Japan asks gas suppliers to install alarms in enclosed spaces — The Japan Times
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has asked gas suppliers to install alarms in enclosed spaces where gas pipes are laid. The initiative was put forward after a July explosion at a shopping center in Kumamoto Prefecture that occurred following a powerful earthquake, The Japan Times reports.
Alarms in enclosed spaces
This includes warehouses and other enclosed buildings, as well as schools and hospitals. There are tens of thousands of such facilities in the country.
Currently, gas leak alarm systems must be installed near tanks and equipment that uses gas, including kitchen stoves. However, this requirement does not apply to premises where only gas pipes are laid.
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Review after the explosion
The proposal to install alarms was voiced by a member of an expert group considering measures to prevent incidents similar to the Kumamoto explosion from recurring. Discussions in the group began on September 8.
Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa said the authorities would promptly implement measures they consider effective in reducing damage, without waiting for the final determination of the causes of the explosion.
After the incident, the ministry, together with police and fire services, inspected the shopping center. Based on the inspection results, they agreed that the explosion was most likely caused by liquefied petroleum gas supplied to the facility. Gas leaking from pipes damaged by the earthquake can accumulate in enclosed spaces, including warehouses and rooms with few or no windows.
