The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued new guidance for cleaning flue accessories it hopes will have international application.

A new standard for preventing fire and explosion during cleaning and purging flammable gas piping systems prohibits the use of flammable gas as a cleaning agent for the interior of pipes.

The new standard was developed following an explosion at a Kleen Energy Power Plant in Connecticut last year.

In the incident, highly pressurised flammable gas was used to clean debris from a pipe, which was then discharged into the atmosphere without controls, causing an explosion.

The proceeding investigation resulted in the NFPA establishing the new safety standard.

NFPA president James Shannon noted: "This is an example of the critical role NFPA plays in providing codes and standards for use by government and other entities throughout the world."

The new guidance covers the cleaning of both new and repaired piping systems, as well as requiring written safety procedures to be developed in the US where the new regulations will apply.