Natural Gas Safety For Hospitals

Natural Gas Is Mission-Critical For Critical Infrastructure

Hospitals by their nature are energy-intensive; they are always open and have thousands of people going in and out of them every hour.
And about 23% of the energy needs of a large proportion of US hospital are derived from natural gas - used in heating, laundry, water heating and cooking.

Additionally, during emergencies, natural gas-powered generators provide back-up electricity that keeps hospitals running.

Importance Of Natural Gas Safety In Hospital

Ordinarily, natural gas is not only efficient for energy generation; it is also safer than other sources of energy:

Natural gas is 30% lighter than air, and will disperse if it escapes. This equals lower risk of fire outbreak due to leaks
Gas pipelines are buried underground - away from damage. Which is why, unlike electricity, natural gas usually gets shut off last during disasters.
The natural gas delivery systems have numerous failsafe devices that ensure problems are intercepted before they reach consumers.

All these indicate that the most likely place for natural gas emergencies to arise is inside the hospital facility itself and not within the gas supply system.
And given the nature of service they provide, hospitals need to maintain the highest level of natural gas safety, since there are people who will be unable to move during an accident:

Pregnant women and infants
Patients who are immobilized by age, illness, disability or treatment
Patients undergoing surgical operations or in post-operation
Accident victims and others in the ICU

Natural Gas Safety Guidelines For Hospital

Due to the complexity of the gas systems in the hospital facility, it is important to engage a competent company that is properly certified to carry out Gas Leak Survey & Maintenance
The hospital should draw up a natural gas safety program or have one designed for it. It should include a comprehensive analysis to identify issues, address potential problems, and recommend the proper policies and procedures to put into place
Keep a strict maintenance schedule on all systems, redesigning and re-piping where necessary. Also us Cathodic protection to prevent corrosion on the outside of pipes.
Deploy the following safety devices.

Seismic Natural Gas Shut-Off Valve: the hospital system comes equipped with manual shut off valves in case of emergencies. However, these valves may not be accessible in time or at all during and after earthquakes. Seismic Shut-Off valves will cut off gas supply if an earthquake of significant proportion occurs.
Excess-Flow Valve: will close or restrict gas flow if underground pipes are damaged or there is unusual flow
Smoke Detectors: for early detection of fire before it becomes unmanageable