D2

FIELD PROCEDURES FOR

GAS ESCAPES

MARCH 1995

J324 ( Rev 11/97 )

Name : ..................................................
District : ...............................................
FOREWORD CONTENTS

This second edition of the Field Procedures (previously Section

16), designated D2, incorporates various amendments. The Page
original issue dated April 1993 is no longer valid.
1. INTRODUCTION 3
These Procedures are intended to cover the essential requirements
for gas escape work normally undertaken by Transco personnel. 2. PRIORITIES 3

In the event of queries arising out of any aspects of work covered 3. SITE ACTIONS 3
by these Procedures, you will be expected to refer to the Transco 4. RESPONSIBILITIES 4
Procedures for Dealing with Reported Gas Escapes SFP4
MD/102, via your Manager. Do not hesitate to seek advice if you 5. INVESTIGATION OF GAS IN BUILDINGS -
need further assistance. UNCONTROLLED GAS ESCAPES 5
You are expected to have these Procedures with you at work at all 6. INVESTIGATION OF GAS IN BUILDINGS -
times, and in the event of loss or severe damage, you should ask CONTROLLED GAS ESCAPES 8
for a replacement immediately. 7. WORKS ON LIVE GAS 8
Compliance with this specification does not confer immunity from
8. SITE INVESTIGATIONS 9
prosecution for breach of statutory or other legal obligations.
9. LEAVING THE SITE 11
DISCLAIMER 10. ESCAPES OF LIQUEFIED
PETROLEUM GAS 11
This specification is provided for use by Transco and such of its
contractors as are obliged by the terms of their contracts to comply 11. BARHOLING 12
with this specification. Where this specification is used by any 12. INCIDENTS 12
other party it is the responsibility of that party to ensure that the
specification is correctly applied. 13. USE OF GASCOSEEKERS 13

-1-
-2- Gas Escapes
FIELD PROCEDURES FOR GAS ESCAPES 2. PRIORITIES

1. INTRODUCTION Priorities of action

These Procedures have been prepared to ensure that work carried REPORTED GAS
out by all Transco districts when dealing with gas escapes is ESCAPES MUST TAKE
consistent and compatible. PRIORITY OVER ALL
These Procedures are intended for issue to personnel required to OTHER WORK.
attend emergencies including gas escapes, fires, explosions and Emergency action checklist
reports of fumes, and assume the use of a Gascoseeker or other
approved gas detector to measure the atmospheric gas All personnel investigating reported gas escapes will have been
concentration. issued with an 'Emergency Action Checklist' which includes the
following priorities and evacuation criteria:
The Procedures use the terms 'controlled gas escape', and
'uncontrolled gas escape', which are taken to be: • priorities:

- controlled gas escape is a gas escape which has been - safeguard life;
stopped by turning off the meter/ emergency control - safeguard property;
valve;
- find and secure the escape;
- uncontrolled gas escape is a gas escape where it
- carry out a final site investigation.
cannot be ascertained that the gas escape is controlled.
Transco standards of service require personnel to arrive on site • evacuate where:
within one hour of receipt by Emergency Control Centre of the - occupants' safety is at risk, or
report of an 'uncontrolled' gas escape. Where the escape is
- persons are overcome by gas, vapours or products
confirmed as 'controlled', this period is extended to two hours.
of combustion, or
Adequate documentation will be available for the issue and
- gas concentrations are 20% LEL or above.
progression of work, and the recording of completion details.
Consider the need to evacuate adjacent and opposite properties.
3. SITE ACTIONS
Initial actions by first on site
• get to address given as quickly as possible.

