As a pressure vessel professional, I have inspected many gas systems and was deeply disturbed by the gas cylinder explosion at a wedding in Islamabad last week. Part of the house collapsed, walls cracked and at least eight people lost their lives. This incident was not simply bad luck and was most likely the result of a preventable failure in the cylinder’s pressure-containing system. As engineers, we understand that pressure vessels are designed to safely store energy – but only when standards are respected. When rules are ignored, pressure reacts instantly and without mercy. In order to avoid such deadly accidents, one should only use certified and government approved LPG cylinders and avoid old, damaged, uncertified and substandard ones. Cylinders should also not be placed in enclosed spaces or modified in any way. The people in the home should also know how to shut off the gas in case of an emergency and install gas leak detectors where feasible.
Ahsan Ul Haq Shaikh
Chunian
