Why Does Propane Require a Safety Control?

Question: Why is it required to have a safety control for propane gas logs.

Answer: The answer lies in the nature of propane versus natural gas. Natural gas is lighter than air. In its raw state (such as occurs in a leak or flame-out), natural gas safely vents up the chimney into the atmosphere. Propane, however, is heavier than air. In its raw state, propane sinks and pools at the floor. It will continue pooling until it reaches a spark or flame, such as your water heater, furnace pilot light or static electricity. Once it reaches this ignition source...BOOM!!!

A safety pilot kit shuts off the flow of gas to the burner in the event the pilot light blows out, an interruption in the gas supply or if there is a flame out of the burner. No certification body, code agency, trade organization or manufacturer permits the use of a propane set without a safety pilot control. Many areas even require them on natural gas sets, although it is kind of a "belt and suspenders" approach (again, due to the lighter-than-air nature of natural gas).

In summary, you must have a safety control installed onto your propane burning gas log set. Regardless of gas type, a safety control also provides a convenient means of lighting your gas log set, as the ignition source is ready to light your gas log burner with just a turn of a knob or press of a button.