Gas Escapes -3-

• report any delay caused by vehicle breakdown, accident or 4. RESPONSIBILITIES
other reason to Emergency Control Centre as soon as
• if both an Engineering Team and Transco Service
possible.
Engineer are on site, the Team Leader is responsible for
• report to the Emergency Control Centre on arrival. the overall situation. The Transco Service Engineer, if on
site, is responsible for actions inside the property,
• initial site conditions and circumstances will determine the
including evacuation.
actions to be taken in the light of experience, training and
Company procedures. • personnel should liaise with each other and report on
actions taken.
• priority actions inside buildings will be:
• if field staff cannot locate the escape within two hours of
- isolation of the gas supply;
arrival on site, the responsible manager or his/her
- removal of immediate sources of ignition and representative shall be informed and a review of the job
ventilation of the building(s) by opening doors and should take place at intervals not exceeding two hours.
windows.
• if the escape is not considered to be potentially hazardous,
Liaison the responsible manager or his/her representative may
decide to defer further action and to incorporate the work
• if other Transco personnel are already on site, a full report
in normal schedules as a priority. The gas escape site
should be obtained.
shall be regularly checked until the report is cleared.
Further actions by Transco Service Engineer Under no circumstances shall a gas escape be deferred
when:
• if, after carrying out the priority actions and making safe, the
time required to trace and repair the escape is likely to be - there is a blowing escape (hear, feel or see), or
more than 30 minutes, seek authority from Emergency
- gas is present under a building, or
Control Centre:
- gas is present within 500 mm of a building, or
- they may need to divert you to a more urgent job;
- there is a medium pressure main or service within
- if the 'go-ahead' is received, then Emergency Control
5 m of a building which could be the source of the
Centre should be contacted at 30-minute intervals.
escape, or
• in all circumstances, contact with Emergency Control Centre
- there is a transmission installation or pipeline
shall be made at periods not exceeding one hour.
within 5 m of the leakage site unless this has been
cleared as a possible source of the escape.

-4- Gas Escapes

• if investigations result in 'no trace of gas', the responsible 5. INVESTIGATION OF GAS IN BUILDINGS -
manager or his/her representative shall be notified. UNCONTROLLED GAS ESCAPES
• if gas is not involved or the gas is not supplied by British Gaining access
Gas, priority actions still apply and personnel should remain
• knock on doors, do not use door bells.
on site until relieved through the Emergency Control Centre.
All relevant information should be given to Emergency • if a building has a security entry phone and the door is not
Control Centre who will advise the appropriate authority. open, check for zero gas around the entry phone and door
before using the entry phone to call the consumer. Ask the
• it is important that Emergency Control Centre is advised of
consumer to open the door manually.
the following as soon as possible, having regard to other
priorities: • when access is gained, then priority actions shall include:
- a fire, explosion, gassing or other injury; - ensure consumer's meter control is turned off;
- an evacuation; - check gas concentrations, particularly above head
height and around pipework;
- the gas escape is very large;
- checks should be made in cellars, voids, basements,
- the site situation is worsening;
attics, riser ducts, air bricks and sub-divided
- the gas escape is from, or near to, a medium, premises. Cellars, voids and other enclosed spaces
intermediate or high pressure main or transmission should be entered with care and gas concentrations
installation; checked before entry;
- gas is detected in ducts, drains or sewers where this - if confirmed as uncontrolled, immediately request
could be hazardous to people or property; the attendance of an Engineering Team through the
- the Police, Fire Brigade, media or Health and Safety Emergency Control Centre. Whilst awaiting the
Executive (HSE) are on site; arrival of the Engineering Team, site investigations
should continue.
- there is no access at the job address;
• monitor all affected properties and those adjacent and
- forced entry into any building; opposite including any initially found to be clear of gas.
- gas is not supplied by British Gas. Continue checking for early warnings of change in the
situation.
Frequent and regular contact with Emergency Control Centre shall
be maintained and assistance (Police, Fire Brigade, etc.) Access cannot be gained
requested, if required, without delay. • check for gas through the letter box, at the top of doors,
windows, ventilators and air bricks.
Gas Escapes -5-
• check for signs that occupants may be inside but overcome. the gas readings above and below the apparatus and
its switch do not exceed 70% LEL;
• if gas is suspected in a building, then forcible entry shall be
made, causing the minimum of damage and ignoring burglar - where additional light is required, use your safety
alarms. torch;
• in such cases, try to get help from a police officer or other - prevent unauthorized entry;
witness but do not delay entry if a witness is not available. - erect NO SMOKING signs;
• advise Emergency Control Centre. - remove bottled gas containers;
Non-domestic buildings - maintain contact with other Transco personnel on
• consult the Works Engineer or Building Services Engineer. site;
Do not delay any action if injury or damage could result. - remove any people overcome by gas or products of
• in cases of difficulty, assistance should be sought from the combustion to a safe location.
responsible manager or his/her representative via the • monitor gas concentrations in buildings regularly and
Emergency Control Centre. record details.
• personnel should remain on site until the buildings have • monitor all affected properties and those adjacent and
been made safe. opposite including any initially found to be clear of gas.
• do not undertake hazardous attempts to deal with the escape Continue checking for early warnings of change in the
regardless of the demands of the user. situation.

