Just a moment. A moment and the gas, exploding, can destroy everything. It would be enough to put out the fire under the usual cursed saucepan. Because most of the accidents derive precisely from that cursed saucepan, which, left on, becomes red-hot causing fire and flames and, quickly, the disastrous explosion of the gas. One wonders: why, don't gas hobs all have, as a European requirement, the famous solenoid valve which shuts off the gas supply when the flame goes out accidentally? Of course, but the solenoid valve doesn't intervene when the flame stays on for a long time, dangerously, because it only activates (but look at what genius!) when the flame goes out accidentally. Now however, an Italian company – Italora – has produced and put on sale the first hob that could avoid many accidents with the saucepan. It is in fact equipped with a programmer, i.e. a simple timer, which allows you to set in advance the end of the gas arrival. In other words, it is enough to decide when the fire should go out and any risk is eliminated even if you leave it and forget it was on. A device that already exists but only for the electric hob. Incredible. Inexplicable.
Why are stoves so dangerous?
Because no one has ever asked to provide for saving the many victims and costly gas disasters. An economic fact: gas-related disasters are infinitely more onerous for individuals, the community and for insurance companies than any other disaster. A flooding of an entire house costs 1, a collapse even partial 10: the flooding is solved with standard works and materials, the explosion and the collapse requires very expensive, tailor-made, special works and materials and moreover expert reports and immensely more expensive projects. It's like rebuilding the building. The most guilty of the lack of interest in security? Consumers, who know absolutely everything about the most advanced, hi-tech, smart smartphones and TVs, but happily give a shit about security and never want to invest (do you know the condominium assemblies?). When the solenoid valve was not mandatory (in Europe yes, in Italy no) consumers rejected the safer hobs because they cost only a few euros more. Today the solenoid valve is mandatory on all floors only and exclusively thanks to Europe. The gas has a strong odor, indeed it stinks, and you can smell it when it comes out. And when it keeps going out, the solenoid valve does its duty, as we said. But when the gas continues to burn under the saucepan, it never intervenes. That is, it does not block the arrival of the gas before that moment in which the heat – which is the mother of all fires – unleashes the gas.
But what cylinders, it's the distraction that kills
In 90% of cases, when even very tall and solid buildings explode, explode and collapse, the gas is at the origin. Yes, electricity does damage too, but it's nothing compared to what gas can cause. About 50% of disastrous accidents that cause collapses and fatalities derive from the "malfunction" of cooking and heating appliances. And often the famous killer bomb, accused very lightly by the mass media, of the deflagration, has nothing to do with it and it is obviously discovered in retrospect. However, for the avoidance of doubt, it is necessary to know that gas of any type – in cylinders, cylinders, pipes – does not explode on its own but always because there is a "human" fault: a known and overlooked defect (gas leak...) , incorrect installation and above all distraction and small pot.
From the blog La Casa di Paola.
