LPG car explodes as driver lights cigarette
January 24, 2009
Peter Tidbury had just filled his Peugeot 607 with 40 litres of gas at a service station and was driving at around 30mph.
He could smell gas in the car and passed it off as remnants from the petrol station but it was in fact a cloud of fuel in the cabin.
Mr Tidbury decided to smoke a cigarette and the second he ignited the lighter, its flame sparked a fireball.
The windows were blown out and the bonnet and boot were thrown open by the force of the blast.
Nearby householders were evacuated for fear of a further explosion and the windscreen was discovered 50 feet away.
His clothes melted on him and firefighters believe he survived serious injury or death because the seats took the force of the explosion.
He had bought the car privately for £5,000 three weeks earlier and two garage checks gave it a clean bill of health before he got behind the wheel.
Mr Tidbury, 55, an energy-saving company manager, who needed hospital treatment for minor flash burns, said: “It just wasn’t my day to die.”
Mr Tidbury, a widower from south-east London, drove to northern England last weekend to visiting his daughter and friends.
After a website to locate a filling station selling LPG, he filled up in Monk Bretton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
He said: “I was told you get a slight smell of gas when you fill up so thought nothing of it and wound the window down to freshen the air and put it back up again.
“I fancied a fag so wound the window down again slightly and then lit up. I was doing about 30mph and as I lit the cigarette there was an almighty explosion.
“The windows went out, the bonnet went up and the boot went up just as you see in the Hollywood movies. I was belted in and braked sharply. I can’t remember this but I was told that I was directing traffic around the car whilst my suit jacket was still smoking.
“The fireball singed me on my face, hands and legs and melted my jacket lining and some of my shirt. I looked as if a firework had exploded in my face.”
It is thought a leak in the pipe from the filler to the fuel tank allowed gas to seep into the car which ignited when he lit up.
He added: “When I walked past that car to get in the ambulance I thought that was not survivable. For me it is miraculous.”
Mr Tidbury has ruled out buying another LPG car and intends to quit smoking.
Fire station watch manager Neil McQuillan said: “The car looked like a hand grenade had gone off in it. How anyone can survive an explosion like that when the car is severely damaged is remarkable really.”
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring
By Paul Stokes
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Concerns about LPG Powered Cars in Enclosed Car Parks
January 23, 2009
LPG (under a variety of names “GPL” and “Auto gas” also) is widely used as a vehicle fuel in Far East, USA, Europe. USA, UK, Holland, Italy and France have particularly well developed infrastructures.
There are serious restrictions on LPG fuelled vehicles using ferries, tunnels, enclosed car parks. They do check and they turn back vehicles simply when found. All underground car parks in Europe and in the USA have signs banning for LPG powered vehicles.
Since 2001, LPG tanks and fuel systems are fitted with active safety mechanisms that better minimize the risk of explosion or leakage, making it safe to park vehicles also in multi-story and underground car parks. The Italy Interior Ministry allows all LPG vehicles with a safety system that complies to the ECE/ONU no. 67/01 Regulation to park on the first underground floor of multi-story car parks, even when connected to other underground floors.
LPG is pressurized and LPG tanks are sealed. Sealed tanks eliminate evaporative emissions or spillage. Using outage valves incorrectly during refueling, however, could cause excess vapor discharge.
The weight of LPG vapors at ambient temperatures is approximately 150 % the weight of air. If there is a leak, LPG vapors tend to sink to the ground and pool, creating a potentially hazardous situation. In some areas in North America, LPG vehicles are not allowed in enclosed car parks, tunnels. LPG is extremely volatile and burns twice as hot as a gasoline fire. Vehicle fuel tanks in LPG vehicles are of relatively thick-wall steel construction. In the event of a vehicle crash, they are much less prone to rupture or to cause fires than gasoline tanks.
LPG can explode when mixed with air in the range 1.8 % to 8.6 %. It requires a small ignition source, which could be a match, cigarette, electrical spark (think overhead catenary) or even a simple sharp strike against certain materials, particularly metals containing aluminum, magnesium, titanium etc.
