in detecting leaks - the feedback form is located below this publication.