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University
of Washington School
of Medicine, Department
of Microbiology
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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. See Stanford Safety Manual pages 34, 70, 109.
4. Tanks of gases should be seismically sound with chains at 2/3rds and 1/3rd of the tank's height. Beware of clamp type restraints, many of which failed during the 1989 earthquake.
5. Do not place the tank anywhere near the sources of high voltage.
6. Have the appropriate MSDS's on hand.
See Disclaimer
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