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We had a home near us in the last decade where the propane tank exploded. I don't know the details, there are a lot of things that go into something like that h

We had a home near us in the last decade where the propane tank exploded. I don't know the details, there are a lot of things that go into something like that happening, but one of the things found during the investigation was that, per the building code, the propane tank was too close to the house. The news went on to say that some non-trivial percentage of residential propane tanks were positioned in a way that wasn't up to code. Because most manufactured homes don't have traditional financing, they aren't subject to the same code inspections, yadda yadda, house goes boom. The risk of a fire with a home battery system might be lower, but the outcome is an unknown. I've had engines and stoves and fryers and furnaces and chimneys start on fire on me. I know how to deal with those things, even if they are scary. A battery fire, I have no idea how to deal with. Coupled with code standards that are probably not as mature as they should be, and may not see the enforcement they should, and I am content to wait.

ZYbCRq22HbJ2y7 2y ago
For above ground tanks, minimum distance from structure according to NFPA 58: No restriction for tanks < 125 gallons 10 feet for tanks 125 - 500 gallons 25 feet for tanks 1,000 - 2,000 gallons A summary here: https://www.cfins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Propane-Container-Distance-Safety.pdf https://www.cfins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Propane-Con... > A battery fire, I have no idea how to deal with If its a small battery, like any other fire.
- bsder 2y ago
  But you also need a generator to go with that propane tank. And that generator has quite a few code restrictions, too.
  - themaninthedark 2y ago
    Only if using the propane for power. Parent talked about manufactured homes and non-traditional financing, I would be hazard they are talking about single and double wide trailers. In this case, the propane would most likely be used for heating and cooking.
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  Is NFPA 58 law? There are counties in the US that don't even have staffed building permits.
  - bluGill 2y ago
    In some places. In others it isn't law, but your insurance company will put it in the contract and so the courts will side with the insurance company denying claims if you violate it. Some places have a different law, and some insurance companies have different things in their contract.
reverius42 2y ago
You’ve had 5+ separate spontaneous house fires? That sounds very unlucky.
- debacle 2y ago
  Probably more than that. Grew up with a wood fireplace, work with a lot of farm equipment, do a lot of stupid things.
BLKNSLVR 2y ago
Why does "traditional financing" or otherwise make any difference to code requirements or inspections?
- bluGill 2y ago
  Because banks don't want your house to burn down and insurance to refuse to pay out - if that happens almost everyone will declare bankruptcy and the bank is then out the money they loaned on the house. Thus banks will do some checking before letting you get a loan. When you buy a house the fine print (several pages of it which you are supposed to read before you sign) will say things like this because the bank demands it.
Havoc 2y ago
House near where I grew up also had a tank explode. All brick house even internal walls. Completely levelled the thing. Suspect the tank was indoors though (was a gold smith dude)
- bluGill 2y ago
  Most likely a water heater. Those explode and can level a house. Propane tanks are almost impossible to make explode - though a leak may start an explosion it typically isn't actually the tank.
  - themaninthedark 2y ago
    If he was a goldsmith, I would assume oxygen and acetylene tanks as they are often used in jewellery making but water heaters are also known to explode.
potato3732842 2y ago
> per the building code, the propane tank was too close to the house. I doubt that was a material contribution. It's hard to make inside go boom when the fuel is dumping outside except by freak circumstances (bowl shaped property, wind shadow putting a slight vacuum on the structure, etc).

ZYbCRq22HbJ2y7 2y ago

For above ground tanks, minimum distance from structure according to NFPA 58: No restriction for tanks < 125 gallons 10 feet for tanks 125 - 500 gallons 25 feet for tanks 1,000 - 2,000 gallons A summary here: https://www.cfins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Propane-Container-Distance-Safety.pdf https://www.cfins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Propane-Con... > A battery fire, I have no idea how to deal with If its a small battery, like any other fire.

bsder 2y ago
But you also need a generator to go with that propane tank. And that generator has quite a few code restrictions, too.
- themaninthedark 2y ago
  Only if using the propane for power. Parent talked about manufactured homes and non-traditional financing, I would be hazard they are talking about single and double wide trailers. In this case, the propane would most likely be used for heating and cooking.
s1artibartfast 2y ago
Is NFPA 58 law? There are counties in the US that don't even have staffed building permits.
- bluGill 2y ago
  In some places. In others it isn't law, but your insurance company will put it in the contract and so the courts will side with the insurance company denying claims if you violate it. Some places have a different law, and some insurance companies have different things in their contract.

reverius42 2y ago

You’ve had 5+ separate spontaneous house fires? That sounds very unlucky.

debacle 2y ago
Probably more than that. Grew up with a wood fireplace, work with a lot of farm equipment, do a lot of stupid things.

BLKNSLVR 2y ago

Why does "traditional financing" or otherwise make any difference to code requirements or inspections?

bluGill 2y ago
Because banks don't want your house to burn down and insurance to refuse to pay out - if that happens almost everyone will declare bankruptcy and the bank is then out the money they loaned on the house. Thus banks will do some checking before letting you get a loan. When you buy a house the fine print (several pages of it which you are supposed to read before you sign) will say things like this because the bank demands it.

Havoc 2y ago

House near where I grew up also had a tank explode. All brick house even internal walls. Completely levelled the thing. Suspect the tank was indoors though (was a gold smith dude)

bluGill 2y ago
Most likely a water heater. Those explode and can level a house. Propane tanks are almost impossible to make explode - though a leak may start an explosion it typically isn't actually the tank.
- themaninthedark 2y ago
  If he was a goldsmith, I would assume oxygen and acetylene tanks as they are often used in jewellery making but water heaters are also known to explode.

potato3732842 2y ago

> per the building code, the propane tank was too close to the house. I doubt that was a material contribution. It's hard to make inside go boom when the fuel is dumping outside except by freak circumstances (bowl shaped property, wind shadow putting a slight vacuum on the structure, etc).