Rank: Forum user 
|
A small ambulance organisation stores their oxygen and Entonox (50% oxygen & 50% Nitrous Oxide) cylinders in a metal 'mesh' enclosure approx 4m away from (the corner of) a residential block of flats. Is this a problem?
There are approximately 30 small cylinders, each containing approx 700L of compressed gas. The mesh enclosure is just that - basically non-protective in any way (other than to restrict access to the cylinders).
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Not idea, not enough information to answer the question Are there any open windows adjacent to the bottle store? At what concentration does the gas mixture have an effect on people? Outdoors so, is the ventialtion considered to be good?? And always available? Are there any obstructions to limit the ventilation? How many gas cylinders are you assuming will leak? Probably just 1?
What is the estimated leak rate?? Probably something like 10^-4 kg/sec
Have you asked the ambulance people about their gas storage policy/requirements?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
|
 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
|
2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
To clarify, the query is not about what if one of the cylinders leak - there is plenty of ventilation - and Oxygen and Entonox are not dangerous to inhale. The query is more about the fire/explosion risk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Maybe if you explained what you were concerned about in your opening post.... What does the safety data sheet say? Is is classed as flammable? Can you get and external fire? Oxygen isn't fammable, nut it will support rapid combustion if other thngs are burning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
As has been said nether oxygen or Entonox are flammable but both are oxidizing agents and support combustion. There fore a fire/explosion risk only exists if there is a source of fuel nearby and it an opportunity to mix with the gases; has somebody decided to store jerry cans of petrol in the cage for example? Storing gases outside is standard practice, as it ensures that they are well ventilated. The cage has to be robust to protect the cylinders from knocks and damage and secure enough to stop people gaining unauthorized access to the cylinders. Are the cylinders on an escape route? Is there evidence that they are not being stored correctly?
|
1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Just to add my thoughts. Secure mesh cages are preferable to solid panel ones, as any leak will dissipate. Not a serious issue at this time of year, but in cold weather outside storage can lead to the separation of the components in Entonox. Since the Nitrous Oxide is heavier, it can sink to the bottom of the cylinder at low temperatures, so opening the top valve will not emit sufficient Nitrous Oxide to achieve the desired result. When they are brought inside to use, the cylinder should be inverted several times to mix up the gases. Edited by user 10 June 2021 11:56:01(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
|
1 user thanked biker1 for this useful post.
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
https://gestis-database.dguv.de/data?name=004230
Not suere what the query is actually about but...not flammable - supports combustion...all pressure cylinders involved in a fire will not be happy when heated...but standard separation distances are being observed by the looks of what you say...so what really is the problem?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
I guess you would need to work out what the probability of the cylinders being in the heat range of the flat fire ... Cylinders in fire for information... http://www.bcga.co.uk/pages/index.cfm?page_id=33&title=cylinders_in_fires
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.