Knowing your cylinders when looking to buy a new or used one can be a bit tricky unless you follow these certain guidelines. It’s always important to know how many cubic feet the cylinder your interested in really is, also always look at the neck of the cylinder. If the neck has an engraving or verbiage that states it’s a rental or has the name of a welding supply company on it, you should avoid buying the cylinder.
Cylinder tanks should be certified every 10 years and there are symbols that help you figure out when the next certification should be. Typically there is a date of last certification and a plus sign, which represents 5 years, also the star symbol which represents another 5 years. If buying a tank and there are no markings on the neck that is a good sign, however a dented or rusted tank or one that has rented on the neck should be avoided.
Once you purchase your cylinder that has a compressed gas you must make sure that the cylinder is clearly identified. Identification should be stenciled or stamped on the cylinder or on a label. If the labeling of the contents of the cylinder becomes unclear you must provide a new label for the cylinder as long as you know the contents. If buying a cylinder and the contents are unknown and the identification is unreadable, return the cylinder and mark “contents unknown”.
Gas Cylinders should always be secured, either by bench top, individually to a wall or stored in a cage or cylinder cabinet. Cylinders are dangerous if mishandled with misuse turning a metal standard cylinder into a unguided rocket with no control over the path or destination and could easily go through a brick wall and kill someone with its brutal force.
Cylinder valves should always be opened slowly with oxygen cylinder valves needing to be opened 100% of the way. First you should open the oxygen cylinder valve just a bit, once the needle has stopped moving, than open the valve all the way. Oxygen cylinders should have the valve opened all the way because of the high pressure in the tank.
When the contents of a cylinder are empty, the valve should be closed, the system bled and the regulator removed. At this time the valve cap should be replaced and the cylinder should be marked empty and separated from the other cylinders in use.
Finally, when moving cylinders or transporting them, only one cylinder should be moved at a time and when moving large cylinders make sure you have a proper cylinder cart to ensure stability and safety. These gas cylinder carts or welding carts will ensure mobility and stability with bottles being held by chains with adjustable chain links welded securely to frame. Carts come in various sizes that will handle between 4 to 8 large gas cylinders.
Recently I visited a local automotive body shop in my area in the western suburbs of Chicago, while I waited for my car to be detailed I decided to go for a walk around the garage area which is normally not allowed. During my stroll I noticed things that seemed out of place which sparked my curiosity.
You may ask yourself why someone would be interested in such things but you would have to go back in time to events that happened in my childhood to get a clear understanding. See when I was younger my uncle owned a plastic injection molding company and he always was trying to side step what the city officials wanted of him. I remember working there as a young teenager and asking my father why my uncle was doing certain things that seemed strange. My father always said that my uncle would spend more time and money trying to avoid doing the right thing than the cost of doing what was asked of him originally.
My uncle grew up in the post depression era which was all about saving money and he would put flammable containers under empty boxes that appeared to be filled with product. He believed that the government needed to stay out of his business and worry about their own problems, not to mention the cost savings of not buying proper containers. As years went on I remember speaking to my uncle about this matter and his response was that he spent 30 years of his life worrying about the possibility of one day an inspector uncovering his hiding of chemicals in improper containers. He went on to say that if he were to be caught doing that violation it would have cost him his business especially if an incident would have occurred as a result of his negligence.
Safety cabinets come in all different sizes, colors and with different features. Some cabinets can run a shop under $400 it’s really dependent on your particular needs. In addition OSHA “The Occupational and Safety Health Department” has clearly set its goals that violators will be fined severely for putting the environment as well people in jeopardy to chemical and fire hazards. It’s important for a business that uses chemicals to estimate how many gallons of products they need to store prior to buying a cabinet.
