Fire hazard in CNG vehicles
The CNG bus fire at Mohakhali and the vivid picture (Sept;26) says it all. Naturally, the quality of CNG conversion kit and the retrofit workmanship is suspect as the prime reason for the dangerous fire. Such incidents will greatly lower confidence in CNG public vehicles (buses & taxis) to a great extent.
The statement of the state-run BRP's engineer about poor quality of cylinders and the CNG kit may be true. However, the standard of workmanship in the retro-fitting of the CNG conversion kit needs to be addressed. Shoddy work could lead to leakage of natural gas, forming a combustible mixture with air resulting in ignition from stray spark of the ignition system. The ignition set up of the vehicle should be in top order; another aspect that needs to be examined and rectified during the retro-fit.
I would recommend that the insurance companies join together to set up a team of experts to fulltime supervise inspected and approved conversion workshops. This will insure testing and approval of conversion kit materials including the cylinder, the standard of workmanships and proper testing after the retrofit.
They may allow a small rebate on insurance premiums if the conversion is done and certified by their experts at the recognised and approved workshops. For vehicles converted elsewhere the insurers can add a stiff surcharge to the premium. This will gradually bring the system to reasonable order, and decrease the frequency of such incidents; many of which go unreported and unknown to the traveling public!
This method is adopted during building of ocean-going ships by Lloyds and other maritime insurers. Their inspectors test and oversea all aspects of materials, component manufacture, hull and structural plates and various other equipment fitted to the vessel. All workmanship and static and sea trials of the vessel is done under their supervision prior to approving the vessel for regular sailing.
The undersigned was involved in this testing procedure of Lloyds when manufacturing shipbuilding grade plates in Chittagong Steel Mills in the seventies. A similar approach in the CNG retrofitting work will ensure the quality and safety of the vehicles. This logical approach needs to be adopted for ensuring the safety of passenger carrying vehicles, the earlier the better.
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