Australian International Design Award for safe LPG storage system

Elgas has been named as a 2010 winner of the Australian International Design Award in the ‘Building and Housing’ category for its underground LPG underground storage system, EasyGas DownUnder.

The simplicity of EasyGas DownUnder appealed to the panel of international judges, who came from the US, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan and Australia. One of the judges commented: “Why hasn’t this been done before? This is a simple idea with an endless array of benefits.”

The system solves environmental issues by being concealed underground, improves safety with a fire-resistant lid and offers practical convenience through its flexible placement in properties.

In receiving the award, the Elgas EasyGas DownUnder Project Leader, Lewis Nottidge, said: “This underground storage system for LPG may be a simple concept but it had many technical challenges to overcome before we could explore its far-reaching advantages.

“The Elgas team has never been shy of taking on a challenge and this attitude led to the creation of an underground system that surpasses every safety standard and is suitable for residential and commercial properties.

“Even zero-lot line buildings with no side or backyard access, such as multi-unit homes and commercial structures, can now be serviced with LPG. Access problems like locked gates and unfriendly pets are eliminated making it easy for scheduled tanker deliveries to occur without any problems.”

The environmental benefits were also a consideration in design. The unit uses recycled materials and provides end-of-life recycling.

“EasyGas Downunder is an example of how through understanding the challenges of our LPG users, we have been able to explore and implement a practical, safe and innovative solution to gas storage that could benefit all Australians,” Nottidge concluded.