New Sht 037 by UKLPG

Hi all. I notice now that, at long last, UKLPG have come into line with PELG- the publishers of the Red Guide for forecourts. Those of you who look at the forum regularly will recall that although the Red Guide had been amended to allow the refilling of refillables, UKLPG had not updated their SHT 026. to make sense of what PELG we’re saying. That seems though, through sheer logic I presume, to now be at an end as I said it would be. The relevant information is now on SHT 037 and is copied below. It isn’t brilliantly written but it says what needs to be said! The permission to fill refillables still lies with the forecourts themselves but that has always been the case. As you will see, St 037 deals with the procedure of filling a cylinder and the law surrounding it. I hope now that the industry can move on and the filling of refillables will, I’m sure become commonplace. Again, had it not been for the titanic efforts of Safefill and Safefill alone, we would not be at this point- we would still be looking for a station to fill them. Some may still be doing that but refillables will become more popular now that the legislative basis has been rewritten and therefore more and more stations will come on board. I hope this clarifies a few things

User Information Sheet 037
October 2018
Guidance for Private Ownership and Filling of ‘Freestanding’ Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinders
Scope
This information sheet gives general safety guidance for private ownership of LPG cylinders relating to operation and filling. If the cylinder is used for commercial purposes then please note that additional Regulations apply.
Introduction
LPG (propane) is potentially hazardous and the filling of cylinders can be a high risk activity which is governed by law to protect you and others. It is important that you fully understand the implications of owning an LPG cylinder.
The majority of LPG cylinders in service in the UK are traditional, welded steel cylinders.
Most cylinders are owned by and remain the property of the gas supplier whose name is printed/ marked on the cylinder. These cylinders are filled by weight and must ONLY be filled in a dedicated filling plant by the gas supplier or their authorised filling contractor. It is unlawful for anyone else (either a company or private persons) to fill these cylinders.
Customer-owned freestanding LPG cylinders have been available for a number of years and are generally sold to private persons who have responsibilities for their cylinder. This includes, but is not limited to, cylinders sold directly to caravan and leisure home owners which are usually filled by the user/ owner of the cylinder. These cylinders are filled by volume and fitted with automatic overfill protection on the valve. This automatically stops the filling at the correct level. The maximum fill is 80% of the cylinder’s marked water capacity. This is to allow for expansion of the LPG in the event of a temperature increase.
Do not attempt to fill a cylinder without automatic overfill protection on the valve. An overfilled cylinder is potentially dangerous and may result in serious damage to life and/or property.
If in doubt whether your cylinder contains automatic overfill protection, do not fill the cylinder and contact the supplier immediately.
Recommendations
It is recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the advice contained in this “User Information Sheet”. Before filling the cylinder you should establish the following:
 Ensure the cylinder to be filled is manufactured to a suitable Standard and is specifically designed for use with propane;
  
