PRESENTING GAS CYLINDERS FOR CARRIAGE

Ensuring that gas cylinders are transported in a safe and responsible manner is essential to the safety and wellbeing of all involved in the transportation as well as the general public. Gas cylinders MUST to be respected as they can be extremely dangerous if they aren’t transported with the utmost care, so understanding the steps you need to take in order to safely move these products is vital.

Any organisation transporting dangerous goods, such as gas bottles, must follow the basic legal safety regulations within ADR, which include:

• Driver training
• Vehicle ventilation
• Safety equipment
• Basic safety training (with gases)

You should always ensure the following points are also follwed:

• Never allow anyone to smoke in, or near to, any vehicle that is being used to transport gas bottles
• Check if ADR licence is needed,depending on quantities and products.
• Do not operate any sources of ignition near gas bottles

The presentation of gas bottles is vital in ensuring everyone’s safety and wellbeing.When transporting gas cylinders, please check the following:

• Gas cylinders must be secured to a pallet, or stillage (if upright), and if in the horizontal position with ideally a minimum of 3 robust bands.
• All gas cylinders must be valve protected by use of a ‘guard’, and these are of two types (1) ‘Tulip’ – fitted and (2) ‘Bell-End’ – screwed in. The issue is many consignees take these off to access the valve and forget to put them back on. This is a serious issue as empty gas cylinders are rarely ‘empty’ and can have residual pressure, some times considerable.
• Gases in the liquid phase (with or without internal dip-tube) such as propane, acetylene, butane, CO2 and nitrous oxide must be transported upright (vertical in pallets).
• Gases in the gaseous phase e.g. oxygen, argon, helium, air, nitrogen, etc. including
  mixtures (the majority of special gases) can be transported horizontally, but the valve MUST be guarded and must NOT protrude the pallet (often arranged in a pyramid, e.g. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) and must have at least 3 secure bands to prevent them rolling off the pallet if a FLT catches one of the bands.
• Empty gas cylinders are still ADR (as classed as ‘empty dirty’), they can only travel as non-ADR if the valve is removed and no hazard diamonds.
• Gas cylinders must be transported in ventilated vehicles (curtain-siders are such), and if sent in a van, the rear doors must have ‘ventilate before entry’ sign on.
• Gas cylinders should be stored outside and away from sources of heat / ignition
  (additional information for class 2.3 toxic gases, including security issues).
• When shipping Gas Cylinders by Sea – IMDG regulations are more stringent than ADR [Road] check with DGSA / Shipper regarding compatibility [as many mixed pallets are not allowed] on DGN.
• Class 2.3 [Toxic Gases] require additional security as are High Consequence Dangerous Goods [HCDG] under ADR – check with your DGSA
• If smaller cylinders are being transported as parcels, then they can be trunked in a
  stillage, parcel cage/ crate or secured to a pallet. For radial collections and deliveries, drivers must ensure parcel cylinders are secured in vehicles in a suitable way.

The video on the left shows what can happen when gas cylinders are involved in an incident. You can also find some more useful information on the carriage of gas cylinders and bottles here on the Adams Gas website.

If you need any help or want to organise the distribution of these items or any other items that fall under the carriage of dangerous goods under ADR – please contact Melanie Farman on 01455856004 or email melanie@hazmail.co.uk