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CGA’s May & June 2021 Safety Publications (New Releases & Revisions)

July 29, 2021

During May and June 2021, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) issued the following new and revised safety standards, guidelines, position statements, and safety alerts:

CGA G-1.5, Guideline for Carbide Lime: Its Value and Uses

Released: June 28, 2021 (6th Edition)

This publication provides information on the production, chemical composition, properties, safe handling, distribution, and application of carbide lime, which should be useful to producers, users, and distributors of this product.

CGA G-2.2, Guideline Method for Determining Minimum of 0.2% Water in Anhydrous Ammonia

Released: June 28, 2021 (4th Edition)

This publication is intended to provide shippers and carriers with a guideline method of analysis to determine the presence in anhydrous ammonia of the prescribed minimum water content of 0.2% by weight as required by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

Lack of the appropriate percentage of water in single loads of ammonia has been found by experience to result in extensive stress corrosion damage to the QT cargo tanks. This method is intended for field use and thus the equipment and procedure selected may vary slightly from that used under laboratory conditions.

CGA G-6.3, Carbon Dioxide Cylinder Filling and Handling Procedures

Released: June 28, 2021 (5th Edition)

This publication includes the inspection, filling, handling, labeling, and shipping of uninsulated carbon dioxide cylinders, and the preparation of shipping papers.

In addition to the cylinder filling procedures in this publication, filling carbon dioxide cylinders for medical, food, or beverage use requires the use of product that meets appropriate CGA quality verification levels (QVL) as listed in CGA G-6.2, Commodity Specification for Carbon Dioxide, and requires additional procedures per regulatory requirements.

CGA G-6, Carbon Dioxide, contains information critical to safe storage and handling of carbon dioxide. To ensure personnel safety and proper system design, reference to CGA G-6 is highly recommended. Without obtaining CGA G-6, the reader will not be provided with significant information related to the physical properties and common hazards associated with storage, production, transportation, and handling of carbon dioxide. This publication does address the hazards specifically associated with insulated liquid carbon dioxide systems at consumer sites.

The primary purpose of this publication is to provide information to personnel engaged in handling, filling, and transporting carbon dioxide cylinders.

CGA M-2, Standard for the Manufacture of Medical Gases Classified as Drugs

Released: June 29, 2021 (3rd Edition)

This publication is a standard for compliance with the applicable regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the manufacture of compressed medical gases (CMG) classified as drugs as described in Title 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR).

CGA M-2 outlines the requirements for manufacturing CMGs classified as drugs; however it may not contain all information necessary to comply with FDA regulations. It is the responsibility of each CMG manufacturer to ensure that their standard operating procedures (SOP) comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

This publication applies to firms that engage in the filling, repackaging, transfilling, mixing, and/or re-labeling of CMG classified as drugs by the FDA and applicable state agencies. Although it is primarily intended for firms engaged in the CMG manufacturing processes, portions may apply to firms that only distribute CMG classified as drugs.

CGA M-3, Standard for the Manufacturer of Bulk Medical Gases

Released: June 29, 2021 (5th Edition)

This publication is a standard for compliance with the applicable regulations of the U.S. FDA for the manufacture of bulk medical gases classified as drugs as described in Title 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR).

It outlines the requirements for manufacturing bulk medical gases classified as drugs; however, it may not contain all information necessary to comply with FDA regulations. It is the responsibility of each gas manufacturer to ensure that their standard operating procedures (SOP) comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

CGA M-3 applies to the bulk manufacturing of medical gases as follows:

  • bulk air separation (oxygen, USP and nitrogen, NF) manufacturing and distribution facilities
  • bulk carbon dioxide, USP manufacturing and distribution facilities
  • bulk helium, USP manufacturing and distribution facilities
  • bulk nitrous oxide, USP manufacturing and distribution facilities

CGA P-8.3, Perlite Management

Released: June 16, 2021 (5th Edition)
Special Attribute: Harmonized publication

Perlite is nontoxic and nonflammable. However, the nature of the material and the large quantities involved require the use of special operations, handling, and safety procedures. This publication provides guidance for reducing the risks of uncontrolled perlite releases and incidents that have potential for serious personnel injury, property damage, downtime, environmental impact, and consequences outside the perimeter of the plant.

