Any place in North Carolina that stores, dispenses or delivers propane is inspected by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Standards Division LP-Gas Program. Inspectors perform inspections to make sure that propane companies are following regulations in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (LP-Gas Code). Inspectors routinely check these sites to ensure the product is being handled and distributed safely and to ensure that consumers are getting what they pay for when they get a propane delivery. The division does not regulate propane pricing. An online FAQ offers consumers answers to many questions about propane safety, inspection, pricing and disposal of old tanks. Facilities and trucks are typically inspected on an annual basis. Last year, eight LP gas inspectors performed more than 6,300 inspections across North Carolina.
The LP Gas Code has an extensive list of requirements for propane companies to meet to be in compliance. Companies with violations are usually given a warning and time to fix their mistake. However, some violations carry an immediate penalty. These include an ignition source within 25 feet, an invalid LP license and fueling cylinders indoors. Recently, three new violations were added to the list of immediate violations. These include off-truck remote not being present, missing a proper seal on the meter and other seal present on the meter/ no seal break report on file with the office.
“The off-truck remote not being present or operational means that the emergency shutoff device the LP delivery driver has to shut down the truck’s power and immediately stop the transfer of fuel in an emergency is either not in their possession or does not work as required,” said Marcus Helfrich, director of the Standards Division.
“If a meter is found with an improper seal, it means that the meter has not been calibrated by the NCDA&CS or a third party and therefore the volume of gas being delivered may not be accurate. If it has another company’s seal on it and there is no seal break report – this means that a repair company has removed the seals from the meter and done some sort of work. The seal break report defines what work was completed and if it affected the meter calibration. Without a seal report or a new calibration report after repair was made, we have no way of knowing if the meter is delivering the correct volume of fuel,” Helfrich added.
An inspector or company that has an immediate violation will be issued a fine by the inspector and have 30 days to appeal the fine or pay. Most fines are $200 per violation.
“Adding these as immediate violations issued by the Standards Division is in an effort to make things more equitable among all sizes of propane companies, streamline the inspection process and to ensure that consumers are getting what they pay for from the propane company,” said Helfrich.
Below is a list of immediate violations:
TRUCK VIOLATIONS (LPG-3)
- Wheel Stops – not provided and used.
- Evidence of smoking present.
- Off-truck remote not present and operational.
- Missing proper seal.
- Other seal present/No seal break report on file with office.
DISPENSER VIOLATIONS (LPG-4)
- No current LP Dealer’s license on file.
- Illegal fuel transfer operation was observed.
- Illegal transport operations were observed.
- Missing proper seal.
- Other seal present/No seal break report on file with office.
BULK PLANT VIOLATIONS (LPG-5)
- Observed ignition source (smoking) within 25 feet.
- Parking brake/wheel stops are not provided or used on trucks.
- Evidence of smoking in trucks.
- Sign TANK CAR CONNECTED not supplied.
- Railcar wheels are not chocked.
- Container ESVs and internal valves are not closed and the site is unattended.
- No valid LP-Gas dealer license, if applicable.
MISCELLANEOUS VIOLATIONS (LPG-1B)
- Cylinders in buildings.
- Engine fuel cylinder not stored properly.
- Cylinders being fueled indoors.
- Too many 1 lb. cylinders in a single area.
- Cylinders on floor maintenance machinery not properly labeled.
- Number of cylinders too high for area.
- Cylinder is unattended.
- Bulk plant approval violations.
- Site does not have proper approval.
- Observed fuel transfer.
- Observed improper fuel transfer.
- Training documentation lacking or incomplete.
- LP-Gas Cargo Vehicles (other than calibration)
- Parked without wheel stops.
- Smoking or other ignition source within specified distance.
- Driver not in attendance during transfer.
- Parked in a congested area.
- Parked less than 50 ft. from assembly/institution.
- Parked indoors.
- Missing proper seal.