About Gas
LPG and Natural Gas
LPG and Natural Gas are colourless, odourless and non-toxic. They are supplied with an additive odorant to assist detection by smell. LPG and Natural Gas are just as safe as any other fuel. In fact, they are safer than most fuels as neither the raw gas nor the end products poisonous to inhale, so long as the appliance is operating and installed correctly. For more information on the safety of LPG contact www.lpgas.co.za , for Natural Gas information visit www.egoligas.co.za
LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas)
LPG is a by-product of the oil refining process and is abundantly available throughout South Africa and the Continent. Due to recent regulation in South Africa, both the price and supply of LPG is governed to ensure safe reliable supply at a sustainable price. LPG is an environmentally friendly energy source. The use of tankless systems can create 30-50% savings on energy costs, as well as reducing ones carbon footprint immensely, as water is only heated as it is being used. LPG (and more so Natural Gas) combusted gases are also far less damaging to the environment than using energy produced by coal fired electric plants.
LPG is supplied in cylinders and bulk tanks.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel. Like oil and coal, it is essentially the remains of plants, animals and microorganisms that lived millions of years ago now contained in underground reservoirs. Natural Gas is primarily made up of methane (85%) and when burned, it gives off energy. Unlike other fossil fuels, it is extremely clean burning and emits lower levels of harmful byproducts into the air.
Egoli Gas provides Natural Gas in the Greater Johannesburg area. Natural Gas is piped directly from Gas Fields in Mozambique, to a further 1200km pipeline network that services domestic, commercial and industrial customers with the cheapest form of gas available in the country. For those lucky enough to be using Natural Gas, savings of up to 50% can be achieved on identical appliances running on LPG!!
Benefits of Natural Gas
- It is one of the safest, cleanest and most efficient form of energy.
- Readily available piped direct from Mozambique (no storage cylinders or tanks required)
- Runs at low pressure in pipelines
- Don’t have to worry about running out of gas
- Extremely Low levels of Greenhouse gases on combustion
- Reliable, easy to maintain
Installation
All LP gas installations must be carried out by a registered gas fitter accordingly to SANS10087, Natural Gas according to SANS827. A typical LPG installation would require a minimum of 2 x 48kg cylinders with a changeover regulator, connected directly to the GWH (cylinder sizing does need to be correctly specified by your Gas Installer). Natural Gas installers must ensure correct pipe sizing to the unit is adhered to. Paloma units are designed for outdoor use, no additional flues etc are required. For guarantee and customer insurance purposes, every Paloma installed must be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity from a registered installer
Water piping is very simple, cold water supply with minimum 1bar pressure is needed to supply the unit. Hot water is then plumbed from the unit into the existing or new reticulation supplying the premises. It is very important to ensure hot water piping is laid efficiently and to reduce heat loss factors. The GWH units should be installed as close as possible to the point of highest hot water use.
A standard 15amp 3 pin outdoor plug socket is required (units only draw 65watts of power only when operational). Power back-up devices can be installed directly beneath the unit. It may also be advisable to install a surge protected plug on the unit to safeguard from electricity spikes
Appliance Safety
All gas appliances must be tested and certified for use in South Africa according to SANS 1539.
All Gas Water Heaters units have flame failure devices, so gas will not run through the unit if a flame is not burning. Oxygen depletion sensors ensure that gas combusts correctly and that overuse of oxygen does not occur.