If you are outside the city limits your utilities will most likely be handled through cooperatives, which are small privately owned companies that will help with services such as electric, sewer and water. When your area doesn’t have water service available, then well water will be your focal point of interest. An owner of a well is responsible for the safety and maintenance of the well which must be maintained so it will not become contaminated. There are companies in rural areas that will provide well maintenance as well as service to a septic system. If a septic system is installed correctly it will be essentially care free with maintenance every year or so depending upon how many individuals reside in the home.
If your rural property will be using appliances that run on natural gas, you will have to make sure you have a propane storage tank to feed the appliances. Propane is a safe alternative to natural gas, especially when running natural gas lines can be costly. The only maintaining of the propane storage tank is making sure it gets refilled accordingly.
If you’re looking at having a backup generator in addition to a storage tank for certain appliances or heating around the home ask yourself what size cylinder will you be using, how full is the cylinder, what is the outside temperature.
These questions will help you determine what size generator you can operate, 20lb cylinders or gas grill cylinders hold approximately 5 gallons of propane with 420 lb cylinders holding up to 100 gallons of propane. There are several other cylinder sizes available with outside cylinder cabinets available through various dealers throughout the states.
For simplicity we have talked about the benefits of propane storage and living in a rural environment. If you have more detailed questions you should consult with your local fire marshal or ask a professional.
When storing various gases, the contents should be properly marked with a stenciling or stamping of a label on the cylinder. When receiving a cylinder one should never accept an unidentified cylinder even if the old marking may be worn off and the cylinders contents are in doubt.
When storing cylinders there are various ways to do so, such as attaching to a bench, wall or having in a Gas Cylinder Cabinet or cabinet system. Chains or straps will help secure any cylinder but it’s essential to check with your local fire marshal to see if your particular safety needs are compliant with code.
With various gases being stored there are several guidelines when opening a particular gas. One rule of thumb is to note that cylinder valves be opened slowly. Oxygen cylinder valves should be opened all the way after the initial slight crack of an opening. When opening cylinder pressure all the way, there is a back seating to the valve which will prevent leaking out of gas through the threads. When checking for a possible leak to the cylinder, never use an open flame for detection but rather soapy water. Bubbles will form where gas is escaping and will give the end user an indication of escaping. Gas cylinders come equipped with a hand wheel or stem valve when opening or closing a valve. Only use wrenches or tools that are provided by the cylinder supplier when having issues with valve closing. If a leaky cylinder is found you must inform the Environmental Health & Safety Department as well as contacting the vendor who supplied the cylinder. Under no circumstances should one try to repair a cylinder valve with the CGA Compressed Gas Association standard cylinder valve outlet connections having been designed to prevent mixing of incompatible gases.
One important rule is to not store oxygen and flammable gases in the same vicinity. It’s important for proper Gas Cylinder Storage to be at least 20 feet apart and or with a fire wall that is 5 feet high with a fire rating of a one half hour that should be used. Fire ratings are distinguished by the gypsum thickness of the wall and come in increments of ½ hour.
In conclusion when dealing with compressed gas cylinders it’s mandatory to carefully follow procedures that are necessary for handling all the various compressed gases in existence. These procedures cover the cylinders containing the gases, regulators or valves used to control gas flow and piping used to confine gases during its outflow. It’s also important to clearly know the properties and dangers of the various gases, how they should be handled, stored and transported. Some cabinets are specifically designed for a particular gas such as cages for Propane Tank Storage .
One common misconception is that propane is responsible for the majority of fires throughout the United States. According to the (NFPA) National Fire Protection Association propane is not listed as a leading cause of fire being behind cooking equipment, heating equipment, candles, smoking materials and intentionally set fires.
Propane is derived from natural gas with raw gas being comprised of 90% methane and 5% propane and 5% other gases. When propane is converted into a gas it occupies 270 times more space than when it is in its liquid form. Propane is moved generally through 70,000 miles of pipeline in the United States where there are 13,500 plus terminals to help service the propane.
