Gas is what our country is rich in. Recently, people very often talk about the fact that gas is not at all the property of the people, but something on which a narrow circle of oligarchs profits. Today we will bypass this sensitive topic, but touch on the issue of storing gas cylinders. This is a much more important and interesting topic for conversation. Let's start to understand this issue with general data on the topic.
Statistics
No less than 40 million gas cylinders are in circulation in our country, they are produced at 25 special factories. The main volumes fall on the models of 27 liters and 50 liters. These options make up about 85% of the total.
The current GOST indicates that one cylinder can be in operation for 40 years, this is subject to all rules and regulations. The technical examination of the gas storage cylinder should be done throughevery five years.
Legislative Framework
The rules for storing gas cylinders are not taken from the sky and not invented by someone for fun. All this was specially thought out and structured into official documents. Today there are several such documents that regulate all the rules regarding gas issues and everything related to this topic.
The main document is the "Industrial Safety Rules for Hazardous Production, Where Equipment Under Excessive Pressure is Used". This document was approved in 2014 (March 25). This document was approved by order No. 116. The approval was made by the federal service of Rostekhnadzor of the Russian Federation.
Another document is the “PPR in the Russian Federation”. This document dates from 2012.
There is also a special GOST 15860-84. It strictly establishes all the rules and conditions for the technical operation of cylinders filled with liquefied hydrocarbons (pressure up to 1.6 MPa).
It is impossible to call the legislative base on this topic too extensive. But the above three documents provide absolutely all the nuances. There are no gaps or any ambiguities, everything is stated quite clearly and understandably.
Basic requirements of safety standards in everyday life
These requirements apply to containers with propane, as well as butane, their mixture when used in everyday life. The rules are quite simple and logically clear:
- It is forbidden to store gas containers in private houses, as well as apartments, in stairwells, inbasements and attics. In addition, you can not store gas containers on the loggias and balconies of multi-storey residential buildings.
- Kitchen gas stoves for cooking, gas units for heating water must have a gas supply from a cylinder, which is installed only outside the residential building.
- In addition, at all entrances to private houses (townhouses, block sections, etc.) where there is a use of gas tanks, an information plate must be placed. It should contain inscriptions in Russian: “It is flammable. Gas cylinders.”
Also, one cannot fail to mention elementary precautions:
- It is strictly forbidden to use household appliances if there is a gas leak, such a leak can be easily detected by a specific smell.
- It is forbidden to look for a leak in any connections of the gas path line from the entrance to the apartment to gas consumption devices using an open flame source. The search is carried out with soapy water.
There is an exception to these rules. It is permissible to store one gas tank in a house (apartment), but its volume should not exceed five liters. Such a cylinder can be stored provided that it is connected to a stove.
All requirements for the storage of gas cylinders are aimed solely at ensuring safety and preventing emergencies. It should be noted that there is a category of people who are categorically afraid of gas. But it must be said that there is a strict fulfillment of all requirements for the storage of gas cylinders and their operation, thenThere is simply no reason for fear and cannot be! This needs to be understood.
Cabinet requirements
Not many requirements. They are quite simple, but very important, do not ignore them and neglect them:
- The gas container must be installed in a special annex (cabinet for storing gas cylinders). Such an extension must be made of non-combustible material.
- The location of cabinets is also regulated. The cabinet should be located at the blank outer walls of the building, at a distance of at least five meters from the entrance to the house (basement, basement, etc.).
- Cabinets should always be locked, their doors should be equipped with special shutters for constant air access, ventilation and avoiding the accumulation of gas concentration inside the cabinet.
- The box for storing gas cylinders must be provided with inscriptions in Russian: “Flammable. Gas.”
These are basic and important requirements. You must always follow them.
Storage of gas cylinders at the enterprise
The operation of gas cylinders on the territory of enterprises, in workshops of various industrial facilities and other similar facilities has a number of regulated rules and regulations. Let's say that enterprises can use:
- Ordinary household gas containers.
