Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

Little General Store September 2008
1.6 Professional and Industry Organizations
1.6.1 National Fire Protection Association
The NFPA publishes consensus standards applicable to specific industries and activities, including the
propane industry and hazardous materials incident response. These standards, while voluntary unless
incorporated into state laws or regulations, provide safe practice guidelines for operations in the processes
they address. West Virginia adopted the National Fire Codes into the State Fire Code. 10
1.6.2 Propane Education and Research Council
Congress created the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) in the Propane Education and
Research Act of 1996. PERC’s purpose is to promote the safe use of propane energy in the United States.
Each gallon of odorized propane sold in the United States is assessed one-half of one cent to fund PERC.
PERC estimates revenue of $45,300,000 for the 2009 fiscal year.
PERC develops the curriculum for the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), which is the
propane industry’s primary training method for service technicians, bulk plant operators, delivery truck
drivers, and customer service representatives.
1.6.3 National Propane Gas Association
Founded in 1931, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is the trade association representing all
propane industry segments. It is located in Washington, D.C., and affiliated with 38 state and regional
associations, including the West Virginia Propane Gas Association.
The NPGA administers CETP throughout the United States.
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The CSB determined that the National Fire Codes were adopted by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal prior to
1967, although the exact date is unknown.
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