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Safely carrying gas cylinders on vehicles

Just guidance?

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) is a well established industry body and its publications certainly carry weight. Although this is “only” a code of practice (CoP) from a non-government source, the organisation has strong links with the HSE and its advice will stand you in good stead. In this case the key legislation is the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 . The regulations implement the European rules known as the Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Essentially the CoP from the BCGA provides a simple, practical explanation of the steps to follow (see The next step ). This is especially welcome given the complexities of some aspects of the ADR.

What’s covered?

The document begins with some background on the legislation, highlighting that gases and their containers are classified as dangerous goods, hence the link with the ADR and the need for the fairly serious requirements for carrying them on vehicles.

The guidance is especially helpful to those who merely wish to transport a few cylinders. It does this by starting with the basic requirements applying to all those carrying any gas cylinders. It also helps you to determine whether your activities fall within the category of “small loads”. In this category you are exempt from some of the more difficult requirements of the regulations. Tip. It’s worth spending some time understanding section six of this CoP which helps you to identify the limit of a “small load”. Once you understand it you can stay within those quantities so as to avoid the more extreme requirements of the ADR.

Note. Above the small load exemption, the ADR requirements include vehicle placards, wheel chocks, portable lighting, having an appointed dangerous goods safety adviser, etc.

What’s a small load?

Section six of the CoP explains how to calculate if your loads are small and therefore subject to less stringent requirements. There are two methods depending on whether you have one category of substance, e.g. flammables, or whether you have a mixture of cylinder types, e.g. oxidising, toxic, flammable. To take a typical example, you could have up to seven 47Kg propane gas cylinders and still remain within the small load limit.

Minimum precautions

The requirements for those carrying small loads are common sense, but it’s worth a check that you are achieving what’s needed by reading sections four and five of the CoP. They include: (1) a dry powder fire extinguisher of minimum 2kg capacity; (2) ventilation of the space (but preferably carriage of the cylinders in the open air); (3) competent personnel; (4) inspection of cylinders before loading; (5) adequate means of securing the load; and (6) protection from excess temperature and ignition sources. Tip. Whilst it’s not required to carry documentation for a small load, it’s recommended that the driver has the safety data sheet, the supplier’s contact details and hazard labels (see The next step ).

For links to the CoP and safety labels, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 22 issue 07.