Gas safety checks launched in wake of building explosion
- Source: Global Times
- [08:15 April 14 2011]
- Comments
A man takes a photograph of the Heping Jie residential building that was destroyed by a gas explosion on Monday. A citywide gas inspection to eliminate additional hazards is underway. Photo: CFP
By Yang Jie
Awareness of gas safety for both authorities and residents has been heightened after an explosion in a Heping Jie residential building, in Chaoyang district, killed six people and injured another on Monday, prompting a citywide gas inspection.
All gas providers are required to conduct examinations of their customers' homes as of Tuesday to eradicate all existing potential dangers, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration.
"Old buildings will be the focus of the inspection," said commission spokesman Wang Qingwen.
Beijing Gas Group started its inspection on Tuesday to check residential communities that have used gas for over 20 years, the group's spokesperson Xu Chunfang told the Global Times Wednesday.
According to statistics from Beijing Gas, there are more than 610,000 families in old communities that started using gas before 1990. Professional inspectors will inform users if any potential dangers are discovered and will assist them in resolving gas leaks and updating faulty devices.
The inspection is expected to conclude before the end of June.
Key places like restaurants and construction sites will also be among the key targets, the inspections of which will be carried out by urban law enforcers, or chengguan, according to the commission.
"Many restaurants and construction sites have been caught improperly using gas, such as using liquefied natural gas, which is dangerous," said Wang.
Liyunxiaozhen Restaurant near Tsinghua University was suspended for inappropriately using bottled liquefied petroleum gas Wednesday, and its bottles were confiscated, according to the Legal Mirror.
Residents have also become more vigilant about gas safety after Monday's tragedy. A woman surnamed Bai living in Balizhuang, Chaoyang district, called the police immediately after smelling a gas leak in a neighboring family's home on Tuesday, the Legal Mirror reported.
Over 200 residents in that building, which is over 50 years old, were evacuated at about 4 pm and were not able to return until about 11 pm, when the gas concentration dropped below a safe level of 15 percent, the report said.
