Natural Gas Safety At K-12 Schools

​More US schools are turning to natural gas, away from dirty coal and expensive electricity. For many of them, budget squeezes and environmental concerns are the driving forces. Natural gas is becoming part of the essential infrastructure necessary to keep schools in operation. But it does carry risk. MBS Engineering is dedicated to identifying and minimizing risks to schools, students, teachers and faculty. 

​Click to download Natural Gas and School Safety

Some Of The Schools We Service

• Alameda School District
• Oakland School District
• Piedmont School District
• Albany School District

• Gilroy School District
• Morgan Hill School District
• Sky Line College
• Paradise Unified School District

Keeping Natural Gas - An Indispensable Utility - Maximally Safe

​Most natural gas accidents result from mishandling and improper maintenance practices. By keeping a few simple rules, schools can get the most out of their systems, without endangering the lives of kids and adults in the environment.

• The boiler room is one of the areas with greatest potential for accidents. Keep boiler rooms aerated and do not use them as storage space.
• Institute proper and clear safety procedures/emergency guidelines; such as, what to do if someone detects a gas leak.
• Draw up clear communication guidelines between those who manage the energy systems and those who run the school.
• A proper maintenance schedule is the backbone of natural gas safety and most schools lack them. The following are the minimum schools need to do in this area:

Conduct audit of all gas infrastructure to ensure their functionality, including:

• Gas meter assessments
• Complete inspection of the systems for leaks, corrosion, mismatching equipment & fitting, etc.

​Make the installation and maintenance of these a priority:

• Seismic Shutoff Valves: automatically shut gas supply when an earthquake of sufficient magnitude occurs.
• Excess flow valves: automatically closes or restricts natural gas flow if an underground pipe is damaged or there is unusual gas flow to the meter
• Smoke detectors: to catch fires before they go out of control

Click to download Gas School Safety Study

Schools *can* have legal exposure for natural gas accidents on campus, if they are found to be grossly negligent. Find out how to keep your students and your school safe in every way.

Click image to download Are You Liable for a Gas Accident on Your Property?

Natural Gas Safety - K-12