Guidelines for Safe Storage of Compressed Gas Cylinders

Table of Contents

Introduction

Every workplace deals with some kind of compressed gas cylinder. Be it for firefighting purposes or oxygen cylinders for medical purposes. Every workplace has some kind or the other. But is having these compressed cylinders at the workplace enough, or do they have some storage rules?

Well, believe it or not, storing compressed gas cylinders safely is crucial for the health and safety of the workplace. Throwing light on this concern, we have curated a blog for the critical guidelines for the safe storage of compressed gas cylinders.

What Are Compressed Gas Cylinders?

Pressure cylinders are cylinders with various chemical compositions under pressure in a liquid or gaseous state. They possess substantial potential energy, which can lead to disasters on an enormous scale, affecting both lives and properties if not managed with appropriate safety measures during transportation, unloading, storage, handling, and use.

When handled improperly or abusively, compressed gas cylinders can be exceedingly dangerous. Due to its pressure and/or contents, compressed gas cylinder safety is essential as it can pose several risks.

Depending on the specific gas, there is a chance of being simultaneously exposed to mechanical and chemical risks.

Oxygen cylinder safety regulations and rules must be taken seriously since damaged or missing cylinder valves can turn cylinders into flying munitions.

If safety procedures are not done, regulators could turn into bullets that rip through employees.

Compressed gas cylinders are employed in various businesses, from restaurants to industrial production plants. The risks associated with flammable gas storage and handling techniques are the same, although they may have distinct properties and diverse uses. When handling or storing compressed gas cylinders, sufficient oxygen cylinder safety precautions must be taken to avoid catastrophic incidents.

No matter what business you operate in, it is essential to ensure that you have followed all the oxygen cylinder safety precautions if you have compressed gas cylinders on site. When storing gas cylinders, ask yourself the questions listed above to ensure that you’ve considered compressed gas cylinder safety.

The law requires that compressed gas cylinders be stored with COSHH warning symbols and hazard warning signs of damage to reduce risk. Furthermore, it’s critical to know which cylinders are full and which are empty. Because full and empty cylinders demand different levels of handling, empty cylinders should be marked as such.

Oxygen Cylinder Safety Precautions

Take the following precautions to prevent accidents, fire incidents, and explosions that may be caused by improper handling of compressed gas cylinders during storage and when they are removed for use.

ALWAYS

  • Statutory rules should be strictly followed while storing full and empty cylinders.

  • Store cylinders upright with valve protection caps and valve outlet seals in place.

  • Secure cylinders when in transit, storage, or use.

  • Store cylinders in specific areas designated for that purpose.

  • Separate full and empty cylinders.

  • Store cylinders in a well-ventilated, dry, cool, and secure area protected from the weather, away from combustible materials.

  • Always maintain a minimum of 20 feet between the flammable gas cylinder and oxygen cylinder, or the storage area should be separated, at minimum, by a fire wall five feet high with a fire rating of 0.5 hours.

  • Ensure that there is adequate separation from combustibles as specified by national regulations.

  • Keep a check on the atmosphere in areas where gases may vent and collect.

  • FIFO (first-in, first-out) inventory system should be used to prevent full containers from being stored for long periods.

  • Store only the amount of compressed gas required for the specific application.

  • Prohibiting the use of naked flames, smoking, etc., in storage spaces, whether indoor or outdoor.

  • All doors or gates giving direct access to the cylinder storage shall open outwards.

  • Cylinders should be stored away from emergency exits and heavily traveled areas.

  • Protect cylinders from damp or wet ground.

  • Cylinder storage should be provided with adequate but restricted access.

  • Cylinders should be inspected visually on a routine basis or weekly to avoid any indication of leakage or other problems.

NEVER

  • Permit storage temperature to exceed 52°C (125°F).

  • Store oxygen cylinders, full or empty, in the same vicinity as inflammable gases.

  • Store cylinders on upper floors or below ground level.

  • Allow smoking or open flames in oxidizer or flammable gas storage areas.

  • Store grease and oily materials around oxygen; nor should oil or grease be applied to fittings.

  • Expose cylinders to corrosive materials such as ice-melting compounds.

Conclusion

Please note that the above guidelines are given to personnel/agencies that store pressure gas cylinders or their banks. However, specific technical considerations must be given to the typical workplace conditions prevailing to ensure safety. No matter what conditions your workplace prevails under, please follow those guidelines for safely storing compressed gas cylinders.

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Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Proper storage of compressed gas cylinders is crucial to prevent accidents such as explosions, fires, and chemical exposures.

Different types of gases, such as flammable, oxidizing, inert, and corrosive, should be stored separately. Physical barriers or safe distances should be maintained to prevent dangerous reactions between incompatible gases.

Regular inspections should be conducted as recommended by regulations and industry best practices. Inspections typically focus on the condition of the cylinders, labeling, and the integrity of the storage area.

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