- Gas tanks with a volume of 10 to 50 liters, filled with technical gases (nitrogen, acetylene, helium, argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, etc.).
Timingoperation, re-examination of tanks are exactly the same as for gas tanks for domestic use (40 years of operation, inspection every five years).
The requirements for the safe operation and storage of gas cylinders at the enterprise are exactly the same as we described above for gas containers used in everyday life. Everything is extremely simple and clear. In fact, there is no danger in the operation and storage of gas cylinders at the enterprise either. The rules are given, they must be followed, and then there will be no problems.
Requirements of the norms on the territory, in the buildings of enterprises (organizations)
Sometimes it becomes necessary to create a permanent workplace, which must be equipped with cylinders with various gases. Such a workplace can be a welder's post, some scientific laboratory, and so on. In such cases, each individual installation that runs on gas should include no more than two gas tanks (tank for operation plus a backup source).
Cylinders should be installed no closer than one meter from absolutely any heating device, and also further than five meters from sources of open fire. You should also take care of protection from direct sunlight.
If gas is used temporarily (for one day or a shift), then they cannot be placed on evacuation routes, as well as ways for moving goods or on the path of vehicles.
It is strictly forbidden to place cylinders with light combustible gases insideany shopping centers (for inflating balloons and some other purposes). In addition, the instruction for the storage of gas cylinders prohibits the storage of oxygen cylinders inside the buildings of medical institutions.
Hot work
Before starting hot work (gas welding or cutting) at temporary places within the boundaries of settlements, as well as in some buildings and structures for any purpose (with the exception of construction sites and private houses), the head of an enterprise or organization, and also those responsible for compliance with the fire-prevention condition of the object (building) are issued a special work permit in the prescribed form. This work permit disciplines, as it places all responsibility on all participants in hot work.
Transportation
Now let's touch on the problem of storage and transportation of gas cylinders. Transportation should be carried out only on specially equipped vehicles. They must have special warning signs. To transport gas in containers, a special permit must be issued.
It is impossible to transport containers with different gases together. Also, empty cylinders must not be transported together with full ones. When transporting containers in a car, they are always laid horizontally. They must always lie below the sides of the vehicle. More than three rows of cylinders must not be transported. If container-type transportation is carried out, then the containers in the container are placed strictly standing up.
It is allowed to transport tanks together,which are filled with oxygen and acetylene. It is also allowed to transport a tank with domestic gas (a mixture of propane and butane) in a standing position without the use of containers, you only need to install a gasket between the cylinders and make a reliable fence for them.
Cylinder markings
Absolutely every gas tank has its own color code:
- Community gas (propane-butane mixture) is marked in red.
- Oxygen is marked in blue.
- The acetylene container is always white.
- Carbonic acid/nitrogen are marked in black, has a corresponding mark in the chemical element or compound.
- Argon tank is gray.
- The brown balloon contains helium.
Loading and unloading operations
There are a number of rules and requirements, all of which must be strictly observed to avoid dangerous situations:
- You can not carry out loading and unloading work alone (at least two loaders).
- You can not work in overalls and gloves that are contaminated with fuels and lubricants or vegetable oils.
- You can not load oxygen containers into the body of a car if there are leaks or stains of fuel and lubricants, as well as some kind of garbage and other foreign objects.
- Don't carry gas cylinders on your arms or shoulders, or roll them on any surface.
- You can not hit the cylinders against each other and other objects.
- It is forbidden to throw gas containers.
- Do not hold, serve or carry tanks in a position where the stop valves are at the bottom.
- Never handle gas cylinders unless they have lock nuts and protective caps.
Conclusion
Gas was relevant yesterday, needed today and will be in demand tomorrow. It is a cheap fuel option that is convenient for everyone. If you strictly follow all the requirements for the storage and operation of gas cylinders, then no unpleasant moments will arise. Gas gives us heat, but it requires careful attention. The requirements are quite simple, they require only composure and discipline from people, and as we all know, there must be order in everything, otherwise it’s impossible!