Propane boils and becomes a vapor at -44 degrees Fahrenheit which is over 70 degrees lower than the freezing point of water, so dealing with this material when in its liquid form can be dangerous while handling due to its extreme cold nature. Once propane is converted to a gas it will settle to the lowest point being heavier than air. When storing propane cylinders the general rule is to have the gas relief valve always be in the vapor space and away from any point of ignition such as electrical outlets, pilot lights etc… When storing your propane it is recommended to store cylinders vertically especially if the cylinders are the 20 lb or barbeque grill type cylinders.
Propane was not developed until the year 1912 when developers were trying to discover a way to store gasoline. During several experiments they discovered that several evaporating gases could be changed to a liquid and stored at moderate pressures. The most abundant gas was found to be propane which by 1915 was being used in the metal industry to be used in cutting torches for metal processing. Now with the uses of propane growing throughout the different sectors of the population it’s important to know that 90% of the consumption of propane in the United States is also produced in the U.S. Uses vary of the fuel source with applications from heating a building, fueling machinery such as forklifts to fueling vehicles.
LP or liquid petroleum gas is a gas mixture of light hydrocarbons; propane and butane. This fuel has low levels of toxic substances due to the absence of sulfur and the low levels of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) that it produces. LP is easily liquefied by slightly decreasing the temperature or increasing the pressure. Because of the features of LP Gas it is easily stored and transported with usage growing on a annual basis.
The National Fire Protection Association addresses many questions about LP Gas storage in Standard Title 58.
Some of the important provisions about LP Gas Cylinder Storage are as follows;
Cylinders in storage are to be located in an area where they will have minimum exposure to excessive temperature rises and physical tampering.
Cylinders stored in buildings shall not be located near exits, stairways or intended to be used for the safe egress of people.
If empty containers are used and stored indoors, all containers will be considered full for determining the maximum quantity of LP Gas permitted.
Cylinder valves should always be protected with a screw on type collar regardless of whether the cylinder is full, empty or partially full.
The quantity of LP-Gas in cylinders stored in a building shall not exceed 200 lbs in one location with additional storage being separated by some 50 feet. The maximum quantity to be stored in one building shall not exceed 1000 lbs.
It’s very important to know the difference between propane usage for an outdoor grill or forklift and usage for an indoor appliance for your home. The difference in the application of propane varies from safety relief valves to the fixed piping system for that specific application. Barbeque grill cylinders can’t replace forklift cylinders due to the individual LP gas being specific to their designated fuel application.
With the recent increase of inquiries about surviving off the grid, many have thought that if they connect an outdoor fuel line to a propane bottle to service indoor appliances they will be fine. It is true that propane cylinders can be temporary fixes in the event that a bulk tank is empty , however the tank should be tested due to various fixed piping systems in homes.
Whenever a bulk propane tank is empty the service to that tank has been interrupted and a leak test must be performed to ensure safety. Also, Propane cylinder bottles are used with a bottle regulation that delivers liquid propane gas pressures at a much lower rate required by most household appliances. In addition, there is not enough surface area in a bottle to satisfy the appliances plus the vapor distribution system will potentially burn down a house due to liquid propane being delivered and not vapor.
There are many local artists and other smaller shops as well as do- it yourselfers that have use of various flammable lacquer paints and aerosol cans. Although many non professionals use aerosol for various painting projects, these small containers are highly flammable due to gases contained in each can. Aerosol cans if punctured can easily lose or spill their entire contents and have a potential concentrated fireball if not properly handled. When using aerosol it’s important to handle with care due to their delicate nature, with reported punctures occurring within a foot from ground level. When using aerosol cans you must store in a non smoking environment away from any device with a pilot light or which can cause a spark such as a light switch or even a light bulb.
