Can you expand on what he is actually tasked with doing!! as the introduction of explosive cylinders in an enclosed space sounds rather risky.

Suggested reading (priced publication) - BCGA GN2 (guidance for the storage of gas cylinders in the workplace) Section 5.10 talks about indoor storage and the recomendation to avoid that; however it notes considerations for a SMALL number of cylinders where avoidance cannot be eliminated: Fire impacting on cylinder store Density of gas risk of explosion from flammable gas release Leakage of valves or safety relief devices ventilation requirements access/egress to and from cylinder store movement and handling of cylinders to/from store detection equipment exposure of personel to gas/gases

quote=Clairel]Sometimes storing indoors is unavoidable. Advice would be keep to an absolute minimum (4 or 5 would be acceptable in my opinion) and store safely ie, upright, away from sources of heat or possibly impact and away from escape routes.

Messyshaw, is it essential to have all the cylinders? Given the City-centre location it is very likely that a replacement cylinder can be supplied within a very short time so maybe possible to reduce to 2 (in-use and spare). Presumably little or no possibility of these being hit by a vehicle so that's a bonus unlike many industrial sites where they're stored in the loading bay! Remember there are millions of these in use and in storage and thankfully very seldom do we hear of an explosion. Good storage arrangements, excellent ventilation, excellent housekeeping, absolutely no mobile heating nor naked flames should all be part of the management, along with previous good advice.

This is so typically where things start to go off the rails - bending with the customer's expectations and accepting something that is less than perfect, or even palpably unsafe, occurs far too often. The pressures to do so are sometimes overwhelming, it's either get paid or not and though that should have no bearing on the decisions made it is difficult to remain fully objective. "I have a customer who simply has to use LPG in the process at his works" - well, others may see that differently and prohibit this application, or choose to cancel insurance cover. The customer's neighbours may have something to say about it too. <simply has to have it> is quite clearly nonsense. If it is unsafe and no safe solution can be found, ship out and do it somewhere else, or stop! <I intend to add an appendix to the FRA> a wise precaution, to demonstrate that you have NOT bent in the wind and gone against your training and experience. But it needs to be punchy, to make it absolutely clear where you stand and leave the client in no doubt about the issues involved and your concerns. <but the customer (who are always right, aren't they!?) insists!!> No, they are not. Those who take that line of least resistance may find themselves with a lot of uncomfortable questions to answers. The caveats that you will make clear in your Appendix seems sensible

Would flame proof cabinet with fume extraction be a suitable solution. i've seen pictures of one of these cabinets in a building which was totally burnt to the ground but when they opened the cabinet up the chemicals of flammable materials where completely untouched. there not cheap but if the customer wants LPG so badly on site then he may well have to pay the cost for storing it safely. How often do they actual use lpg if it is infrequent then they could just hire the bottles when needed and off hire or make arrangements with a supplier to store them on their behalf. Phil

I Should have some supplier details somewhere as there where a couple of companies at the H&S expo this year. One had 90 minute fire rating and automatic self closing doors so even if someone left the doors open they self close. i would have thought with powered extraction should remove gases heavier than air due to volume of air being draw through the cabinet. If you want me to dig out the details then either email me or give me a phone you have my details Phil