Securing Cylinders

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Troy Taylor on March 4, 2009 at 2:44pm

Sheryl, I'm not aware of any mandatory securing points or any height requirements. Only that the bottles need to be secured from tipping over. We use chains to secure our bottles. It might be a little much but I have pasted our usage and storage procedures below:

Handling Procedures

Compressed gases are considered to be handled when employees perform any of the following activities:

Identify contents;
Fill, transfill, change gas service, maintain and move containers; and
Connect containers and withdraw content.
We follow the safe handling procedures found in the CGA pamphlet series, including the P-1-1991 pamphlet. Our handling procedures include the following:

Identify a gas and its dangers before using it. Look for this information on labels, MSDSs, and cylinder markings. If you don't know what's in a cylinder, don't use it.
Examine cylinders as soon as you receive them. If you detect signs of damage or leakage, move them to a safe, isolated area and return them to the supplier as soon as possible.
Use only regulators, pressure relief devices, valves, hoses, and other auxiliary equipment that is designed for the specific container and compressed gas/cryogenic liquid to be used.
Do not interchange equipment between different types of gases.
Make sure valves, hoses, connectors, and regulators are in good condition. Don't use cylinders without them.
Use pressure relief devices and safety devices to help maintain cylinder or system pressure at the desired levels. (Exceeding the desired pressure could damage the cylinder or system.)
Check to see if regulators, hoses, and gauges can be used with different gases. Assume they cannot.
Never open valves until regulators are drained of gas and pressure-adjusting devices are released. When opening cylinders, point outlets away from people and sources of ignition, such as sparks or flames. Open valves slowly. On valves without hand wheels, use only supplier-recommended wrenches. On valves with hand wheels, never use wrenches.
Do not tamper with connections and do not force connections together.
Do not hammer valves open or closed.
Do not drop, bang, slide, clank, or roll cylinders.
Cylinders may be rolled along the bottom rim.
Don't let cylinders fall or have things fall on them.
Don't lift a cylinder by its cap unless using hand trucks so designed.
Use carts or other material handling equipment to move cylinders. Use ropes and chains to move a cylinder only if the cylinder has special lugs to accommodate this. Some cylinders may require special hand trucks.
Keep cylinders secured and upright. (But never secure cylinders to conduit carrying electrical wiring.)
When transporting compressed gas cylinders, be sure the vehicle is adequately equipped to haul compressed gases safely. Stop the engine while loading or unloading flammable compressed gases.
Don't drive a vehicle hauling liquefied hydrogen through a tunnel.
Know accident procedures.


Storage Procedures

The following activities are involved in safely storing compressed gases:

Post areas where gases are present,
Group gases,
Separate combustibles,
Avoid corrosives or areas where container damage can occur,
Position containers properly, and
Use indoor and outdoor storage appropriately.
We follow the safe storage procedures found in the CGA pamphlet series, including the P-1-1991 pamphlet. Our storage procedures for compressed gases include the following:

Store cylinders upright.
When a cylinder is in storage, keep the steel protective cap screwed on. This step reduces the chance that a blow to the valve will allow gas to escape.
Group cylinders by types of gas.
Store full and empty cylinders apart.
Store gases so that old stock is removed and used first.
To keep cylinders from falling over, secure them with chains or cables.
Store compressed gas containers in dry, well-ventilated areas away from exits and stairways. If outside, store containers off the ground and out of extremely hot or cold environments.
Do not store compressed gas containers in high pedestrian and vehicle traffic areas. (Containers are more likely to be damaged there.)
Store oxygen cylinders at least 20 feet from flammables or combustibles or separate them by a 5-foot, fire-resistant barrier.
Keep oil and grease away from oxygen cylinders, valves, and hoses.
If your hands, gloves, or clothing are oily, do not handle oxygen cylinders.
Make sure fire extinguishers near the storage area are appropriate for gases stored there.
Post signs stating the name(s) of gas present and NO SMOKING where gases are stored.

Permalink Reply by Sheryl Feldhans on March 5, 2009 at 8:19pm

OK after more than enough time spent on this silly question, looking at every reference on line and contacting my cylinder supplier. I finally emailed my local Fire Marshall. After multiple emails back & forth. I still do not have an answer. This is the Fire Marshall's final reply.

"The California fire code does not call out a dimension for the lip height for welding carts. It states in part, "Securing containers, cylinders and tanks on a cart or other mobile device designed for the movement of compressed gas containers, cylinders or tanks" shall be an accepted method for securing compressed gas containers.

I also referenced OSHA 29CFR1910.102(a) which states:
"Cylinders." The in-plant transfer, handling, storage, and utilization of acetylene in cylinders shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1-1966, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6. You might want to get this pamphlet"

However if you attempt to get the Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1-1966, from the CGA you have the option of buying it or looking at the table of contents. You can not even look at the rules on line.

My new Question How can they expect you to comply with rules you can not get a copy of?

My Answer Error to the side of safety, build it too big, too heavy, and add another chain.
WOOO HOOOOOOOOOO ain't this the life.

Permalink Reply by Randall Veatch on April 21, 2009 at 7:33pm

NFPA 55
Standard for the
Storage, Use, and Handling of Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids in Portable and Stationary Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks
2005 Edition


7.1.4 Security.
7.1.4.1 General. Compressed gas containers, cylinders, tanks, and systems shall be secured against accidental dislodgement and against access by unauthorized personnel.
7.1.4.2 Security of Areas. Storage, use, and handling areas shall be secured against unauthorized entry.
7.1.4.3 Physical Protection.
7.1.4.3.1 Compressed gas containers, cylinders, tanks, and systems that could be exposed to physical damage shall be protected.
7.1.4.3.2 Guard posts or other means shall be provided to protect compressed gas containers, cylinders, tanks, and systems indoors and outdoors from vehicular damage.
7.1.4.4 Securing Compressed Gas Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks. Compressed gas containers, cylinders, and tanks in use or in storage shall be secured to prevent them from falling or being knocked over by corralling them and securing them to a cart, framework, or fixed object by use of a restraint, unless otherwise permitted by 7.1.4.4.1 and 7.1.4.4.2.
7.1.4.4.1 Compressed gas containers, cylinders, and tanks in the process of examination, servicing, and refilling shall not be required to be secured.
7.1.4.4.2 At cylinder-filling plants and distributors' warehouses, the nesting of cylinders shall be permitted as a means to secure cylinders.

A long none answer

Permalink Reply by Sheryl Feldhans on April 22, 2009 at 2:19pm

Thank you for your time.
I can use all the help I can get.... I have never seen NFPA 55
How the heck do you do it all?

Permalink Reply by Mike Maloney on April 23, 2009 at 9:18am

That is an issue I've always had. OSHA incorporates consensus standards by reference but you then have to purchase the entire set of standards to make sure you're in compliance. It's hard enough convincing the "powers that be" to cut the purse strings to do what is necessary to comply. Convincing them to spend money to see what we need to comply with is a nightmare.

Permalink Reply by Randall Veatch on April 23, 2009 at 10:07am

The answer still is not direct either. With all that is written it is not stated as what to do.