Heh, I probably resemble that remark! :-)

-john

I have a flashlight that caused an explosion.

When the girlfriend seen the price I paid for my little Surefire ... boy did she explode .... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've been to 100's of gas leaks in my job as a fire LT. We are issued Streamlight Survivors. I see guys use all kinds of lights.

The gas company guys all carry Maglites, rechargebles.

The exposive range is quite narrow and to reach the L.E.L you would have a ton of gas, the joint would be just loaded.99.9 percent of all gas calls don't reach more than 4-5 percant of the LEL from what I've seen.

Although I have been to one house that blew up killing 2. Again to reach those levels it takes almost a broken pipe flowing for awhile.

Last trick I went for a gas call where someone stole the stove and let the pipe flow open till someone smelled it from the street. The LEL upstairs was I think around 20 percent of the LEL and the place was thick with gas hell it was smelled from outside yet only 20 percent LEL.

"But then again, all dive lights that I have seen are plastic, which is 100% safe"

Static electricity would be another factor when concidering sparks. Something that would have been concidered when the lights go for cetcification. (I hope)

Finally, someone with some actual experience with flashlights and gas leaks! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for the feedback, THIRDPIG.

I guess a broken gas pipe is the scenario I was envisioning in my hypothetical scenario--a major earthquake could break the gas connection to the stove as the floor rocked violently back and forth. The kitchen is right next to our bedroom, so that's why we'd smell it right after the quake stopped. I know water heaters get strapped in California, but stoves? I've personally never seen it here.

But from what you say, sounds like we'd have a sufficient time to evacuate before the atmosphere became explosive, even if the gas line were completely busted open in our kitchen. I suppose opening the windows on the way out would help, too.

OK, then, I guess we have a pretty definitive answer to my original question, thanks primarily to THIRDPIG and his long experience with actual gas leaks. The flashlight will NOT cause my apartment to explode--although Bigzzie's girlfriend is another matter entirely. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Make that EX-girlfriend

She tried to get in the way of me and my toys ... Oops I meant Important necessary equipment ... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

FM stands for Factory Mutual, another certification organization similar to UL. They apparently have a more narrow focus on product testing than UL, as you don't see their name on many products.

I concur with most of the others: a flashlight that's dive rated should be safe enough for most "casual" gas leak encounters. Most of those will have some sort of FM/UL approval anyway. The converse is not necessarily true; ie: you wouldn't take a Streamlight Vulcan diving. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well your welcome. My advice, would be to get out during any gas emergency. Call 911/ gas company let them check it out. My experience is mostly with minor leaks at the stove etc.

Not many earthquakes in NY ! Now that could cause some broken pipes and explosions. Your basic "is that gas I smell" type leaks well there is little to fear. A broken pipe inside is the real deal just leave.

BTW the gas will rise, and the highest readings will be the upper floors. When we vent a house we open the top floor windows and a lower door.

The funny part is we park the firetruck a house away so if it blows the city is not out a truck I guess, we send just 2 guys with full ppe,scba etc. Then the gas company comes, parks in front and a guy in a t shirt and pants hops out smoking a cigartte........

Thanks, red_jeep. Learn something new every day. I'll keep a lookout for FM approved gear and see how often it comes up.