Industrial Gases in Cylinders

The RISCAuthority document RC8 – Recommendations for the storage, use and handling of common gases in cylinders including LPG has been republished (Version 5).

Gas cylinders employed for various purposes are frequently encountered in an array of commercial, industrial and retail premises, and can also be found in schools, laboratories and other facilities. It is vitally important that Consultants remain alert to the presence of gases in cylinders, and that risk assessment and control is firmly based on the guidance of RC8, as recognised “best practice”.

The storage, use and handling of gases should be a key component of an assessment under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR).

The recommendations of RC8 and the appending check lists (to which Consultants should refer) have been updated; these are set out under the following headings:

• Compliance with fire safety legislation

• Business continuity

• VICES (Ventilation, Ignition, Containment, Exchange, Separation)

• Storage

• Security

• Usage and maintenance

• Fire protection

Full guidance in RC8 is given on the colour coding of cylinders as an aid to identification.

(Note: Acetylene cylinders are excluded from the scope of RC8 as these are fully covered under RC49 – Recommendations for reducing business interruption Part 1: Acetylene cylinders involved in fires.)