Odor Fade in Natural Gas and Propane

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) recommends that fire departments ensure all firefighters responding to natural gas or propane incidents: 1) use gas detection equipment and do not rely upon their sense of smell to determine if propane or natural gas is present; 2) understand that the odorant in natural gas or propane can fade; 3) are trained on the proper calibration, maintenance, and use of gas detection equipment to determine if a potential explosive atmosphere is present; and 4) 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.