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Compressed Gas Cylinders Compliance Guidelines

INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

Arizona State University’s (ASU) academic and research laboratories, along with other operations including outside contractors and vendors, use portable compressed gas cylinders during daily activities, projects, or events. The product in the cylinders, the quantity, and size varies with each operation, project, or event. Mixtures of fuel gases and air or oxygen may be explosive and shall be guarded against. ASU Environmental Health & Safety promotes a safe work environment for life safety of all occupants by conducting fire and safety inspections, and providing safety training.

The following guideline has been prepared for university faculty, staff, students, contractors, vendors and the general public in accordance with applicable codes, standards, ASU Fire Prevention and Safety Plan, and University Policies and Procedures.

REQUIREMENTS

Identification of Cylinders
All compressed gas cylinder contents must be clearly marked with either the chemical name or the trade name of the gas in accordance with nationally recognized standards and university policy.  All cylinders must be compliant with a legible hydrostatic test date.

Interior Storage

1. Stored a minimum of 20 feet from highly combustible materials such as oil.

2. Cylinders must be stored in approved areas away from elevators, corridors, exit enclosures, and stairs.

3. Approved storage areas must ensure cylinders are located and secured in a manner that will prevent damage to any cylinder, and prevent unauthorized tampering/use.

4. All cylinders must be stored in an upright position and secured to a solid object at the top 1/3^rd of the cylinder in a manner that will prevent the cylinder from being knocked over or from falling. (Mechanism for securing must be of noncombustible material or fire-resistive.)

5. When cylinders are not in use, the protective cap must be installed hand tight.

6. Only the quantity of product needed for the project or lab experiment (must not exceed quantities allowed by the fire and building codes).

7. Cylinders no longer in use for the operation or empty--must be properly removed by lab stores or the supplier.

8. Cylinders must be tagged or signed in a manner that will identify which cylinders are empty and which are full.

9. Compressed gas cylinders shall be appropriately separated from other incompatible cylinders as required by applicable codes.

Exterior Storage 

1. The location does not cause a safety hazard, obstruct facility ingress and egress, emergency vehicle access, and emergency operations.

2. Storage facility must maintain a safe distance from other facilities and other hazardous areas as required in applicable building and fire codes.

3. Appropriate signage must be installed for personnel safety and emergency responders as required by applicable codes and standards.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

29 CFR §§ 1910.252-257
29 CFR Part 1926
Uniform Fire Code Article 74
Arizona Administrative Code R4-36-201 et seq.

UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTATION AND MANUALS

Arizona State University Fire Prevention and Safety Plan
Arizona State University Policies and Procedures

This guideline is provided as a general guideline for compressed cylinders and does not cover all code compliance issues. If you have any questions or concerns, or need additional information, contact the ASU Fire Marshal at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at EHS@asu.edu.

Mailing Address: PO Box 873804, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3804
Contact Email: EHS@asu.edu
Phone: (480) 965-1823
FAX:  (480) 965-0736