From: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Cylinder question
Date: January 17, 2012 1:42:30 PM EST
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <CB3B9263.A0BA%brandon.chance**At_Symbol_Here**qatar.tamu.edu>


If you are referring to the following standard:

1910.253(b)(4)(iii)
Oxygen cylinders in storage shall be separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour.

Note that this standard appears in Subpart Q of 1910, entitled "Welding, Cutting and Brazing."  The use of gas cylinders to support laboratory instruments is outside the scope of this standard.  There are also letters of interpretation on the OSHA website that talk about "in-use" vs "storage" and you may find a favorable interpretation there.

                    Don


Donald Abramowitz
Environmental Health & Safety Officer
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-2899
(610) 526-5166


D-CHAS Group,

I have a question regarding the use of gas cylinders on instrumentation within an academic research lab.  I am familiar with the regulations regarding storage of flammable and oxidizing gas cylinders, in particular the 20 foot rule, gas cabinet, or concrete barrier requirements.  That being said, I seem to remember learning at a training session that cylinders "in use" were exempt from these requirements. I can not find the regulation stating this, but if I remember correctly, it was written almost specifically for research labs at academic institutions and added by the regulatory authority as an "exemption" to the standard.  Can anyone point me in the right direction for this regulation?

Thanks,

Brandon Chance, M.S.

Safety and Environmental Compliance Manager
Office of Building Operations & HSSE
Texas A&M University at Qatar
brandon.chance**At_Symbol_Here**qatar.tamu.edu

PO Box 23874 | Doha, Qatar
TAMUQ Building Room 225E | Education City

(o) +974.4423.0495 | (m) +974.6668.3552 | SkypeIn USA 001.281.764.1776

www.qatar.tamu.edu

It's Time For Texas A&M

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