Cylinders

Question 1

Define a cylinder?

Answer 1

Is any vessel containing a gas or liquid under pressure.

Question 2

How is a Welded cylinder constructed?

Answer 2

Two steel halves welded together around the centre

Question 3

How is a Drawn steel cylinder constructed?

Answer 3

A single steel skin containing no weld

Question 4

How is an Aluminium cylinders constructed?

Answer 4

Lighter in weight than steel cylinders and used to contain specialist gases.

Question 5

How is an Composite cylinder constructed?

Answer 5

A woven “fabric” jacket impregnated with resin and protected by a hardened plastic outer cage. This type of cylinder is mainly used for LPG but can be found with various contents. Occasionally these cylinders can have an aluminium inner lining.

Question 6

What is the initial hazard zone (HZ) for cylinders invlolved in fire?

Answer 6

200 Metres

Question 7

At what type of premises would it be reasonable to expect the presence of cylinders, even if current pre-planning information does not indicate this?

Answer 7

1. building sites
2. Railway arches
3. Vehicle workshops

Question 8

Under what circumstances can cylinder(s) be considered as in no immediate danger of failing and it is NOT necessary to implement a 200m hazard zone?

Answer 8

1. The fire has been extinguished.
2. The cylinder(s) are definitely not acetylene.
3. All the cylinders present have been located.
4. The cylinders involved are receiving direct cooling.

Question 9

What level of PPE should be worn when Crews are working within 25m of the cylinder affected by fire?

Answer 9

They should be rigged in full structural fire fighting PPE (BA, fire kit, fire hood, gloves)

Question 10

What are the visual indicators that a cylinder has not been involved in fire?

Answer 10

1. Paper labels and plastic rings are intact.
2. The paintwork has not been blackened or blistered
3. The supply hose pipes are undamaged

Cylinders may exhibit signs of smoke contamination, but this alone is not an indication that they have been heated.

Question 11

What tempratuee do steel cylinders need to be heated above before the tensile strength of the steel wall is affected to the extent that there is a risk of failure?

Answer 11

Temperatures of 300oC and above

Question 12

What form should be used following an Acetlyne cylinder being affected by fire?

Answer 12

Form No 6104

Question 13

What are the stages of of the Cylinder Assessment Procedure?

Answer 13

Stopping the application of cooling water after one hour then:

1. Monitor the cylinder with a thermal imaging camera (TIC) and record temperature.
2. Observe for any violent steaming* or rapid drying out of the cylinder surface.
3. Leave cooling water off for 15 minutes. Apply a momentary spray of water to the cylinder then shut off.

The above process must be completed 4 times (a total of 1 hour).

Question 14

With regard to Hazard Zone Management for cylinders, what details must be included in a message to LOC?

Answer 14

1. Perimeter roads that have been closed
2. Identification of any RVP
3. Identifcation of any marshalling area for oncoming appliances