You can smell a leak of LPG, but you have nowhere to go to escape in such place. LPG gas sinks so its difficult for the ventilation system to extract it. Spilt petrol falls to the ground, but then it evaporates. Auto gas is more explosive than petrol.
LPG is stored in a closed high pressure system so any breach will leak gas or liquid that rapidly gasifies leading to an air/gas mixture of potentially the correct proportions. Once ignited the explosion is highly likely to lead to fire and subsequent possible death by carbon monoxide poisoning as well as fire and shrapnel injuries.
Federal Council of Switzerland has officially banned LPG powered vehicles from multi-storey car parks! An appropriate sign was developed, but it cannot be used in German-speaking Switzerland because nobody understands the meaning of the French abbreviation GPL. Authorities has written to the Council to launch a debate on both a Switzerland-wide ban and an appropriate sign that can be understood throughout Switzerland, or even throughout Europe. The rules in force do not prohibit the imposition of individual bans. The owner or the management of a multi-storey car parks have the right to ban access to vehicles of this type by putting up an appropriate sign, and naturally such an arrangement would apply to foreign vehicles too.
In case of basement fires offer a degree of complexity and hazard beyond the normal building fire due to heat build up and the need for firefighting access being made from above. Enclosed car fires can develop to create an extreme heat and smoke environment, possibly compromising the structure. This may have a direct impact on not only occupants but also firefighter safety, especially in relation to search and rescue.
Insurance Companies in Europe and USA have continued the risk analysis and made recommendations on the construction, equipment and other safety measures of multi-storey enclosed car parks.
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48 Major Steel Mills in The Red
January 2, 2009
About two thirds of China’s major steel mills were in the red in November, suffering from high prices in raw materials and the decreasing prices of steel products.
Forty-eight out of 71 large and medium-sized domestic steelmakers saw a loss in November (six more than in October), with total losses for the month in the neighborhood of 12.77 billion yuan, China Securities Journal reported yesterday citing anonymous sources.
Analysts largely contributed the loss to high iron ore prices and dropping steel prices, and they remained pessimistic for the mills’ performance in December.
Chinese steelmakers agreed to pay a record of $92 per ton for iron ore in the 2008 long-term contract, and steel prices have dropped about 40 percent since June as a result of the global financial crisis.
Authorities are considering measures including buying some steel products for reserves to help the industry through the rough time, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong recently said in Beijing.
Reports said the government would likely spend 10-15 billion yuan to establish a reserve of 3-5 million tons.
Some major steelmakers have increased steel prices on the news.
Angang Steel will raise the price of hot rolling steel by 350 yuan per ton from January; Shougang Group will rise by 300 yuan per ton and China’s largest steelmaker Baosteel will also raise product prices by 6 to 10 percent from February.
Analysts said building up stocks may provide some support to prices in the short term, but the policy could also mean producers take longer to emerge from the current slump in demand with a U-shaped recovery rather than a V-shaped bounce, since the government stocks may return to the market as prices recover.
The government could also increase export tax rebates on high-end steel products and will encourage industry reshuffling as well as innovation.
Source: China Steel Net.com
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Car Parking in Dublin City
January 1, 2009
Parking in Dublin can be a bit of a nightmare, but with this guide you’ll know where exactly to park your car so that it’s safe and secure and above all, legally parked.
Dublin city is small and compact so at rush hour it tends to get congested. It’s easy to walk around from attraction to attraction so be sure to park-up the car as soon as you arrive, as there really is no need to drive around this city centre to sight see.
Tow-away and clamping are in operation for those who park in a loading bay, pedestrian area, on double yellow lines, on a disabled parking space, on a bus lane or cycle track, so car parks are really the best option.
Dublin city has over 20 car parks, which are very well placed whether here for shopping or sightseeing.
Here are some of the main car parks in the city centre.
· Abbey Street car park
The Abbey Street car park is located on Lower Abbey Street, just off O’Connell Street (Dublin’s main street) in the city centre. This is a very central location for visiting attractions like Trinity College, Temple Bar, the GPO and also for shopping on O’Connell Street and Henry Street.
