Gas Cylinder Safety Guidelines

16 Gas Cylinder Safety Guidelines • Ice or other foreign matter should not be allowed to accumulate beneath the vaporizer or the tank. Excessive ice buildup could result in the discharge of excessively cold gas or structural damage to the cryogenic container or surroundings. • All cryogenic systems, including piping, must be equipped with pressure relief devices to prevent excessive pressure build-up. Pressure reliefs must be directed to a safe location. Do not tamper with pressure relief valves or the settings for the valves. • Hot air, steam, or hot water should be used to thaw frozen equipment. Exception: Do not use water to thaw liquid helium equipment. • For vehicle transportation, cryogenic liquid containers must only be transported in a university truck bed and not within a vehicle’s passenger compartment. Flammable Gases Some common examples of flammable gases include acetylene, hydrogen, methane, propane, carbon monoxide, and isobutane. See Appendix II for a list of flammable gases. • Flammable gases, except for protected fuel gases, must not be used near ignition sources. Ignition sources include open flames and sparks, sources of heat, oxidizing agents and ungrounded or non-intrinsically safe electrical or electronic equipment. • Portablefireextinguishersmust beavailable for fireemergencies. The fire extinguisher must be compatible with the apparatus and the materials in use. Contact EH&S to be sure an appropriate fire extinguisher is being used for a specific gas. • Do not use flames for detecting leaks. A compatible leak detection solution must be used for leak detection. • Use spark-proof tools when working with or on a compressed gas cylinder system containing flammable gases. • Post “No Open Flames” signage on access doors to areas that use or store flammable gases. • Manifold systems must be designed and constructed by competent personnel who are familiar with the requirements for piping of flammable gases. Consultation with the gas supplier before installation of manifolds is recommended.