Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. April 30, Letter Whether empty compressed gas cylinders may be laid horizontally when stored. Question 1 : Does 29 CFR Answer 1 : Title 29 CFR This paragraph provides:. An exception to this is single stage regulators used for corrosive gases. Never use an adapter between the regulator and the source cylinder Never use an aid, such as Teflon tape to connect a regulator to a cylinder.
After attaching a pressure-reducing regulator to a compressed gas cylinder Turn the regulator adjustment screw out counterclockwise until it feels loose Stand behind the cylinder with the valve outlet facing away from you and observe the high pressure gauge on the regulator from an angle, never pressurize a gauge while looking directly at it.
Open the valve handle on the gas cylinder slowly until you hear the space between the cylinder valve and regulator fill with gas. You can also watch the pressure rise on the high pressure gauge.
If you turned the adjustment screw properly, there should be no gas flow out of the regulator and no pressure rise on the low-flow pressure gauge. When you are ready to use the cylinder, open the valve until you feel it stop, then turn it back one-quarter turn. If the regulator does not come with a hand wheel, the wrench needed to open it must be left at the cylinder so that it can be closed quickly in the event of an emergency.
Cylinder Use Be sure all connections are tight. Keep cylinders valves, regulators, couplings, hose and apparatus clean and free of oil and grease. Keep cylinders away from open flames and sources of heat. Safety devices and valves shall not be tampered with, nor repairs attempted. Use flashback arrestors and reverse-flow check valves to prevent flashback when using oxy-fuel systems.
Regulations for oxygen cylinders are based on the volume of gas present designated in cubic feet in the U. As expected, the more volume of gas present, the more requirements that apply.
There are many different sizes of cylinders utilized for oxygen in health care facilities ranging from an E-cylinder approximately 23 cubic feet of oxygen to an H-cylinder approximately cubic feet of oxygen.
Other cylinder sizes include A, B or D. The following considerations help facilities professionals explore the requirements for oxygen being stored in cylinders in a health care occupancy and how they can be sure their facilities comply:. Full, partial or empty.
A critical aspect of oxygen use and storage is related to identifying each cylinder as full or empty. In an emergency, it is critical for staff to easily identify which cylinders are full. NFPA 99 section This can be accomplished through an integral pressure gauge, individual signage or separated group signage for cylinders being stored together.
They allow an organization to perform a risk assessment leading to a policy that identifies how the organization will identify and store partial cylinders. If the organization deems fit to store full and partial cylinders together in the same enclosure, TJC will allow it as long as it is identified in the hospital policy.
If this is not desirable, another option might be to utilize a separate storage rack for full, partial and empty cylinders with appropriate identification if a facility has the space for it. In-use versus storage. Another important aspect of dealing with oxygen cylinder compliance is determining what is in-use versus what is storage. NFPA section Similarly, section Other oxygen cylinders not fitting one of the descriptions discussed previously will be considered storage.
In patient care areas, NFPA 99 section But it is not always easy or even possible to find a less hazardous substitute for a particular compressed gas used for a certain job.
Speak to the chemical supplier to find out if safer substitutes are available. For example, in some cases, methylacetylene-propadiene MAPP gas, propylene, propane or mixtures of liquefied petroleum gas can be substituted for acetylene as fuel gases for cutting, welding and brazing.
These gases are more stable and can be stored in normal cylinders. Their flammable limits are much narrower than those of acetylene e. Obtain MSDSs for all possible substitutes. Find out about all of the hazards health, fire, corrosivity, chemical reactivity of these materials before making any changes. Sometimes, process changes or modifications can reduce a material's hazards. For example, many cylinders of the same gas may be used in different areas of a workplace.
Installing fixed pipelines connected to a central gas supply in a safe area can often reduce the hazard. It can also reduce the need for many sets of portable equipment supplied through flexible hoses. Similarly, ordering cylinders equipped with flow limiting restrictors can minimize the hazards of a sudden failure of a process gas line.
Choose the least hazardous material and process that can do the job effectively and safely. Then learn how to work safely with them. Well-designed and well-maintained ventilation systems remove gases from the workplace and reduce their hazards. The amount and type of ventilation needed depends on such things as the type of job, the kind and amount of materials used, and the size and layout of the work area.
Assess the specific ways your workplace stores, handles, uses and disposes of its compressed gases. An assessment can reveal if existing ventilation controls and other hazard control methods are adequate. Some workplaces may need a complete system of hoods and ducts to provide acceptable ventilation. Others may require a single, well-placed exhaust fan. Storage facilities for particularly hazardous materials such as chlorine, may require an additional emergency ventilation system, or continuous monitoring with appropriate alarms.
Other workplaces using small amounts of inert gases may require no special ventilation system. Make sure ventilation systems are designed and built so that they do not result in an unintended hazard. Ensure that hoods, ducts, air cleaners and fan are made from materials compatible with the gas used. Systems may require explosion-proof and corrosion-resistant equipment. Separate ventilation systems may be needed for some compressed gases to keep them away from systems exhausting incompatible substances.