Paints in general need to be stored out of direct sunlight and not in a heat source above 120 degrees. There is properly OSHA and NFPA approved cabinets for the storage of paint…and we will discuss some of the features that insure safe working conditions when dealing with flammable paints and their gases. Usually ventilation is a supreme factor when picking out your next cabinet. Ventilation in a paint safety cabinet comes in the form of 2” vents with flash arrestors. These vents are to conform to state and local codes and increase regulations that demand the adding of vents. In addition flammable Paint Storage Cabinets will have many anti-spark measures built into the cabinet. Measures include, non-sparking closure with 3 point latching doors, static ground connections and a fusible link assembly on self closing door models. Each fusible link is designed to melt at 165 Fahrenheit so doors will close automatically in case of a fire.
Your Paint Cabinet should have adjustable shelves so you can accommodate several sizes of paints and inks storage and have leveling legs to handle uneven shop floor surfaces. In addition to securing your paints and inks, you should always properly dispose of cleaning rags and other linens that you use when painting or antiquing with petroleum based product. Some rags saturated with antiques and not left open to dry and breath will heat up and could ignite into a quick tragedy. There are several oily waste cans on the market that are designed for proper disposal of wipes, brushes soaked with solvenst.
An emergency generator without fuel is like a light bulb without electricity. It doesn’t matter what capacity generator you have if you do not have the proper fuel to use. During certain Ice storms over the past few years people have been left short on their fuel storage capacities.
As a rule, an emergency generator has a standard 5 gallon capacity and the average generator will run at 0.67 liters per hour. This means that a gallon tank is going to generate electricity that will last greater than 5 hours, but how many hours of gas do you want stored in addition to the emergency storage.
Well there are many variables associated with storage depending on the outside conditions but a rule of thumb is to have 34 liters of gas stored which will provide 56 hours of power. Be prepared and learn your lesson from watching the increased frequency of natural disasters like Katrina. In addition, while in the eye of the storm.. only use the generator on certain necessities like refrigeration or heating elements.
Figure out what type of vessel or can you will be placing the fuel in. There are several sizes for gasoline cans from 1 to 5 gallon models and propane will come in various size cylinders. There are Safety Cans that have easy pour models or contain a flexible metal hose for accurate pouring into small openings. These cans are all osha approved and meet all NFPA guidelines and vary in color depending on what fuel source the contents are. Propane guidelines for storage vary but a 20 lb cylinder will hold approximately 5 gallons of propane. So a 10 horsepower engine will run fine on a 20 lb grill type cylinder if the air is above freezing. If you plan on storing more than one gas can or propane cylinder I would recommend getting an weatherproof safety cabinet especially with the propane storage. Propane may require buying an outdoor cage but make sure its adequately away from the house and always check with your local fire marshall for certain ordaniances.
Gas cylinders are dangerous goods that are classified that way due to them having properties that can result in immediate physical harm due to the effects that the chemical effects can cause. Such effects include fire, explosion, blunt trauma, etc…
Recent incidents involving explosions of gas cylinders in a vehicle have highlighted the dangers associated with the storage and transportation of flammable gas cylinders in tight spaces. There are some practical measures that can be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring.
1. The Storage Cabinet – Firstly fit the gas cylinder cabinet to the rear of the vehicle, as being the furthest from the vehicle is the safest. When installing the cabinet, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s directions on to properly store the cabinet. Make sure that the proper signage is displayed on the cabinet to warn people of the potential dangers that can occur. Some manufacturers don not include signage on their cabinets unless you pay extra, typically $10 to $15.
2. The Cylinder – Whenever you are placing a cylinder in storage remember to remove the welding torch from the cylinder. The welding torch is a common cause of explosions due to depressing the valve allowing extra gas to explode if disturbed. Always make sure that all valves are shut at the end of the day. Also make sure that all ignition sources are stored away from the cylinders at all times unless during use. The cylinder should always be upright and secured with a chain at the midpoint level, in addition make sure your cylinders are always on level ground.
3. Workers – Always be sure to wear safety shoes when moving cylinders as well as using a cylinder cart that will properly chain the cylinders while they are mobile. All employees must know the appropriate emergency procedures depending on the nature of the operation, chemical and physical properties and locations of the emergency supplies and equipment.
