INQUIRER stock photo
The Department of Energy has ruled that 2.7-kilogram cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas should be used outdoors only because they lack safety features found in bigger LPG containers such as the commonly used 11-kg tank.
The DOE issued last March 20 Department Circular No. DC2018-03-0004, which also requires concerned LPG companies to have their 2.7-kg cylinders marked “For Outdoor Use Only.”
“The intention of the new policy is to increase the safety precaution on the use of LPG products, particularly the 2.7kg LPG cylinders to significantly reduce the risks of fire hazards,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in a statement.
“We need to put a stop to the destructive fire incidents caused by the misuse of 2.7kg LPG cylinders, which should technically be for outdoor use only”, Cusi said.
According to the DOE, monitoring by its Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) shows that recent fire incidents in the cities of Caloocan, Quezon and Taguig were all related to the indoor use of the 2.7-kg LPG.
Further, the DOE said the 2.7-kg cylinder lacks two safety features — a pressure relief valve and a regulator. Without these two safety features, the possibility of having LPG leaks is much higher.
Thus, the 2.7-kg cylinder only be used outdoors where there is proper ventilation that helps prevent the accumulation of LPG vapor in an enclosed space.
Based on the latest data from the DOE-OIMB, the LPG brands with small-sized 2.7kg LPG cylinders include Shine Gaz, Petron Gasulette, Superkalan (Brenton), and Powerkalan (Pryce Gases).
Other mandatory markings for LPG cylinders include the brand name and logo, net content in kilogram, tare weight in kilogram, and safety warning signs.