· Parnell Centre car park
This car park is located just off Parnell Street. Parnell Street can be found just off the top of O’Connell Street (opposite end to O’Connell Bridge).
This car park is handy if you want to be close to the Gate Theatre, the Ambassador Theatre, the Dublin Writers Museum or the James Joyce Museum. This car park is also within walking distance of Croke Park stadium.
To get to this car park just take a right after the Virgin Cinema on Parnell Street and take another right on a small street called ‘Loftus Lane’ and you’ll see the car park.
· Drury Street car park
This car park is located on Drury Street and is best approached from Stephens Street Lower. It has about 480 spaces and is very convenient to Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, the Powerscourt Shopping Centre and the Gaiety Theatre.
· IFSC car park
This car park is located in the Irish Financial Services Centre, which is the city’s core business and financial district. It can be found in the docklands area about a 10-minute walk east of O’Connell Bridge. The car park has about 360 spaces and is ideal for attending events in the IFSC or for visiting attractions along the Dublin docklands like the Viking Splash Tour, the Famine Memorial, the Custom House or the Point Depot.
· Christchurch car park
The Christchurch car park has about 212 spaces and can be accessed from Lord Edward Street in the Christchurch area.
This car park is ideal if you want to park-up and stroll around one of the oldest parts of Dublin and explore attractions like Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, the City Hall, St. Audoen’s Gate and it’s also not that far from Temple Bar.
· Temple Bar car park
Also known as the Fleet Street car park this car park can be found right in the heart of the city centre, just off Westmoreland Street. It’s convenient to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, Trinity College and O’Connell Street so it’s a popular place to park.
This car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
· Jervis Street car park
This car park has up to 750 spaces and is adjoining the Jervis Shopping Centre – one of the biggest and best shopping centres in Dublin. It is accessed from Jervis Street. This car park is ideally located for shopping as it’s also very convenient to Henry Street, which is one of Dublin’s pedestrianised shopping streets.
· Stephens Green Shopping Centre car park
Stephen’s Green has one of the largest car parks in the city centre with up to 700 spaces. It can be accessed from Mercer Street and is open 24 hours a day.
This car park is ideally located for shopping as it’s located next to the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre just off Grafton Street, so you won’t have too far to go with those shopping bags!
Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com
Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Dublin, like what to see and where to go. View B&Bs, guesthouses and self catering in Dublin as well as Dublin hotels.
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Safer Parking award from the British Parking Association
December 28, 2008
Westfield London, the capitals newest shopping centre, has been awarded a Safer Parking award from the British Parking Association (BPA) within its first six weeks of opening. Europes biggest inner city shopping and leisure destination received Park Mark status at a recent ceremony for providing a safe parking facility with 4,500 spaces.
| Car park manager, Gary Lee was presented with the Park Mark Award from Sector Inspector Paul Banbro of Hammersmith & Fulham Metropolitan Police Borough. PC David Hinton was also at the presentation. The team is directly responsible for the Policing of the Westfield London Shopping Centre.
The Safer Parking Scheme (SPS), run by the BPA for the Association of Chief Police Officers, was developed to provide a benchmark standard for all parking areas across the UK, to create safer parking both for the public and their vehicles. The Park Mark Safer Parking Award is granted to parking areas that have achieved the requirements of a risk assessment conducted by the Police. These requirements mean the parking operator has put in place measures that help to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, thereby doing everything they can to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime in their parking area. |
| Gary Lee said: We are delighted to receive Park Mark status in the opening weeks of the new centre. We are committed to the highest level of customer service, and with Christmas due to be our busiest time, it was vital to provide all our shoppers with a safe and reliable parking facility while they enjoy the new centre.
The shopping centre in Shepherds Bush has a vehicle management system to indicate parking availability and also offers a valet parking service for the convenience of its customers. Kelvin Reynolds, head of SPS at the British Parking Association, said: With the number of Park Mark awards on the increase – we now have over 3,700 members – it proves that the scheme is an invaluable tool in helping to make parking environments safe and increasing public reassurance in these areas. When drivers leave their cars in Park Mark award facilities they will find them exactly as they left them on their return.
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