1.00pm
An investigation into the use of LPG heaters after a fire which killed two Hastings twins last year was released today -- a week before the one year anniversary of the tragedy.
Eight-year-olds Hannah and Jessie MacDonald, granddaughters of Napier Labour MP Russell Fairbrother were killed in a house fire last
August 25. Some reports suggested an LPG heater was to blame but the girl's dad believes an electrical fault caused the blaze.
The Erma (Environmental Risk Management Authority) commissioned the report into the use of LPG cylinders indoors several months after the fire. It found no significant concerns.
Meanwhile no date has yet been set for an inquest into the twins' deaths.
The inquest in the Coroner's Court would be aimed at determining the cause of death and if necessary making recommendations to prevent similar tragedies.
Mr Fairbrother said today he was pleased the investigation had found no specific fault with LPG heaters, and said that his son-in-law was sure the fire started from an electrical fitting.
Today's report pushes for the Government and agencies to step-up public education in the use of LPG cylinders indoors.
The report by chemical engineer Dr Bill Wakelin found no "substantial" concern with the use of LPG heaters indoors, but offered 16 recommendations to ensure safety, Erma chairman Neil Walter said in a statement.
The inquiry found that older quick closing coupling (QCC) valves had the potential to cause problems but because their supply had largely been phased out by 1997, due to changes in industry practice, industry representatives, the Energy Safety Service (ESS) and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) decided it was not necessary to recall them.
Most of the fittings would be replaced by 2007, the ERMA said.
However, the design of the older valves, mainly imported between 1995-1997, would no longer be approved, being replaced by a new amended design.
The agencies strongly recommended that anyone using an LPG cylinder test it regularly, and have the valves replaced every 10 years.
"A key outcome of our consideration of the inquiry report is the need for a package of publicity material of LPG use indoors," the statement said. This would include a mixture of guides and codes relating to all safety recommendations.
In response to the report agencies have decided more information on use of LPG cylinders in homes is needed, and recommended re-specification of cylinder valve designs to minimise potential problems and the progressive replacement of fittings made to old designs during cylinder 10-year tests, and co-ordination of system approvals for the use of LPG cylinders indoors.
The ESS would co-ordinate issues for LPG cabinet heaters in future and have input into the ERMA approvals for valve and fitting designs. Occupational Safety and Health had responsibility for controlling cylinder over-filling.
Other LPG- related incidents over the last four years include:
* September 2003: An LPG gas heater was the suspected cause of another fire in which gutted the home of a woman and two children at Atawhai, just north of Nelson.
* June 2001: A man in a caravan at Lake Coleridge in central Canterbury was severely burned when he lit a cigarette and gas from an LPG cylinder exploded.
* August 2000: a Tokoroa man, Ian Logan, 69, died when he lit a cigarette and a leaking LPG cylinder in the back seat of his Lada car exploded. At the inquest into Mr Logan's death, the coroner said the fatality showed how important it was to have gas cylinders and hose fittings checked.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY, NZPA
1.00pm
An investigation into the use of LPG heaters after a fire which killed two Hastings twins last year was released today -- a week before the one year anniversary of the tragedy.
Eight-year-olds Hannah and Jessie MacDonald, granddaughters of Napier Labour MP Russell Fairbrother were killed in a house fire last
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