The cylinder is specifically designed to be filled by the user and has automatic overfill protection;
The cylinder is in good condition and within its test period (see Further Consideration overleaf);
The cylinder is correctly labelled (see Cylinder Labelling overleaf);
October 2018 - Guidance for Private Ownership of LPG cylinders
UKLPG • the trade association for the LPG industry in the UK•
A Camden House •Warwick Road• Kenilworth• Warwickshire• CV8 1TH• E mail@uklpg.org
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Before filling, check that:
 The filling centre or station allows the filling of freestanding customer owned LPG cylinders;  The cylinder and valve(s) are not damaged or corroded;
 The area around the filling point is clear of potential hazards;
 The cylinder is stable and upright with the valve(s) at the top;
 The automatic overfill protection is working.
During filling, take the following precautions:
 Wear gloves and eye protection to protect against cold burns (see LPG Properties overleaf);  Check there are no leaks;
 Ensure the cylinder valve is closed before disconnecting the filling gun.
After filling, ensure that:
 The cylinder is not overfilled;
 There are no obvious signs of leaks and that a plug/cover is fitted to the valve connection;
 Ensure the cylinder is always kept upright with the valve at the top during transportation,
whilst using the cylinder and in storage.
Further Consideration
 At periods not exceeding 10 years, refillable LPG cylinders must be requalified and then permanently marked (stamped, engraved or etched) by an approved inspection body*.
 Owners of LPG cylinders are recommended to have valid Public Liability Insurance.
 The filling of freestanding cylinders is at the discretion of the filling centre or station, as they
have additional regulatory duties.
 In the event of a leak or overfill do not place the LPG cylinder in a vehicle, but follow the
procedure laid down by the filling centre or station.
LPG Cylinder Safety
 Always read the filling, operating and emergency instructions available from the manufacturer,
filling centre or station. If you have any doubts or questions, put safety first and contact the
manufacturer.
 Remember full cylinders are heavier than the marked tare weight, lift carefully or use a
trolley. A full cylinder will weigh about twice the gas contents weight displayed on the cylinder.
 When a cylinder is not connected always keep the valve closed and replace the cap/plug in its
outlet connection (even when empty).
 Do transport, store and use cylinders and cartridges with their valve uppermost.
 Do make sure the cylinders are properly secured and are kept upright in use.
 Do treat cylinders with care to ensure they don’t get damaged.
 Do use cylinders in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
 Do keep all cylinders in a safe, well-ventilated place, away from escape routes and stairs.
 Do store cylinders in the open air, away from sources of combustible material, potential
ignition and excessive heat.
 Do keep the area where cylinders are located outdoors free from rubbish and excessive build-
up of vegetation; e.g. trees, bushes, undergrowth and weeds.
 Do check your vehicle insurance allows the carriage of LPG cylinders.
October 2018 - Guidance for Private Ownership of LPG cylinders
UKLPG • the trade association for the LPG industry in the UK•
A Camden House •Warwick Road• Kenilworth• Warwickshire• CV8 1TH• E mail@uklpg.org
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Cylinder Labelling
The Law states that ‘Refillable pressure receptacles shall be marked clearly and legibly with certification, operational and manufacturing marks’.
As a minimum cylinders must display:  Danger warning symbol;
 UN Number for Propane (UN 1978) – for cylinders up to 60 litres water capacity minimum height 6 mm;
 Date of original or last periodic inspection, with an inspection body identification number;  Tare weight and date (year) when next periodic inspection is due.
LPG Properties
 LPG is stored in the cylinder under pressure and has properties that make it a potential hazard for you. Any leakage will result in a highly flammable atmosphere.
 One litre of liquid released to the atmosphere will give 270 litres of flammable vapour.
 If liquid leaks this expands into vapour and also cools down; if this comes in contact with the
skin it can result in a “cold burn”. Although with properly maintained equipment this should be rare it is recommended that anyone filling a User Refillable Cylinder should wear suitable gloves and eye protection during the filling operation.
Outside the UK
The self-filling of LPG cylinders by members of the public is not permitted in some countries. Please check before travelling.
Filling connections vary between European countries. It is worth checking on the type of connection in your destination country, and whether your cylinder can be filled.
Disposal of Cylinders
If information is not provided by the manufacturer then visit the UKLPG website: www.uklpg.org for guidance on how to safely dispose of your cylinder at the end of its life.
Additional Guidance
Additional guidance and FAQ’s are available on the UKLPG and Health and Safety Executive websites:
www.uklpg.org http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/lpg/index.htm
*For advice on where to find an inspection body visit:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/additional/files/dangerous-goods/conformity-assessment-bodies/pressure- equip-inspection-bodies.pdf).
Status of UKLPG User Information Sheet (UIS)
UKLPG User Information sheets serve as guidance prepared and issued under the authority of the UKLPG Technical and Safety Management Team; the contents have the same status as a Code of Practice so members of UKLPG are expected to conform to the information provided. UKLPG guidance is sometimes written in collaboration with UK policy makers, therefore regulatory inspectors may choose to use the guidance to establish good practice and compliance.
October 2018 - Guidance for Private Ownership of LPG cylinders
UKLPG • the trade association for the LPG industry in the UK•
A Camden House •Warwick Road• Kenilworth• Warwickshire• CV8 1TH• E mail@uklpg.org
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