Gases & Cylinder Storage — Safety & health

Shielding gases are stored in compressed gas cylinders at 150–200 bar — that's concentrated energy. And the three gas types you encounter in have three very different hazards that you must not mix up.

Acetylene — highly explosive. Acetylene is the fuel gas used in and the most delicate gas in the whole shop. It's dissolved in a porous mass inside the cylinder, and that's exactly why the iron rule applies: Never operate acetylene cylinders lying down. If they're lying flat, the solvent can run into the valve and trigger a dangerous decomposition. Then there's the flashback arrestor: it prevents a flame from traveling back from the torch into the hose and the cylinder — without it, any oxy-fuel work is a game of roulette.

Oxygen — promotes combustion. Oxygen itself doesn't burn, but it makes everything else burn explosively. The most important rule: Never get oil or grease on oxygen valves and fittings. A film of grease in the wrong place can self-ignite in pure oxygen. Oxygen cylinders and hoses stay strictly separate from anything flammable.

(argon, CO₂, mixtures) — asphyxiating. They're non-toxic but heavier than air and displace oxygen. In tight, poorly ventilated spaces, leaking gas collects at floor level — anyone working there often doesn't notice the oxygen deficiency until it's too late and they pass out. Argon in particular is insidious because it's odorless and invisible.

The same basic rules apply to all cylinders:

• Storage: Upright, secured against tipping over, cool and ventilated. Store fuel gases and oxygen separately.

• Transport: With valve protection, never loose in a vehicle, secured against tipping.

• Connection: Pressure regulator matched to the gas, no improvised gaskets, close valves after use.

Compressed gas cylinders are pressure equipment — their handling is regulated by the Industrial Safety Ordinance and associated rules. Respect for the cylinder isn't a quirk of caution; it's a matter of survival.