When gas is found in premises • continue checking until the escape is made safe.

• take the following actions in the most appropriate order, • seek further assistance as necessary.
having care for your own safety: Evacuation
- turn off consumer's meter control; • evacuate where:
- turn off service isolation valve or house entry tee; - occupants' safety is at risk, or
- ventilate by opening doors, windows and cellar covers. - persons have been overcome by gas, vapours or
Wherever possible, ventilation should be by two products of combustion, or
openings (e.g. door and window), to give a flow of air;
- gas concentrations are 20% LEL or above.
- extinguish naked flames and remove other ignition
sources, switch off electrical apparatus provided that
-6- Gas Escapes
• when evacuation is carried out or the property is unoccupied, - vehicles, tramways and electric railways,
provided the gas readings above and below the mains compressors, generators, excavators, farm
electrical switch do not exceed 70% LEL, turn the switch machinery;
off.
- FID equipment, pipe and cable locators;
• evacuate adjacent and opposite properties where likely to be - danger lamps, portable traffic lights;
affected.
- street lighting, crossing beacons, traffic lights,
• evacuate to a safe place. telephone kiosks.
• keep traffic and pedestrians well clear of site. None of these may be operated in a hazardous area.
• an evacuated building should only be entered to carry out • prevent the discharge of static electricity on PE pipe by
any necessary monitoring. wrapping a damp cloth around the pipe and in contact
• an evacuated building should not be re-occupied until: with the ground.

- the source of leakage has been secured, or Other reports

- the leakage, if from outside the building, has been • the following may have a smell which could be mistaken
ventilated and prevented from entering the building. for natural gas and you may get a Gascoseeker reading
from some of these:
IF IN DOUBT, EVACUATE: DO NOT TAKE
UNNECESSARY RISKS - landfill sites;
Sources of ignition - refineries, coke ovens, animal by-products works,
chemical plants;
• if you suspect gas in property, advise occupants:
- LPG cylinders and pipelines;
- not to operate electrical apparatus on or off;
- mine workings;
- not to smoke;
- rotting vegetation or refuse;
- to avoid using any other sources of ignition
(e.g. doorbells). - newly creosoted woodwork;

