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Odor Fade in Natural Gas and Propane

Related Pages
(Revised January 2022)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2021-106
2021-106 Thumbnail

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) recommends that fire departments ensure all firefighters responding to natural gas or propane incidents:

  • use gas detection equipment and do not rely upon their sense of smell to determine if propane or natural gas is present
  • understand that the odorant in natural gas or propane can fade
  • are trained on the proper calibration, maintenance, and use of gas detection equipment to determine if a potential explosive atmosphere is present
  • recognize that the lack of odor can result from the natural gas or propane contacting soil, concrete, and a wide variety of building materials such as drywall, wood, and new piping storage tanks

Odor Fade in Natural Gas and Propane pdf icon[PDF – 113 KB]

Suggested Citation

NIOSH [2021]. Odor fade in natural gas and propane. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2021-106 (revised 01/2022), https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2021106revised012022external icon.

List of Revisions
Revision Date Revisions Citation of Revision
July, 2019 (Original) NIOSH [2019]. Traumatic Injury Prevention Program. By Castillo, D., Schuler, C., Webb, S., and Reeves, K. Atlanta, GA: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2019–145, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019145external icon
January, 2022 Fixed minor spelling error on page 2. NIOSH [2021]. Odor fade in natural gas and propane. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2021-106 (revised 01/2022), https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2021106revised012022external icon.

 

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Page last reviewed: March 9, 2021
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health