How to safely use propane on a construction site

Construction sites are busy places. From the constant sounds of power tools to the sights of workers on ladders and scaffolding to the smells of sawdust and fresh paint, there’s always plenty for the senses to take in. With deadlines to keep and budgets to meet, there’s also a sense of urgency among workers at construction sites and a constant pressure to always keep things moving.

There are a number of helpful uses for propane at construction sites, including temporary heat applications, standby generators to provide electricity for lighting and power tool battery charging, and fuel for forklifts used to quickly and easily get heavy equipment from point A to point B.

One of the reasons propane has long been a fixture at residential and commercial construction sites alike is not just that it’s capable of fueling a number of helpful applications, but that it’s also able to do so safely.

Propane is naturally odorless and nontoxic, so processors add a chemical odorant called ethyl mercaptan to help users detect leaks. It is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as nontoxic and a non-contaminant of air, water and soil. By comparison, fuels like diesel and gasoline contain harmful chemicals, and ethanol is both highly flammable and corrosive. Propane has a much narrower range of flammability and a much higher ignition temperature than gasoline and many other alternative fuels. Propane cylinders are also tested to be 20 times more puncture-resistant and to withstand four times the operating pressure of gasoline and diesel tanks.

One way propane really shines at construction sites large and small is when the walls go up, transforming what was once an outdoor space to an indoor one. Propane space heaters are designed for both indoor and outdoor use and are versatile enough to keep hard-to-heat areas warm for long periods. Most propane heaters approved for indoor use come equipped with safety features for your protection, such as low oxygen sensors, overheat protection, and automatic shutoff.

Helpful propane safety reminders for job sites provided by the Propane Education & Research Council can be found here. Propane safety information can also be found in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) No. 58, “Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases,” applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules, and any additional rules from the local authority having jurisdiction.

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