• electrical apparatus may be isolated by using its switch, - fuel vapours (e.g. at bus stops or petrol stations);
provided that the gas readings above and below the - sewer vent pipes;
apparatus and its switch do not exceed 70% LEL.
- non-natural gas pipework systems or bottled gas;
• ignition sources outside may include:
- products of combustion from appliances.
Gas Escapes -7-
• advise Emergency Control Centre if the situation appears to • check for signs that occupants may be inside but
be the responsibility of another authority and remain on site overcome.
until relieved.
• if gas is suspected in the building, then forcible entry
6. INVESTIGATION OF GAS IN BUILDINGS - shall be made, causing the minimum of damage and
CONTROLLED GAS ESCAPES ignoring burglar alarms.
Gaining access • in such cases, try to get help from a police officer or other
witness but do not delay entry if a witness is not
• knock on doors, do not use door bells.
available.
• if a building has a security entry phone and the door is not
• if gas is not suspected in the building and there is no
open, check for zero gas around the entry phone and door
danger to life or property, forcible entry may not be
before using the entry phone to call the consumer. Ask the
required. Seek advice from Emergency Control Centre.
consumer to open the door manually.
Non-domestic buildings
• where access is gained and the gas escape brought under
immediate control by isolation of the gas supply and • consult the Works Engineer or Building Services
ventilation (where necessary), further actions should Engineer. Do not delay any action if injury or damage
include: could result.
- soundness test to confirm escape is controlled; • in cases of difficulty, assistance should be sought from the
- trace and repair the gas escape; responsible manager or his/her representative via the
Emergency Control Centre.
- soundness test to ensure that problem is resolved;
• personnel should remain on site until the buildings have
- use Gascoseeker to ensure gas not entering from been made safe.
outside (i.e. around service entries);
• do not undertake hazardous attempts to deal with the
- test appliance connections. escape regardless of the demands of the user.
• where the installation has been made safe (but not repaired), 7. WORKS ON LIVE GAS
the consumer should be advised that remedial work by an
approved CORGI installer will be necessary. • if you have to work in a potentially gaseous atmosphere,
be careful to minimize the risk of ignition and danger to
Access cannot be gained yourself and others by taking the following actions:
• check for gas through the letterbox, at the top of doors, - maximize the amount of ventilation;
windows, ventilators and air bricks.

-8- Gas Escapes

 - position vehicles and equipment to avoid ignition - determine the position of mains, services and other
dangers; Utilities' plant;
- use continuity bonds where necessary; - use a cable locator to check the position of cables,
but remember that no signal from a cable locator
- prevent smoking;
does not guarantee that the ground is clear of
- have fire extinguishers positioned and ready for use; cables;
- provide an unobstructed exit from any excavation; - carry out all excavation work in accordance with the
- use special tools, safety clothing and safety equipment relevant Sections of the Field Procedures Dl. Ensure
provided. Where there is no danger from electrical the safety of pedestrians and road users in
sources, wet the work area to prevent sparking by accordance with the Department of Transport
tools, taking care not to wet any electrical equipment booklet Safety at Street Works and Road Works
or cables; (D4);

