Reports of fatalities and severe injuries due to gas cylinder explosions have made the headlines more often than expected in the UAE in the last one year, with the latest tragic incident taking place in Ajman last Thursday. As an integral component of nearly every home in the UAE, gas cylinders and their safety aspects occupy a priority status in societal well-being, particularly as many homes in the UAE still keep the cylinder inside the premises, in most cases directly inside the kitchen.
Against this backdrop, the news of the entry of a new composite gas cylinder that is said to be explosion-proof is a remarkable breakthrough. An outcome of the aftermath of a gas cylinder explosion last year in a residential community in Dubai that killed a woman and severely injured another, the consequent ban on the usage of conventional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders by the community’s developers eventually resulted in this shift and Dubai’s Civil Defence authorities have approved its use in the community.
With a host of features that are eminently desirable in a gas cylinder, the non-metallic composite is designed to be immune to heat and burst pressure, offering a reassurance every householder wants to hear. While it is commendable that this switch-over is soon taking place, it is the kind of initiative that deserves to become a country-wide facility given its safety profile. Every home that uses a gas cylinder will benefit from having the new design, in tandem with the continuing efforts by the authorities to conduct safety-awareness campaigns.
A phased replacement plan of the conventional LPG gas cylinders, including the retro-fitting of kitchens in old apartment buildings, could well be the way forward.
