Safety for Gas Cylinder Cabinets

Gas cylinder cabinets are necessary in order to control the airflow around compressed gas cylinders, isolating dangerous gases from workers and the workplace environment, as well as minimize the hazard of compressed gases in the case of a fire.

Although appropriate gas manifolds fixed to the cylinder cabinet will satisfy most safety criteria, there are a few regulations to follow that will increase the safety of the cabinet. Primarily, gas cylinder cabinets should be made so that the cylinders and plumbing are secure. The cabinet should also be made of noncombustible materials in order to protect the cylinders in the case of fire.

The door of the cylinder cabinet should be of a suitable size and dimension in order to allow access to the gas cylinder and manifold. The door should be self-closing. A window should be equipped in any full size cabinets that are at least 1.5 meters high. This not only allows for observation during operation, it gives access to the valves without having to open the door in the event of an emergency. Windows should be made of an impact resistant material and be relatively small so as to limit the quantity of the exhaust.

In order to prevent pockets of gas or dead space, cabinets should be made to sweep the exhaust by the cylinder connection and gas manifold. Exhaust ducts must be noncombustible, tear and puncture-resistant.

Gases with different hazard classifications should never be mixed in the cabinet.

Cabinets should be equipped with heat sensors that will shut off the flow of gas in the event of an emergency, as well as an exhaust failure monitor which will also shut off the gas in the event of an emergency. Cabinets should also be equipped with sprinklers. For corrosive gases, coated sprinklers work best.

Step-by-step instructions for cylinder changing as well as a placard with a piping diagram and emergency contact numbers should always be posted to each cabinet.

Cabinets when properly installed can add safety to the workplace environment. It’s important to meet all safety regulations, including federal, local and state requirements. Cabinets can improve the health and safety of your workers, but only if installed properly with the correct dimensions and requirements.