- wear breathing apparatus when necessary. - if you have to dig within 10 m of a high pressure
pipeline, a governor installation, pressure-
8. SITE INVESTIGATIONS regulating station or a gasholder station, then the
Preventing ingress of gas into buildings responsible manager or his/her representative
should be contacted for further information;
• if gas is getting into property below ground, you should find
the point of entry as soon as possible. - check surface boxes and cracks in the road surface
using your Gascoseeker;
• you may be able to stop gas entering the building by
- if gas appears to be escaping from a main or
excavating across the line of gas, water, electricity,
service, you should barhole along the line of the
telephone and other services to the building. Raising
pipe to determine the location of the escape in
manhole covers may also assist with ventilation.
accordance with the barholing procedure;
• if a gas escape from the service is suspected, isolate and
- test all barholes using your Gascoseeker to
pressure test at working pressure. If the source of the escape
determine which gives the highest reading. The gas
is the service, then cut off or temporarily repair.
readings should be confirmed and recorded after
• be careful when interference damage has caused an escape: allowing the barholes to vent for approximately 10
damage may have occurred at more than one location. minutes;
Tracing outside gas escapes - an excavation should be made at the highest barhole
reading. If this does not locate the escape, you
• gas in ground:
should excavate around the main or service and
Gas Escapes -9-
 barhole horizontally in both directions. Where equipment and take care to avoid sparks or damage
possible, the excavation should be left open until the to underground plant;
gas escape has been found;
- test all manholes in the vicinity to see which has the
- if gas is suspected to be escaping from a service, this highest gas concentration. Request the attendance of
can be confirmed by cutting off, testing at working the responsible manager or his/her representative if
pressure and re-checking gas readings to confirm that there could be a hazard to life or property;
the source of the escape has been removed.
- to test for gas in a manhole, the probe should be
Alternatively, if gas from the leaking service is not
inserted through a hole in the cover, or the cover
entering the building, the service may be replaced
lifted and checks made at all levels in the chamber;
using live insertion as a permanent repair. Re-check
the gas readings to confirm that the source of the - ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users by
escape has been removed; positioning barriers and cones around open
manholes in accordance with the Department of
- take care at all times to prevent ignition of gas;
Transport booklet Safety at Street Works and Road
- a mechanical excavator shall not be used in the Works (D4);
vicinity of a gas escape without permission from the
- refer to the responsible manager or his/her
responsible manager or his/her representative;
representative if access is required to an
- a temporary repair should be made as soon as possible underground chamber or other confined space;
and the excavation left open until a permanent repair
- check along each duct line using a long probe. By a
is carried out; where it is not possible to effect a
process of elimination it may be possible to
temporary repair without reducing gas pressures, you
determine between which two manholes the gas is
should contact the responsible manager or his/her
entering;
representative;
- when an escape has been repaired, allow time for
- the location of a gas escape may be indicated by:
venting before making further checks to ensure that
- dead or dying vegetation; ducts and manholes are free of gas.
- signs of ground movement; • gas in sewers and drains:
- damage to ground surface by vehicles or plant. - the line of the sewer should be surveyed using FID
• gas in ducts or manholes: equipment or barholing, and the same procedures
used as for dealing with gas in ducts or manholes.
- if gas is detected in ducts or manholes, immediate
ventilation must take place. Use proper lifting