Store compressed gas cylinders in compliance with the occupational health and safety regulations and fire and building codes applying to your workplace. These laws may specify the permissible kinds of storage areas and the construction of these storage areas.
They may also specify the kinds and amounts of different gases that can be stored in each safe storage area. Inspect all incoming cylinders before storing to ensure they are undamaged and properly labelled. Do not accept delivery of defective cylinders. Be sure they are not giving off odours, visible fumes or hissing sounds. Check that the cylinder was last tested within the required time usually 5 or 10 years, but some containers may be as low as 3 years or as long as 12 years.
Also check that the cylinder labels are intact and that they match other identifying markings on the cylinder. Do not rely on cylinder colour to identify the gas. Different suppliers may use different colours for cylinders of the same gas. In addition, colours appear different under artificial lights and some people are colour blind. Gases that cannot be clearly identified should not be used. Call compressed gases by the name on the supplier label.
This reduces confusion, promotes recognition of the hazards involved and precautions to take, and can prevent accidental use of the wrong gas. If oxygen is called "air," someone who wants air to run a tool may use oxygen with possible serious results. Leave the valve cap securely in place until the cylinder is to be used.
Inspect the cylinder valve by looking through the ports in the valve cap. Do not accept dirty, rusted or otherwise damaged valves and fixtures. Always transport cylinders with valve caps or other valve protection in place. Pulling cylinders by their valve caps, rolling them on their sides or dragging or sliding them can cause damage.
Rolling cylinders on their bottom edge "milk churning" may be acceptable for short distances. Never lift cylinders with magnets or chain or wire rope slings.
Transport cylinders on specially built hand carts or trolleys or other devices designed for this. All transport devices should have some way of securing cylinders to prevent them from falling. Store compressed gas cylinders separately, away from processing and handling areas, and from incompatible materials.
Separate storage can minimize personal injury and damage in case of fires, spills or leaks. Many compressed gases can undergo dangerous reactions if they come in contact with incompatible materials gases, liquids or solids , so store them apart from each other.
For example, store oxidizing gases at least 6 metres 20 feet away from fuel gases or other combustible materials, or separate them with an approved fire wall. Check the reactivity information and storage requirements sections of the MSDS for details about which materials are incompatible with a particular compressed gas.
The National Fire Code addresses requirements for segregation of different gases in storage. If compressed gas cylinders are stored outside, use a well-drained, securely fenced area. Keep them on a raised concrete pad or non-combustible rack. Protect cylinders from the weather and do not allow them to stand directly on wet soil as this can cause corrosion. Indoor storage areas must have walls, floors and fittings made of suitable materials.
For example, use non-combustible building materials in storage areas for oxidizing gas and corrosion-resistant materials in storage areas for corrosive gas. Make sure floors are level and protect cylinders from dampness. Avoid overcrowding in storage areas or storing cylinders in out-of-the-way locations. Always chain or securely restrain cylinders in an upright position to a wall, rack or other solid structure wherever they are stored, handled or used.
Securing each cylinder individually is best. Stacking of groups of cylinders together offers some protection, but if this is done improperly, the entire group or individual cylinders could fall. Store compressed gas cylinders in dry, cool areas, out of direct sunlight and away from steam pipes, boilers or other heat sources.
Follow the gas supplier's recommendations for storage and use temperatures. Never apply direct heat to a cylinder. When moving cylinders, securely fasten them to a suitable cylinder transporting device. At the site, chain or otherwise secure the cylinder in place.
Remove the valve cap only after the cylinder has been safely installed then check the cylinder valve and fixture.
Remove any dirt or rust. Grit, dirt, oil or dirty water can cause gas leaks if they get into the cylinder valve or gas connection. There are four standard types of cylinder valve outlets to prevent interchanges of gas handling equipment between incompatible gases.
Use only the proper equipment for discharging a particular gas from its cylinder. Never use homemade adaptors or force connections between the cylinder valve outlet and gas handling equipment. Whether a compressed gas is a liquefied, non-liquefied or dissolved gas, the gas supplier can give the best advice on the most suitable gas discharge equipment and the safest way to use it for a specific job. In general, do not lubricate any cylinder valves, fittings, or regulator threads, or apply jointing compounds and tape.
Use only lubricants and sealants recommended by the gas supplier. Cylinders stored in cold areas may have frozen valves. Use only warm water to thaw the valve or bring the cylinder into a warm area and allow it to thaw at room temperature. Use only recommended keys or handwheels to open valves. Never use longer keys or modify keys to increase their leverage.
Avoid using even the correct key if it is badly worn. Do not use pipe wrenches or similar tools on handwheels. Any of these practices could easily damage the valve seat or spindle.
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