1. SAFE PROPANE TORCH USAGE
NERI TORCH TRAINING
PART III
SAFE PROPANE TORCH USAGE

2. Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment is not optional:
Work boots that cover the ankle – no frayed shoelaces
Long cotton pants
Long sleeve shirts - sleeves unrolled to wrist
Leather or heavy cotton gloves
ANSI Z-87.1 Safety goggles or glasses
The goal of the training program is to prevent personal injury and property losses. Personal injury can include harm caused to yourself and to the other crewmembers working around you. This is why everyone must wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Personally safety is not an option. If you do not have the proper personal protective equipment, you may be sent home for the day. The company is responsible for your safety, which is why safe work practices have been implemented and enforced. The following is a list of the minimal PPE required for safe torching operations:
Work boots that cover the ankles
Long cotton / denim pants that fit over the boots.
Long sleeve shirts that fit tight at the wrist – do not roll up the sleeves
Leather or heavy cotton gloves.
Safety glasses or goggles.
Synthetic materials (such as mechanic’s gloves) will melt / burn at much lower temperatures.

3. Torch Safety Proper Torch Assembly
Follow all Manufacturer’s Recommendations
Use only approved connection equipment
Hand tighten parts and do not force connection
Use open end wrench to complete assembly
Do not use any type of thread sealant as they may be flammable
The following steps should be taken when assembling a torch head, hose, regulator and cylinder. Remind students that all threads are reversed.

4. Torch Assembly Liquid Propane Cylinder Regulator Hose Torch
Have a torch, hose and regulator readily available to show. Discuss how each component works and the proper means of conducting a visual inspection.
Do not use damaged equipment for demonstrations – unless you are showing the damage for training purposes.
When showing damaged equipment, make sure the equipment is tagged out of service to emphasize the importance of removing defective equipment from service.

5. Torch MUST have operable stand!
Tanks must not have damaged collars or bases

6. Assembling Roofing Torches
After inspection of equipment & ensuring fire extinguisher is present, assemble the torch in the following sequence:
Connect regulator to hose;
Connect regulator to cylinder;
Release a small amount of gas to remove any debris that may have been accumulating in the hose while in storage;
Attach the hose to the torch head;
With torch head closed, crack valve on cylinder to permit a small amount of pressure to build up in hose;
Using soap/water solution, check all connections for bubbles which would indicate a leak is present;
Close the valve on the cylinder before retightening all of the connections.
After the inspection has been performed, assemble the torch in the following sequence:
Regulator to the hose
Regulator (with hose) to the cylinder
Release a small blast of gas to remove any debris that may have accumulated in the hose while in storage
Attach the hose to the torch head
With the torch head adjustment closed, crack the valve on the cylinder to permit a small amount of pressure to build up in the hose.
Using the soap and water solution (shown on the next slide) check all connections for bubbles, which indicate a leak.
Close the valve on the cylinder before retightening all of the connections.

7. Leak Test Kit
The soapy solution is a combination of water and dish soap. Use a small paint brush to apply water around the connections, including any clamps, bolts or adjustment nobs installed by the manufacturer. This is a simple test to indicate leaks in the complete system. Do not use any equipment that leaks.
Ask the group the following questions:
Do you think the equipment should be inspected for leaks before being sent out to the project? Explain why the answer is YES: to prevent defective equipment from arriving on the jobsite, which will prevent employees from trying to use it.
Should you inspect the equipment for leaks before the start of each shift? Explain why the answer is YES: Because equipment can be damaged during use and storage, and the connections may loosen up over time.

8. Assembling Roofing Torches
Open cylinder slowly during the leak test
If leak is detected, close cylinder valve and disconnect all parts
Attempt to reassemble
If leaks still exist, discontinue use and replace torch
Never use open flame to check for leaks!
This is mentioned again, as it is important that all equipment pass the leak check before use.

9. Lighting Torches Wear required PPE
Eye protection, gloves, long clothing to cover skin
Prepare work area by clearing away debris
Have extinguishers present and secure propane tank
Alert other workers and keep them away
Open cylinder and keep torch away from body
Use striker to ignite gas and adjust flame
NEVER USE CIGARETTE LIGHTERS OR MATCH
When lighting a torch is important to check your surroundings and keep the torch head pointed away from your body, other employees and combustible materials.

10. Flint Striker A flint striker should be used to light the torch head.
Ask the group why a flint striker should be used instead of a cigarette lighter? The answer is simple – it keep the hands away from the open flame. Additionally, most cigarette lighters require the employee to remove their gloves for use and they are filled with fuel which could ignite.

11. Never store propane inside of buildings
Propane Storage
Cylinder must be secured to prevent incidental tip over during use. Some companies secure the cylinders to hand cart. In the picture shown above, the company made small base plates out of sheet metal which can be secured using a set screw to the ring on the bottom of the cylinder.
Never store propane inside of buildings
It is also important that no smoking signs are placed around the propane storage. This also means no smoking on the roof while torching operations are being performed.
Never store propane inside of buildings

12. Torch Safety Always assume a torch at rest is lit
Use leg stand to support torch
Shut torch off when not in use
Never leave torch unattended
Never operate within 3 feet of other workers
Never point torch towards flammable objects or areas you can not see clearly
The information above is safe torch use policies. Item to emphasize:
Torch heads must have stands. Discuss how bent and/or missing stands are a common observation, and these torches should be removed from service.
The proper method of shutting down a torch will be discussed later, but it starts with the cylinder valve.
A torch is considered unattended whenever it is out of site – always shut the torch off when unattended. Someone could knock it over, debris could blow in front of it, etc.

13. Torch Safety Use caution when using torch around:
Roof openings, units & drains
Roofing materials and combustible deck
Discuss how negative pressure inside a building or the positive pressure of the flame exiting the torch head can cause the flame to find its way into roof penetrations, exhaust fans, around the edge of parapet walls, inside vertical louvers, into drains, etc.
When the flame cannot be seen, an alternative method must be used. Ask the group to list the alternative methods:
Torch and Flop – which is preferred method
Use of cold applied bitumen
Using hot asphalt
Following the procedures for direct heat using a small detail torch (less than 105,000 BTU/hr)

14. Torch Safety Never turn propane cylinder on its side
This does not increase fuel supply and is dangerous
Never apply open flame to defrost cylinders
If frost is present:
Reduce pressure on regulator
Switch to a smaller (lower BTU) torch head
Switch to a larger / manifolded tank
Frost occurs when the compressed gas inside the cylinder cannot evaporate fast enough to supply the torch head effectively. The frost is caused by the drop in pressure inside the tank. When frost occurs the tank is either near empty or is not large enough for the torch. Options to prevent frost include reducing the pressure on the regulator, switching to fewer or smaller torches (less BTU/hr being used) or increase the supply of gas vapor by using a larger tank or manifolded tanks.

15. Torch Disassembly Always disconnect torches at end of work day
Inspect all components for damage
Replace damaged components
Set torch on side and close cylinder valve
Squeeze torch trigger to purge remaining gas
Close all valves and disconnect torch
Properly store equipment & secure cylinders
Before disassembling the torch, make sure to tightly close the valve on the cylinder. With the flame still lit, squeeze the handle on the torch head to burn off any excess gas vapor in the hose and torch head assembly NOTE: This will be part of the hands-on evaluation.
Conduct an inspection of the torch heads, hoses and regulators before placing the components into storage. Ask the group “why should you inspect the components at the end of the shift?” Answer: So damaged / defective equipment can be taken out of service and replaced or repaired before the start of the next work day. This minimizes the change an employee will continue to use defective equipment which can lead to personal or property damages.

16. PROCEED TO PART IV