Safety Hazard - Obsolete Gas Cylinder Regulators

26. (2000)

BOC Gases and the ANU OHS Unit wishes to warn of a potential safety hazard associated with the use of obsolete gas cylinder regulators. The regulators of concern are BOC/CIG regulators -

• RA, part number T200.
• RB, part number TR1.
• RG, part numbers TR61, TR63, TR85, TR86, TR92 with 20000 kPa or 3000 psi gauges.
• RJ, part numbers 301178 (mini), TR358 (comet sprint).
• Monitor Oxygen Regulators, part numbers 30105 (hand tightening), 301055 (spanner tightening), 301152 (gaugeless).

These have the following safety hazards concerns -

• They are beyond the recommended life of a serviceable regulator. These regulators have been out of production for over 10 years and no suitable replacement parts are available.
• They are not suitable for regulating modern gas cylinders, which operate at cylinder pressures of 175 bar and above. The obsolete regulators have been superseded by regulators (eg. the Comet 500 or 700 series) capable of regulating modern high cylinder pressures.
• Their use under certain conditions, can lead to a potentially dangerous situation where the regulators can fail resulting in sudden escape of gas, projection of broken parts, damage to equipment and/or an explosion.

It is recommended that the obsolete regulators be taken out of service as soon as possible.
Contact BOC Gases (131 262) for a recommended replacement.

Reference

BOC Gases - Safety Warning, Mr J Medforth, 17 October 1997

For further information contact:
OHS Officer, e-mail: OHS.Officer@anu.edu.au