Poland has a nationwide safety rule that prohibits LPG cylinders in residential buildings with more than four above-ground storeys. A housing cooperative in Zakopane has just reminded tenants about this ban and about the risks of using bottled gas in multi-family housing.
The letters sent to residents were meant as a reminder of rules already in force. The cooperative wanted tenants to know where gas cylinders cannot be used and why the restrictions exist. The core issue, according to the notice, is that propane-butane is heavier than air. If the gas leaks, it does not float upward; it settles near the floor and may accumulate in basements and other lowest parts of a building.
That accumulation can easily become a fire or explosion hazard. This is why Polish regulations impose a complete ban on storing and using LPG cylinders in residential buildings with more than four above-ground storeys.
Why LPG is especially dangerous in tall blocks
The density of the gas mixture is the key threat. Unlike natural gas, which rises after a leak, propane-butane stays low. In a multi-storey building, it can flow into basements and other lowest areas, where it can create a serious fire or explosion risk. The Zakopane cooperative’s communication points to this exact danger and warns residents that keeping a cylinder in a flat above the permitted height is a breach of rules and a potential source of danger.
Because of that behaviour, the law treats liquefied petroleum gas in taller residential buildings as a particularly serious safety problem. The ban covers storage and use in the whole building, not just inside a single flat.
Mains gas and LPG cannot be combined
A second restriction is also in force nationwide. Under a regulation issued by the Minister of Infrastructure, liquid gas and gas supplied from the network cannot be used simultaneously in the same building. This means a flat connected to the gas grid cannot use an LPG cylinder at the same time as the mains installation.
For residents in buildings with more than four storeys that are not connected to a gas network, the consequence is clear: gas cannot be used for cooking. Meals have to be prepared on electric appliances. The cooperative’s letter added that breaking these rules can lead to serious consequences. The State Fire Service or the District Construction Supervision Inspectorate may carry out controls, and violators may face civil and criminal liability if their actions cause damage or a dangerous incident.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/ISEN STOCKER