- 10 - Gas Escapes
• gas in air: • where there are significant amounts of residual gas in the
ground, the responsible manager or his/her representative
the location of a gas escape may be indicated by:
may decide to leave the excavation open to vent.
- the wind direction;
• inform Emergency Control Centre when you are leaving
- visible service pipes, governor vent pipes, gas lamps; site.
- demolition sites; 10. ESCAPES OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS
- gully grids, manholes, surface boxes; • Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and LPG/air mixtures
- Transco sites, compounds or marker posts; have different characteristics and different flammable
limits to natural gas. The most important as far as gas
- other Transporters' pipelines, etc. escapes are concerned is that they are heavier than air, so
9. LEAVING THE SITE that any escape of this gas will flow along the ground and
into drains, etc., sinking to the lowest level it can find.
• when only the Transco Service Engineer attends site, the
Transco Service Engineer shall remain on site until: • when testing for gas concentrations, always sample at the
lowest level. Probes should be pointed downwards when
- in his/her opinion, it is safe to leave, and testing through letterboxes.
- the gas concentration in any room, cellar, wall cavity • ventilate property in the normal way by opening doors and
or any other enclosed space which has been tested as windows, but remember that this may allow the gas to
part of the normal investigation is less than 5% LEL move to a lower level. Suitable air-moving equipment
and falling, provided that this is achieved by natural may help to clear gas when dealing with LPG or LPG/air.
ventilation rather than air-moving devices.
• a Gascoseeker specially calibrated for LPG should be
• Where the Transco Service Engineer and Engineering Team available to operatives for investigation in LPG or
are on site, the Transco Service Engineer shall act as above LPG/air districts. When this is used, the evacuation
and may then leave site with the agreement of the criteria and electrical switching criteria are the same as
Engineering Team Leader. those for natural gas.
• the Engineering Team shall remain on site until: • the standard Gascoseeker is not calibrated for LPG or
- the gas escape has been secured and the site is clear of LPG/air. However, this instrument can be used for
gas, or pinpointing escapes of LPG. In situations where LPG is
known to be the escaping gas, buildings should be
- the responsible manager or his/her representative has evacuated at a reading on the standard Gascoseeker of
decided that the gas escape is not potentially 10% LEL.
hazardous and that further action has been deferred.
Gas Escapes - 11 -
• all other standard procedures for dealing with gas escapes • only equipment approved and supplied by your District
should be followed. and in good condition should be used for barholing and
cable location.
11. BARHOLING
12. INCIDENTS
• always wear protective clothing including goggles, gloves
and footwear. Initial site action
• if time permits, obtain as much information as possible • Contact the senior Police or Fire Officer on site and
about the location of cables and other underground plant check:
before barholing. Utilities may be contacted 24 hours per
- what assistance is required (e.g. make safe);
day if required. Do not delay further action if no information
is immediately available. - whether gas was involved in the incident;
• lift covers of manholes or other boxes to determine the - extent of damage;
direction of cable ducts. - details of casualties.
• survey the area using a cable locator and mark the line of Site investigations
cables.
• make safe by turning off at the meter/emergency control.
• carry out vertical barholing using a rock drill or percussion
searcher bar to a maximum depth of 200 mm in footpaths or • request further assistance via the Emergency Control
380 mm in roadways. Do not use excessive force to drive in Centre as necessary.
the searcher bar and cease barholing if you feel any • report all details to the Emergency Control Centre.
obstruction.
• do NOT disturb any appliance or any part of an
• in exceptional circumstances you may be required to barhole installation involved in the incident.
deeper, down to the depth of the main. This should only be
done after first locating the position of all buried cables. In • if the Police or Fire Brigade request that equipment be
any case, deep barholes should not be driven within 250 mm moved, explain that vital evidence could be destroyed and
of the line of these cables. that an expert examination should be carried out first.
• a horizontal probing along the line of a main should be • remain on site until the responsible manager or his/her
carried out after using a cable locator and with care to avoid representative arrives or until instructed otherwise by
damage to cables. Horizontal probing should be carried out more senior Transco personnel.
at the sides of the gas main only, not along the top or
bottom. A percussion searcher bar should not be used for
probing in open excavations.
- 12 - Gas Escapes
Statements • gas can enter a building along the line of any service,
particularly if the ground is frozen or surfaced (e.g. by
• do not offer statements to the police or the HSE unless
concrete or tarmac).
required to do so. If possible, refer them to Public Relations
or to some Transco person as appropriate. If required to • when barholing:
make a statement, then answer questions carefully and
- all barholes should be tested using the Gascoseeker
factually.
and the readings recorded;
• incidents attract publicity and media attention. Statements
- all barholes should vent for 10 minutes, before the
should not be given to the media. Refer them to Public
gas concentration is measured;
Relations.
- take care not to suck any water from the barhole.
13. USE OF GASCOSEEKERS
• the Gascoseeker batteries shall only be changed in a gas-
• ensure that your Gascoseeker is within the marked
free atmosphere.
calibration date.
• the standard Gascoseeker is calibrated for natural gas. A
• carry out the daily checks before using the equipment.
specially calibrated Gascoseeker is required for LPG
• carry out the weekly checks using the Depot checking installations. (See clause 10 when dealing with LPG
device. escapes). Other gases will require specially calibrated
Gascoseekers.
• when taking samples through a letterbox, the longest sample
probe must be used and the probe pointed upwards
(downwards where LPG is suspected).
• when taking samples from the gaps around doors and
windows, the sampling should start at the upper edges.
• low readings through a letter box indicate that there could
be much higher readings within a building. Take great care
when entering and carefully monitor the atmosphere before
proceeding further inside the building.
• when inside property, readings should be taken around
skirting boards, under suspended floors, in roof spaces and
where pipes and cables enter the building. Readings at these
positions can indicate gas in a cavity wall, under the floor, in
a cellar and entering from outside.
Gas Escapes - 13 -