California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 9 - Compressed Gas and Air Equipment › Article 76 - Compressed Gas and Air Cylinders › Section 4650 - Storage, Handling, and Use of Cylinders

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Cylinders of compressed gas shall be
						stored in areas where they are protected from external heat sources such as
						flame impingement, intense radiant heat, electric arc, or high temperature
						steam lines.
(b) Inside of
						buildings, cylinders shall be stored in a well-protected, well-ventilated, dry
						location, at least 20 feet from highly combustible materials such as oil or
						excelsior. Assigned storage spaces shall be located where cylinders will not be
						damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized
						persons.
NOTE: Cylinders should be stored in definitely assigned
						  places away from elevators, stairs, or gangways.
(c) Cylinders shall not be kept in
						unventilated enclosures such as lockers and cupboards.
EXCEPTION: Cylinders of fire suppressant
						  gases.
(d) Oxygen cylinders
						in storage shall be separated from fuel gas cylinders or combustible materials
						(especially oil or grease) a minimum distance of 20 feet or by a
						non-combustible barrier at least 5 feet high, or a minimum of 18 inches (46
						centimeters) above the tallest cylinder and having a fire-resistance rating of
						at least one hour.
(e) Compressed
						gas cylinders shall be stored or transported in a manner to prevent them from
						creating a hazard by tipping, falling or rolling. Liquified fuel-gas cylinders
						shall be stored or transported in a position so that the safety relief device
						is in direct contact with the vapor space in the cylinder at all
						times.
(f) All cylinders which are
						designed to accept valve protection devices shall be equipped with such devices
						when the cylinders are not in use or connected for use.
(g) Unless cylinders are secured on a special
						truck or rack, regulators shall be removed and valve-protection devices, when
						provided for, shall be put in place before cylinders are moved.
(h) Compressed gas cylinders in portable
						service shall be conveyed by suitable trucks to which they are securely
						fastened; and all gas cylinders in service shall be securely held in
						substantial racks or secured to other rigid structures so that they will not
						fall or be knocked over.
EXCEPTION: When it is not practicable to transport
						  cylinders by truck, nor to bring in racks to point of operation, as in some
						  construction work, cylinders may be carried in, and properly secured in an
						  adequate manner. For short distances, cylinders may be moved by tilting and
						  rolling them on their bottom edges.
(i) Gas cylinders transported by crane, hoist
						or derrick must be handled in suitable cradles, nets or skip boxes, and shall
						never be lifted by magnet or by slings, unless the slings are designed and
						constructed to prevent accidental release of the cylinders.
(j) Valve protection devices shall not be
						used for lifting cylinders.
EXCEPTION: Valve protection devices may be used for
						  manual lifting if they were designed for that purpose.
Bars shall not be used under valves or valve protection
						  caps to pry cylinders loose when frozen to the ground or otherwise fixed; the
						  use of warm (not boiling) water is recommended.
NOTE: Valve protection devices are designed to protect
						  cylinder valves from damage.
(k) Cylinder valves shall be closed before
						moving cylinders.
(l) Cylinder
						valves shall be closed when work is finished.
(m) Valves of empty cylinders shall be
						closed.
(n) Cylinders shall not be
						dropped or struck or permitted to strike each other violently.
(o) Cylinder valves not provided with fixed
						handwheels shall have keys or handles on valve spindles or stems while
						cylinders are in service. In multiple cylinder installations only one key or
						handle is required for each manifold.
(p) Leaking regulators, cylinder valves,
						hose, piping systems, apparatus and fittings shall not be used.
NOTE:
(1)
						Cylinder valves shall not be tampered with nor should any attempt be made to
						repair them. If trouble is experienced, the supplier should be sent a report
						promptly indicating the character of the trouble and the cylinder's serial
						number. Supplier's instructions as to its disposition shall be followed.
NOTE:
(2) Complete removal of the stem from a
						diaphragm-type cylinder valve shall be avoided.