Dear all

Help and advice would be appreciated with this one. Within a large school we have an art/DT area in which they do occasional brazing welding with an O2/propane mix (smallish, separate tanks, currently locked away within the art/D&T room when not in use) They carry out this work outside, just behind the classrooms to ensure ventilation, but this is not ideal as they can't work during bad weather.

We have a plan for a new brazing/welding area with fire proof low wall/curtains and LEV. My problem is that the head of dept is determined to keep the canisters inside the room when not in use, whereas I would rather have them just outside of the department in a locked shed. He's of the opinion that the risk is far higher outside due to possible vandalism/setting alight of the shed/theft. I think that the risk is far higher keeping the 2 items within the room when not in use - it has OK ventilation but is part of a larger department and hence is surrounded by combustible items. Am I just being pedantic?

AAgh - ought and middle!

i would have sead put them outside in a heavy steel cage, this would provise toy with ventilation and security. have the canisters connected to a hard line system which dispences the gasses at the location desired. This ti what tends to happen commercialy

NO you are not being pedantic! Why not store the cylinders outside and away from the main building? Surely this controls both risks? I would opt for a cage with a fine grill which affords total free flow ventilation but keeps inquisitive (or vandals) fingers out.

I most definitely wouldn't advise in keeping the cylinder inside the School building. LPG is heavier than air and hugs the ground as it seeps from a leakage. So even when the School - or even room concerned is occupied - the leak (and odour) may go unnoticed at feet level until it's ignited.

Ignition of a 'pool' of LPG might not necessarily led to sustained combustion, however the the rapid consumption of the gas is likely to create overpressure and an explosion in a confined space sufficient for minor structural damage and death.

One in particular I saw burnt the majority of clothing from a plumber who had climbed into a rooftop water tank where a LPG cylinder had leaked & gathered overnight. When he sparked his blowlamp bang! Clothes burnt off & severe burns in a second

I wouldn't even go there - especially in a School. Here's a small gas bottle cage. It might not be man enough for a school playground, but it shows smaller cages are available http://www.asgardsss.co....detail.php?pro_code=Gas1

Does the school have a technical department for metal working?

Does it have a system set up that could be used?

How do they handle the storage of gas cannisters?

SOS