Guidelines for Safe Storage of Compressed Gas Cylinders

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Pressure cylinders are cylinders having contents of various chemical composition under pressure in liquid or gaseous state. Pressure cylinders possess huge potential energy, which can lead to disasters on enormous scale, for both the 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 a number of risks.

There is a chance of being simultaneously exposed to mechanical and chemical risks depending on the specific gas.

Oxygen cylinder safety regulations rules need to 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 a variety of businesses, from restaurants to industrial production plants. The risks associated with flammable gas storage and handling techniques are the same, even though they may have distinct properties and have 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 make sure you have followed all the oxygen cylinder safety precautions if you have compressed gas cylinders on site. To make sure you’ve taken the compressed gas cylinder safety in consideration, when storing gas cylinders, ask yourself the questions listed above.

To reduce risk, the law requires that compressed gas cylinders be stored with COSHH warning symbols and hazards warning signs of damage. Furthermore, it’s critical to make sure you can tell 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 also while taking them out for usage.

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, away from combustible materials, dry, cool and secure area protected from the weather.
  • Always maintain a minimum of 20 feet distance between flammable gas cylinder and oxygen cylinder or the storage area should be separated, at a 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 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 of time.
  • Store only the amount of compressed gas required for the specific application.
  • Prohibit use of naked flames and smoking etc., in storage spaces, whether indoor or outdoor, shall be prohibited.
  • All doors or gates giving direct access to the cylinder storage shall open outwards.
  • Cylinders should be stored away from emergency exits and heavily travelled 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 a avoid any indication of leakage or other problems.

NEVER

  • Permit storage temperature to exceed 52°C (125°F).
  • Store oxygen cylinder, 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.

The above mentioned guidelines are given for those personnel/ agency who are engaged in storing pressure gas cylinder or their bank. However, the typical work situations /conditions prevailing at the work places must be given specific and technical considerations, to ensure safety.

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10 thoughts on “Guidelines for Safe Storage of Compressed Gas Cylinders”

  1. Very help full and informative. Keep up the good job and I will appreciate your future health and safety related articles.
    Thanks

  2. Storing your gas cylinders in the right place will provide safety in one place like your office or home. Safety is the main priority of every place.

  3. Informative post. The guideline is helpful to protect the storage of compressed gas cylinders.

  4. Nice post help me to know the tips on storing compressed gas cylinder. Thanks for sharing an informative post.

  5. The safty of the compressed gas cylinders is very important, because the cylinder often with the high-pressure, if it’s storage is not exactly,it may cause a big security risks. So uesful your article,and I am looking forward your next sharing.

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