Gas cylinders contain highly compressed or liquefied gases that can potentially be flammable, toxic or otherwise sensitive to the environmental conditions.
Consequently it is imperative that these products are stored safely and securely.
In order to ensure that cylinders are stored correctly the Government and the Health and Safety Executive have produced a series of guidelines and procedures for employers and workers to follow in order to prevent gas leaks or other damage that may be caused to gas cylinders and storage facilities. Here are some of the guidelines for safe gas cylinder storage.
Potential Hazards.
Physical damage to a cylinder containing pressurised gases could potentially cause explosions or the leaking of noxious and harmful gases into the surrounding environment. This damage or cracking in the cylinder body may result from exposure to excessive heat, exposure to electric circuits, or from simply falling over. Since many gases are highly compressed and/or flammable, sensitivity to physical damage can be very high: even small vibrations have been known to cause explosions. Therefore it is critically important to store gas cylinders securely in specially designed units like Monarch Shelving’s powder-coated cylinder cages.
Storage Room Conditions.
A storage room for gas cylinders should be dry, free of possible corrosive contaminants and well-ventilated. If the cylinder valves are not properly secured during storage, even the smallest gas leak can potentially spread hazardous and combustible fumes, therefore it is critically important to ensure that the storage facility is properly ventilated and inspected on a regular basis.
Effective Storage Labelling.
The regulations demand that all stored gas cylinders are clearly labelled. Oxygen cylinders, flammable gas cylinders and liquid nitrogen cylinders all have different chemical properties, so need to be stored differently. Therefore for employers to ensure optimal safety these gases need to be clearly identified and stored in separate compartments. The labels must be durable and located on the shoulder of the cylinder, and should include a tag with the manufacturer’s name, a list of the chemical contents, along with the dates of use with their corresponding users. Unmarked and ambiguously labelled cylinders must be segregated immediately and reported to the manufacturer so that the contents can be verified.
Securing the Cylinders.
The majority of accidents tend to happen when unsecured cylinders either tip or fall over. Consequently it is important to secure cylinders to a stationary support or to a cart with straps, chains and/or cables. Liquefied flammable gas cylinders must always be stored in an upright position. Valves must always remain closed, and valve protection caps should always remain intact during storage.
Separation of Distinct Gases.
Because the interaction of certain gases can cause combustion, proper separation of individual gas cylinders is of critical importance. Oxygen cylinders should be stored at a minimum of 25 feet from fuel-gas cylinders, or with a non-combustible wall of at least 5 feet high to isolate the oxygen from other gas cylinders. It is also important to store empty and full cylinders in separate storage areas.
