ISO 25760 details procedures for the safe removal of valves from cylinders and includes techniques for the identification of inoperable valves. ISO 25760 addresses the risks due to gas and gas mixtures under pressure.
ISO 25760 addresses the general requirement for the safe removal of valves from gas cylinders. ISO 25760 mentions the hazards, operator safety and protection, operator qualification and operator errors in regard to the cylinder usage, maintenance and inspection.
Note 1: Other technical issues relating to the removal of a valve from a cylinder are not covered.
Note 2: Some specialized equipment and procedures are in use in parts of the gas industry to safely remove cylinder valves from low-pressure gas cylinders while under pressure, e.g. liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); these techniques are not included in ISO 25760.
ISO 25760 on gas cylinder valve removal is useful for:
Cylinders are devalved for many purposes, such as periodic inspection and testing, cylinder cleaning, change of service, replacement of a damaged valve, installation of a new valve, preparation for filling or scrapping. Occasionally, gas cylinder valves can become blocked by corrosion or foreign material or become inoperable due to external or internal damage. ISO 25760 addresses the essential safety requirement that such valved cylinders be identified and treated with special care as soon as practicable. The operation of removing a valve should only be carried out if the cylinder is made safe with respect to residual gas and pressure. ISO 25760 recommends that gas suppliers be prepared with both the proper equipment and trained operators for dealing with such valved cylinders. Practical techniques that have been tried and tested over many years within the gas industry are described. Valve removal activities can pose hazards to the life and physical safety of the operator, especially if the cylinder is under pressure. Valves should only be removed after ensuring there is no residual pressure in the cylinder.
Various people in a wide range of industries use gases from compressed gas cylinders. The pressure at which gases are contained in gas cylinders can sometimes be extremely high. With the advances in the cylinder, technology will enable pressures to be increased even further. Increased awareness and comprehension of the precautionary measures are required to preserve and improve the current safety record for the usage of these cylinders. It is critical that new users of gas cylinders have proper training and advice before using them. ISO 25760 guidelines compile the expertise and experience of a number of professionals in order to provide advise on how to handle gas cylinders safely.
EN ISO 25760:2015
ISO 25760:2009