We currently run service vans with oxyacetylene packages on board as well as occasionally a small cylinder of Liquid Nitrogen. The quantities would fall out side of ADR regs however I understand that we still have to comply with some of the requirements such as competence and fire extinghushers. What signage, if any, do we need to display, or is it best practice to display, bearing in mind the different qualities of these substances? Would compressed gass sign be sufficient or should we indicate all three types (oxygen, acetylene and nitrogen)? Any suggestion or image files greatly appreciated! Many Thanks Linda

Hi Linda ....and if you put on unnecessary signage you'll be positively unpopular with the emergency services in the event of a road traffic incident, as they won't do anything until they've risk assessed the significance of the signage. This happened some many years ago on the M1 in Hertfordshire causing miles of tailbacks.

If hazardous cylinders are carried internally in your vehicle (which, ideally, they shouldn't) you need a relevant hazard diamond, which should be removed when they're not carried. You see these often on plumber's transit vans and the like. At least, that's the decision I ended up with. Our construction pickups carry LPG in the open bed, and don't have markings, but some of our catering staff have started carrying a single cylinder in closed escort vans, so we've put removable hazard markings on them. Good luck!

Fair point, and I'm not a dangerous goods specialist so will certainly revise my decision if it turns out to be wrong. I looked for additional guidance on this when I was dealing with it, and (in my case, for LPG) went with the advice in the UKLPG code of practice no. 27 which makes the distinction requiring marking for carriage in closed vehicles. Wouldn't it be even more important with Acetylene (as in the OP's example) to give emergency services warning as clearly as possible that this hazard is present? There's a page about all this on the HSE site (which agrees with you) at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/cd.../commonproblems/vans.htm However given how significantly management of an emergency situation changes when even a single acetylene cylinder is present, I'd like to see the background for considering carrying one by road in a closed vehicle to be "low risk" (from Para 3 on the linked page). I'm quite interested in clarifying this though since I'll definitely change our system if necessary. Thanks for pointing out the issue.