Storing of CO<sub>2</sub> Cylinders

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Technical Support Document

Storing of CO₂ Cylinders

April 4, 2000

Catalina Cylinders recommends that anyone storing CO₂ cylinders should be aware of the hazards associated with CO₂ and be trained in safe practices of storing CO₂ cylinders. All practices of storing CO₂ cylinders ought to include or reference information from CGA pamphlets G-6; Carbon Dioxide and G-6.3; Carbon Dioxide Cylinder Filling and Handling Procedures. Catalina Cylinders has compiled the following list of items that should be included in any safe storage practice of CO₂ cylinders.

CO₂ cylinders should always be stored in a specified area. The storage area should:

Be well ventilated. CO₂ gas in small concentrations, as little as 15%, can cause unconsciousness in less than one minute.

Be selected away from the edge of any elevated areas. Cylinders falling from elevated areas can cause damage to the cylinder, valve or property or injury to personnel.

Be selected away from, or protected from, areas of high traffic. Areas of high traffic only increase the chance of an accident occurring.

Be dry and free of a corrosive atmosphere.

Have adequate means to secure all cylinders stored in the area. The means of securing should be sufficient to hold the cylinders in place, yet not cause damage to the cylinders.

Be a continuously cool place. Do not store cylinders adjacent to any source of heat, intermittent or continuous. Safety relief devices of CO₂ cylinders are designed to operate when the pressure of the cylinder exceeds 2800 - 3000 psi (depending on the design of the safety relief device). A properly charged CO₂ cylinder could vent through it's safety relief device at approximately 150 ^oF (65.6 ^oC). A slightly overfilled CO₂ cylinder could vent through its safety relief device when exposed to a much lower temperature. The CGA recommends that CO₂ cylinders be stored in areas with a temperature less than 125 ^oF (51.7 ^oC).

Never store a charged CO₂ cylinder in a passenger vehicle or in the cab portion of any vehicle.

Empty CO₂ cylinders should be stored with the valve tightly closed.

Cylinders can be stored standing on their base or lying on their side. Catalina Cylinders recommends that the cylinders be stored as designed, standing on their flat base.

Cylinders should not be stored where they might become part of an electrical circuit.

Cylinders, which have been manufactured to accommodate a valve protective carrying handle or a protective cap, should be stored with these accessories in place.

Including the above items in all practices for storing CO₂ cylinders should enhance the safety of all personnel, equipment and property.

Catalina Cylinders - West
Corporate Headquarters
7300 Anaconda Avenue
Garden Grove, California 92841 USA
Phone: (714) 890-0999
Fax: (714) 890-1744

Catalina Cylinders - East
Cliff Impact Division
2400 Aluminum Avenue
Hampton, Virginia 23661 USA
Phone: (757) 896-9100
Fax: (757) 896-9143

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