Code Approval of Composite Propane Cylinders for Indoor Use ...

The Foundation documented Panel comments and concerns at each step in the process anddocumented the process used to develop the test program. Full details of the meetingscoordinated by the Foundation Technical Advisory Panel are provided in the Task 5 section ofthis report and describe the development of the detailed composite cylinder fire performancetesting protocol.NFPA State and Provincial Fire Marshals Forum, NFPA World Safety Conference& Exhibition, and PGAC National ConferenceIn the Spring 2006, Battelle was invited to present on composite propane cylinders at thePropane Gas Association of Canada (PGAC) National Conference, the NFPA State andProvincial Fire Marshals Forum, and the NFPA World Safety Conference & Exhibition. Thepresentations highlighted the design features of the composite cylinders as well as results fromthe fire tests. These efforts were a continuation of the outreach to the fire protection communityto keep them abreast of the findings from this project.UL Consumer and Fire Council MeetingsIn April 2006, Battelle was invited to attend the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Consumer andFire Council Meetings in Chicago, Illinois as observers. The UL Consumers Council ispopulated by a wide range of people including educators, government (state consumer affairsofficers and Consumer Product Safety Commission), health care, and safety consultants. TheFire Council contains fire chiefs, fire marshals, fire service organizations, and insurancerepresentatives. The Councils advise UL on standard development activities, from reviewingexisting standards to suggesting and reviewing new standards. These councils are only advisoryand as such UL is not required to accept recommendations from its councils but certainlyconsiders the feedback and concerns raised by the councils as an important part of their standardsdevelopment process.UL’s Tom Blewitt gave a presentation to the Consumers Council on cabinet heaters andcomposite cylinders. This presentation was geared toward informing the council of the proposalsfor modifications to NFPA 58 regarding indoor use of cabinet heaters equipped with compositepropane cylinders. The presentation provided information on the fire performance of thecomposite cylinders as well as the concerns UL has with consumer use and potential forconfusion between traditional outdoor applications and this "new" indoor use application.Questions raised by the UL Consumers Council echoed similar concerns of the regional fire codedevelopment committees, including:• Can the steel outdoor cylinders be adapted to indoor use? If yes, how easily?• Will the appliance have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector built-in, like some other gasappliances?• How do you prevent customers from storing cylinders indoors?Composite Propane Cylinders 7 February 2007for Indoor Use — Phase IIBattelle