Guidance Notes (GN)

This document  is obsolete and has been replaced by Code of Practice 44, The Storage of gas cylinders.

You can download a free copy of Code of Practice 44 (CP 44) from our Publications section under Codes of Practice

Provides guidance on the principles of safe practice when handling gas cylinders.  It takes account of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations as they relate to gas cylinders, and provides a worked example of a typical manual handling risk assessment.

Describes methods to prevent and detect internal corrosion of gas cylinders. Includes measures to prevent contamination by customer processes, and methods of moisture and corrosion detection.

Provides guidance on the safe use, inspection and maintenance of individual cylinder gas supplies, the gas being controlled by a single cylinder mounted regulator, which is used to deliver industrial cylinder gases to gas using equipment. Does not cover toxic or corrosive gases.

This document provides a list of the recognised gas container test marks used by BCGA members and their inspection bodies to indicate a re-test.

Beverage gases and their associated dispense equipment are often located in a cellar, this may be a confined space.  If a confined space, then the Confined Spaces Regulations require operators of drinks dispense equipment to carry out an assessment of the risk to their employees arising from the possible escape of the gas. This document includes an easy-to-use assessment procedure specifically for use in a cellar, classifying the risk as tolerable, medium, or high, then gives any necessary actions resulting from the assessment.

Provides guidance that can be used in the assessment of risk associated with gases in enclosed workplaces, to help identify where hazardous atmospheres may occur and to advise on control measures that may be appropriate.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) put obligations on site operators where oxidising or flammable gases are used or stored. This document explains these obligations in detail and presents model risk assessments for typical installations within the scope of DSEAR. It should therefore be of direct interest to any organisation which manufactures, uses, stores or distributes flammable or oxidant gases

Provides advice to producers and suppliers of food gases on how to comply with the Food Safety Regulations.  Companies that supply gases for food use have to meet specific legal obligations and are required to ensure food safety.  The Guidance Note includes coverage of the production and supply of food gases in bulk, the use of cylinders and other transportable receptacles, dry ice production and supply, and the supply or use of on-site gas generators.

This Guidance Note defines a gas supplier’s responsibilities when intending to fill a third-party owned tank, used for the storage of refrigerated liquefied gases (typically nitrogen, oxygen, argon and carbon dioxide) at a customer’s premises. A check sheet is provided to aid the gas suppliers in evaluating such tanks prior to supply and a reporting procedure is laid down for informing BCGA members of unsafe tanks.