Gas Equipment Advice
Gauges Be guided by the gas supplier When a pressure regulator is fitted with pressure gauges, these should never be removed, exchanged or tampered with in any way. If a gauge leaks, take the whole pressure regulator to your supplier and ask his advice. Hoses Use the right colour and the right quality Use only hoses to British Standard BS5120 or the new European Standard EN559; blue for oxygen, red for acetylene or hydrogen, orange for propane/LPG and black for inert gases such as nitrogen. Use only the best quality hose such as that supplied by BOC. Inferior hoses harden and may later crack or leak or catch fire internally when subject to oxygen. Never use water hose. And the right connection BOC fitted hose is supplied with the ends firmly attached to nipples, with loose nuts for connection to regulator outlets and blowpipe inlets. Never use old or second-hand clips for hose connections. Twisted wire can cause serious injury if the hose works loose and flails about. Shoddy hose connection is a frequent cause of accidents. Check connections regularly. Remember to purge hoses before lighting a cutting or welding torch. Every hose is safer with a hose check valve When using oxy-fuel gas equipment, flashbacks can and do occur due to recommended pressures and procedures not being observed, nozzle blockage, faulty equipment, or leaking equipment. One of the main causes of flashback is backfeeding which occurs when higher pressure gas feeds back up a lower pressure stream. The presence of hose check valves will prevent oxygen and fuel gas mixing in the hose and subsequently causing fire, injury and damage. Hose check valves are already fitted to hose supplied from BOC Gas+Gear for oxygen, acetylene and propane applications. Flashback arrestors A flashback arrestor is a device designed to quench the flashback and, when it incorporates a cut-off valve, will automatically shut off the gas flow. These multifunction devices afford an additional safeguard, particularly in locations where a fire following a flashback would be especially dangerous, e.g. hospitals, garages, and workplaces with flammable or hazardous chemicals. Any equipment used for oxygen must be known to be approved for such use. Flashback arrestors should be fitted to all fuel gas supply lines and to oxygen supply lines when they are used in conjunction with fuel gases. Flashback arrestors are available from BOC Gas+Gear Do not use longer hoses than is necessary It is bad practice to use lengths of hose longer than necessary, especially when it involves coupling two or more standard lengths together. It is important, however, that each hose is long enough to allow the cylinders to be safely positioned from flying sparks and hot metal. Hoses should not be positioned underneath the cutting/welding area where discarded pieces of hot metal could fall on them. If a long hose assembly is necessary for a special task, use only recommended couplings and dismantle them when the job is complete. Ensure that the operator can always reach the cylinders without delay, so that he can close the cylinder valves quickly in an emergency. Do not use hoses that appear worn Hoses suffering damage such as tears, burns, fraying or cuts should be replaced with new industry approved fitted hose to the standard BS EN 1256. Use correct personal safety wear When welding or cutting use goggles with double lenses (carrying the CE mark) to protect your eyes against glare and mechanical impact from flying fragments. The inner lens should be tinted and the outer lens clear. The clear outer lenses should be changed regularly when spatter builds up. It is also advisable to wear eye protection (spectacles or goggles carrying the CE mark) when handling high pressure gases to protect the eyes against flying dust particles or the impact of the gas stream. Do not wear clothes made of highly flammable materials. Leather gloves or gauntlets should be used when necessary, and in awkward work locations additional protective clothing may be required.
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