CGA P-8.3 covers the use of perlite in cryogenic enclosures and focuses on safety, perlite handling procedures, and emergency perlite management. This publication is for industrial gas plant manufacturers, owners, and operators of facilities that use and maintain perlite as an insulation medium for cryogenic equipment.

This publication does not attempt to recommend or establish specific design or usage criteria but provides best practices. The end user shall determine the specific requirements.

CGA P-8.8, Safe Design and Operation of Cryogenic Enclosures

Released: June 16, 2021 (3rd Edition)
Special Attribute: Harmonized publication

Cryogenic enclosures can create potential process safety hazards. This publication identifies general hazards and provides guidance to reduce their frequency and consequences. It provides safety guidance and addresses design and operating practices only as they affect safety.

This publication addresses both cryogenic air separation unit (ASU) and hydrogen/carbon monoxide (HYCO) processes.

CGA P-8.8 is primarily to document current practices and is intended to apply to new facilities. It is recognized that some existing plants may not meet all recommendations or requirements from this publication.

CGA P-21, Guideline for the Development of Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist and Reports for MC-338, TC-338, CGA-341, and TC-341 Cargo Tanks

Released: June 2, 2021 (5th Edition)

This publication provides guidance on the preparation of checklist(s) and reports for pre-trip and post-trip inspection of vacuum insulated cargo tanks as well as guidance on driver and vehicle qualification records.

The guidelines apply to cargo tanks that comply with MC-338, TC-338, CGA-341, and TC-341 specifications as well as other tankers used to transport cryogenic liquids.

CGA PS-30, CGA Position Statement on the Use of Railroad Tank Cars for Stationary Liquid Carbon Dioxide Storage

Released: May 7, 2021 (2nd Edition)

This position statement describes the Compressed Gas Association’s position on the use of railroad tank cars for stationary liquid carbon dioxide storage.

CGA strongly recommends that railroad tank cars manufactured with ASTM A212 Grade B, A285 Grade C and A515 Grade 70 not be used for stationary liquid carbon dioxide storage. CGA also recommends that DOT 105A500W and DOT 105J500W railroad tank cars not be converted to stationary liquid carbon dioxide storage.

The reasons for these recommendations are outlined in the document.

CGA SA-39, Safety Alert, Incorrect Use of Valve Outlet Connections and Backflow Contamination

Released: May 7, 2021 (1st Edition)

Through our member companies, CGA is aware that specific cylinder valve outlet connections are being incorrectly used for mixtures of butane and propane. There is one specific connection for liquid withdrawal and one for gas (vapor) withdrawal. It is important that the specified outlet connection be used to prevent adverse effects.

Mixtures of butane and propane are used for the extraction of oils from cannabis. This process can result in backflow contamination of these oils into the cylinder, which can create problems if the cylinder is used in a different application after the next fill.

This Safety Alert has been issued to notify users of the correct valve outlet connections, to provide recommended practices to prevent the risk of backflow into cylinders, and to provide general information on handling these cylinders prior to use.

CGA V-1, Standard for Compressed Gas Cylinder Valve Outlet and Inlet Connections

Released: May 13, 2021 (15th Edition)
Special Attribute: Referenced by NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and ICC (International Code Council)

CGA’s Cylinder Valve Committee, applying the experience and knowledge of gas producers, valve manufacturers, military services, federal agencies, and gas users, established detailed dimensions for the manufacture of new cylinder valve outlet and inlet connections.

The scope of this standard is to provide connections that minimize the possibility of hazardous misconnections. This standard is based on a coordinated plan for the inclusion of future connections as they are required on cylinders that are not permanently manifolded during transport and use. Standard outlet connections for respective gases are fully defined and complete in themselves. These outlet connections are designed to minimize the possibility of hazardous misconnections.

CGA V-7.1, Standard Method of Determining Cylinder Valve Outlet Connections for Medical Gases

Released: May 12, 2021 (3rd Edition)

This standard applies to the selection of an appropriate cylinder valve outlet connection for medical gases for pressures up to 3000 psi (20 680 kPa) at 70 °F (21.1 °C). It does not apply to industrial gas mixtures, cylinders manifolded in transport and use, or to mixtures at higher pressures. Both threaded and pin-indexed connnection assignments are included with reference to V-1.

This revision replaces the use of limited standards with alternate standards for the purpose of assuring only one connection assignment will be appropriate. This revision brings consistency with ISO 407:2004, to standardize pin-indexed yoke-type valve connections globally.