In its Guidance note GN2 for the storage of gas cylinders in the workplace, the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) recommends that gas cylinders should be stored externally in well secured compounds or cages rather than in storage cabinets.
Chemstore’s GasVault Units, which are specifically designed to provide a safe, ergonomic range of storage solutions for gas cylinder products, are designed in accordance with this guidance.
As is explained in the BCGA Guidance, all gas cylinders, even those containing inert gases, will ultimately rupture if exposed to fire so firefighters want to be able to see and apply cooling water to cylinders from a distance. They also want cylinders secured against theft which is why external storage in locked cages such as a GasVault Unit is their preferred method of storage.
Features of some of the standard GasVault Units include: roofs fitted to prevent rainwater corroding cylinder fittings and manifolds therefore helping to keep cylinder storage and operation safe; raised non-slip and corrosion-free Aluminium checker plate flooring used in order to prevent ground water corroding cylinder bases; all cylinders are secured vertically using heavy duty lockable chain restraints. This ensures the cylinder cannot fall even in the event of fire or under high powered water jets from the Fire Service.
Gas vault Units are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and full structural certification and a ten-year structural warranty are available. The units can be delivered to site three to four weeks from receipt of an order and they are delivered fully assembled and ready for immediate use. Stores can be easily relocated on site by forklift or crane at a later stage and minimal maintenance will be required over the life of the store.