Mullins Lab Standard Operating Procedure

 

 

Compressed Gases

 

Safety:

 

1.              The containers in which the gases are kept are metal.  Do not expose the containers to high temperatures.  Metal conducts heat very well, and hot gases expand, causing a greater pressure inside the tank.  This extra pressure could be just enough to rupture the tank.  To prevent possible disaster, many tanks are equipped with high-pressure relief valves to vent out any gas after a certain pressure is reached.

 

2.              DO NOT under any circumstances break off or hit any of the valves on the tank.  To do so would break the valve and turn the tank into a rocket.  Small scuba tanks with broken valves have been reported to have flown several city blocks and bury holes in concrete on impact.

 

3.              Do not let any gases build up in a room.  Make sure any room with gases stored in it is well ventilated.  This is necessary especially for heavier-than-air gases in which the oxygen could be flushed away from the room, causing unconsciousness and death.

 

4.              Tanks of gases should be seismically sound with chains at 2/3rds and 1/3rd of the tankÕs height.  For liquid nitrogen tanks, they can be free standing without chains.

 

5.              Do not place the tank anywhere near the sources of high voltage.

 

6.              Have the appropriate MSDS's located through the LSS system.

 

7.              See Mullins Lab Safety Manual for Chemical SOPs and for more information.

 

Operations:

 

  1. Make sure hose is firmly tightened.
  2. Turn knob in direction indicated on valve for opening and closing.
  3. for use with regulator, maintain level at regulator for monitoring levels.

 

Maintenance:

 

  1. call for pick-up when tanks/bottles are on longer needed.

 

** also refer to chemical SOP for chemical handling of gases in tanks***

 

 

See Disclaimer