CGA’s April 2020 Safety Publications (New Releases & Revisions)
May 6, 2020
During April 2020, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) issued the following new and revised safety standards, position statements, and safety alerts:
CGA C-7, Guide to Classification and Labeling of Compressed Gases
Released: April 16, 2020 (11th Edition)/Corrected May 6, 2020
The compressed gas industry has developed precautionary labels and markings for use on containers of compressed gases, cryogenic liquids, and other hazardous materials for the purpose of identifying the contents, warning of principal physical, health, and environmental hazards, and providing appropriate precautionary information following the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as allowed by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
GHS was established by the United Nations (UN) to develop a means of hazard classification and communication via labels, pictograms, and consistent hazard language on a global basis. Internationally, competent authorities may adopt the GHS in whole or in part and may also require additional information on labels.
This publication has been prepared to state the general principles for labels and markings and give recommended minimum requirements for many hazardous gases and selected liquids.
The methods of preparing label information established by GHS as required by Title 29 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR) Part 1910.1200 (OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard) have been followed to meet the specific labeling and marking needs of the compressed gas industry. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and the currently referenced edition of GHS shall be used in conjunction with this publication when classifying products and creating labels.
This publication is not intended to address state, provincial, territorial, or local regulatory label and marking requirements such as the “Proposition 65” warnings required by the state of California. This publication does not fully address the requirements of the Canadian Hazardous Product Regulations-Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System 2015 (WHMIS 2015), which has adopted the Fifth Revised Edition of GHS. The example labels in this guideline for Canadian transport comply with WHMIS 2015.
CGA H-4, Terminology Associated with Hydrogen Fuel Technologies
Released: April 15, 2020 (3rd Edition)
This publication provides a description of the technologies and terminology as they apply to hydrogen fuel production, storage, transport, and use.
This publication is a single source of uniform terminology for hydrogen fuel technologies. This publication will be useful to persons involved with hydrogen production, storage, transport and use technologies, regulators, and codes and standards developers.
CGA PS-47, CGA Position Statement on Strategic Plan on Food Gas Monographs
Released: April 20, 2020 (2nd Edition)
This position statement provides CGA’s intention to propose monographs for some food gases that do not currently have monographs. In the absence of a current monograph, this position statement also recommends the information that should be provided to food manufacturers seeking to understand suitability of these gases used for food applications.
CGA S-1.3, Pressure Relief Device Standards-Part 3-Stationary Storage Containers for Compressed Gases
Released: April 17, 2020 (9th Edition)
This part of the Pressure Relief Device Standards presents the minimum requirements recommended by CGA for pressure relief devices (PRDs) being used on compressed gas storage containers constructed in accordance with the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code or the equivalent.
It is recommended that containers use PRDs that meet the applicable requirements of the edition of the ASME Code or other applicable regulations, codes, standards, or specifications in effect at the time of manufacture. The container PRDs shall also meet the requirements of this standard, except containers for liquefied petroleum gas and anhydrous ammonia shall use PRDs meeting the applicable requirements of the following two standards:
- NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code; and
- CGA G-2.1, Requirements for the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia (an American National Standard)
A number of states and cities have pressure vessel laws and regulations that include requirements for PRDs. Manufacturers and users are cautioned that in some instances the relief devices recommended in this standard might not be acceptable unless special permission is obtained from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
The purpose of this standard is to complement the requirements of various regulations, codes, standards, or specifications applicable to storage containers for compressed gases. In case of conflict, the requirements of the regulations, codes, standards, or specifications of the AHJ over such containers shall apply. It is recommended that containers fabricated after December 31, 1995, use PRDs that meet the requirements of this edition of CGA S-1.3.
CGA SA-36, Safety Alert, Cylinder and Cryogenic Container Issue Related to Cylinder Conversion and Filling During the COVID-19 Crisis
Released: April 8, 2020 (1st Edition)/Corrected April 15, 2020
As health care providers around the world work to assist patients affected by the respiratory illness Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the demand for medical gas containers will rise due to the increased need for these containers at both health care facilities and for patients requiring them for home use. It is important that any measures taken to address this increased demand and avoid any potential shortage on a temporary basis are done so in a manner that does not cause a safety hazard to the filler or unacceptable risk to the patients who are the ultimate consumer.
This Safety Alert will address interim measures that may be considered for use during this pandemic crisis, if there is a need to convert high pressure cylinders or large portable cryogenic containers from industrial service to medical service to alleviate a current or potential shortage.
Typically, high pressure cylinders with between 100 to 300 cubic feet capacity and cryogenic containers between 160 and 230 liquid liters capacity are those generally converted. Small medical high pressure cylinders, such as “E” size, and small liquid oxygen containers used in patient homes, are already dedicated to medical service.
This Safety Alert will also address interim cylinder filling measures that may be considered during this crisis to potentially allow more cylinders to be filled in a given period of time.
CGA SA-37, Safety Alert, Medical Oxygen Supply System Issues During the COVID-19 Crisis
Released: April 17, 2020 (1st Edition)
Health care facilities around the world are working to treat patients affected by the respiratory illness Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The increasing numbers of patients leads to a greater demand for medical gases, especially medical oxygen. Some health care facilities now require medical oxygen flow rates that are greater than the capacity of their existing medical oxygen supply systems. This leads to a need to increase the flow capacity of the medical oxygen supply system. Some new temporary health care facilities (i.e., field hospitals) are now coming on-line and need a temporary supply of medical oxygen.
This Safety Alert addresses measures that may be considered to increase the capacity of existing medical oxygen supply systems. It also addresses measures that may be considered when installing temporary medical oxygen supply systems. The goal is to ensure that all measures considered provide a reliable medical oxygen supply system. The measures considered must not cause hazards to the health care facility patients, health care facility personnel, or medical gas supplier personnel.
