What should I do if I smell gas?

Can you smell gas? If so, do the following:

• Open all doors and windows, even if your own home is not connected to the natural gas network. This allows the natural gas to mix with the air so that it rarefies and the danger lessens.
• Do you live in an apartment? Warn the neighbours and local residents.
  Are you in a public building? If so, inform those in charge or at reception. In the street, it is a good idea to move bystanders away.
• Do not use any electrical switches
  Avoid sparks (torch, telephone, light, heating, home automation appliances). Smoking and the use of matches, lighters or candles is forbidden, too.
• Close the valve on the natural gas meter.
  N.B.: only do this if you can do so without putting on the light or a torch, because this could cause a spark.
• Leave the building and call 0800 19 400– away from the area where you can smell gas.
  Sibelga will send an intervention team to the site straight away. They will check whether or not it is actually a gas leak, and take the necessary steps to safeguard the area (close meters, seal the leak, etc).

I can smell gas - is it going to explode?

Gas leaks are rare, but safety first

Natural gas is a very safe source of energy. Accidents are rare, and are often the consequence of “aggression” affecting the gas pipelines when work is carried out. They may also be due to consumers’ installations that do not conform or appliances that are poorly serviced or incorrectly used.

Natural gas can only ignite in very specific circumstances. What qualities make natural gas so safe?

• A striking odour is always added to natural gas. This means that you notice a leak quickly, long before there is any danger of explosion. You can smell natural gas at a concentration of 1 % in the air, whereas it is only dangerous as of 5 %.
• Natural gas rarefies and disperses quickly.
• It can only ignite at a certain concentration (between 5 and 15 %) in the air.
• It can only ignite as of a temperature of 650° C. So the important thing is to avoid sparks.
• Breathing in a mixture of natural gas and air is not poisonous.