Health safety laboratory pressure

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LABORATORY SAFETY DESIGN GUIDE-PRESSURE VESSEL COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS
April 11, 2005

Laboratory Safety Design Guide

29 April 2005

30 April 2005

Laboratory Safety Design Guide

V. PRESSURE VESSEL COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS, AND COMPRESSED-GAS CYLINDERS
A. Scope
This Design Guide applies to all facilities, including leased properties. It covers allunfired pressure vessels (i.e., storage tanks, compressed-gas cylinders) that have been designed to operate at pressures above 15 psi, including the storage and use of compressed-gas cylinders and cryogenic fluids. This does not cover utilities (i.e., “house air”) inspected and maintained by Facilities Services.

B. Compressed-gas Cylinder Storage
1. Cylinders of compressed gases shall be storedin areas where they are protected from external heat sources such as flame impingement, intense radiant heat, electric arcing, or high temperature steam lines.
SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter 30, Section 3003

2. The heating of flammable-gas storage areas shall be indirectly heated, such as by air, steam, hot water, etc.
Good Practice SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter 30, Section 3003.5.6 & 3003.5.7

3.Cylinders shall not be kept in unventilated enclosures such as lockers and cupboards.
SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter 30, Section 3007.2 and associated chemical specific chapters of the IFC

4. Adequate space shall be made available for the segregation of gases by hazard class. Flammable gases shall not be stored with oxidizing agents. Separate storage for full and empty cylinders is preferred. Such enclosuresshall serve no other purpose. Inside buildings, cylinders shall be stored in well-protected, well-ventilated, dry locations, and flammable gas cylinders shall be at least twenty feet from materials classified as oxidizers and 10 ft. from combustible materials. Valves, pipe fittings, regulators and other equipment shall be constructed of materials and have pressure ratings compatible with the gasbeing used.
SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter 30 & Chapter 35 SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter 27, Section 2703.9.8 Good Practice

5. Liquefied fuel-gas cylinders shall be stored/transported in an upright position so that the safety relief device is in direct contact with the vapor

Laboratory Safety Design Guide

31 April 2005

space in the cylinder at all times.
SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter38, Section 3809.3NFPA 58

6. Storage rooms shall be provided with explosion control when toxic or highly toxic flammable gases are stored outside gas cabinets or exhausted enclosures.
Required for SBC/WSBC (IBC) H-5 occupancies.

7. When separate gas storage rooms are provided, they shall operate at a negative pressure in relation to the surrounding area and they shall also direct the exhaust ventilation to thefume exhaust system assuring that incompatible gases are not mixed in the ductwork.
Required for SBC/WSBC (IBC) H-5 occupancies. Where separate rooms are used to store nonflammable gases and/or storage is below “H” occupancies limits room exhaust ventilation can be to the general building exhaust system.

8. Storage areas shall be secured against unauthorized entry.
SFC/WSFC (IFC) Chapter 30,Section 3003.3.1

9. The storage of compressed-gas cylinders shall not obstruct exits or routes of egress. Also, compressed-gas cylinders shall not be stored near in locations where moving objects may strike or fall upon them.
Good Practice The design intent should be to locate gas cylinders in designated rooms for bulk storage and in locations within laboratories that would not impede exitingpathways.

10. Emergency power shall be provided for “H” occupancy gas storage rooms, gas-cabinet exhaust ventilation, gas-detection systems, emergency alarm systems, and temperature control systems.
Required for H-5 occupancies, but good practice for other situations.

C. Compressed-gas Cylinder Restraint
1. Approved storage racks (e.g., Unistrut, pipe racks) shall be provided that...