Cylinders in Fires

If something goes wrong

All gas cylinders, whatever their gas contents, are potentially dangerous when exposed to a fire. Gas cylinders involved in a fire may explode due to the pressure inside the cylinder.

Actions
1	2	3

Evacuate the area to a minimum of 200 metres from the cylinder	Call the fire brigade	Advise any neighbours within the 200-metre evacuation area about the hazard

4	5	6

Inform BOC Industrial: call the Customer Service Centre on 0800 111 333	Cylinders that are not directly involved in the fire and have not become heated should be moved as quickly as possible to a safe place, provided this can be done without risk. Make sure the cylinder valves are closed	When the fire brigade arrives, explain the location and number of gas cylinders directly involved in the fire and the names of the gases they contain. If the fire brigade doesn’t have this information it can’t enter your premises to deal with the situation

When the fire has been extinguished

Do not move or use cylinders that have been exposed to a fire until BOC Industrial has examined them

Dissolved acetylene (DA) cylinders

Once the fire has been extinguished, dissolved acetylene cylinders still need to be cooled for a total of 24 hours
The fire brigade will impose a cordon while the cylinder is cooled
Ensure nobody tampers or interferes with the DA cylinder during this period. The fire brigade will inform you when it is safe to handle the cylinder
BOC Industrial will arrange for the collection of the DA cylinder after the 24-hour cooling period