Industry Standard Update 107

Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 7:2021 Storage of Full and Empty LPG Cylinders and Cartridges Date issued: 25 January 2022

This Industry Standard Update (ISU) provides an overview of the key areas of change arising from the revised Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 7:2004 Storage of Full and Empty LPG Cylinders and Cartridges

Introduction

During December 2021, Liquid Gas UK published a revised version of Code of Practice 7:2021 Storage of Full and Empty LPG Cylinders and Cartridges(1). This supersedes the previous edition published in February 2004(2) , which is now obsolete.

The revision to this standard comes into effect immediately. To allow registered businesses time to carry out internal update training to reflect the technical requirement of the updated standard, Gas Safe Register will inspect to the revised standard by 1 May 2022. However, this should not restrict businesses from applying the specifications sooner.

The following is a brief overview of the areas of significant change to the revised Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 7.

General

Legislation, normative documents, references and current standards have been updated throughout where necessary.

The document has been updated into the current Liquid Gas UK format.

Proximity to electrical power cables

Clause 2.2.3 details the clearances required from electrical cables. Data and telephone cables are not classed as power cables, changing the guidance from previous versions of the document.

Separation distances

The comments under Table 1b (now Table 2) state that the separation distance from the nearest container to a fire wall controlled by the person storing the LPG has been reduced from 1.5m to 1m for quantities up to 400kg.

Cylinder stacking

The main changes in the revised document comes in Clause 2.4.5, which now gives much clearer guidance for stacking cylinders. In addition to the existing guidance: • Flat pallet stacks shall not be higher than 3m • Caged pallet stacks shall not be higher than 4m • Only a single layer of cylinders shall be put on a flat pallet • No more than seven flat pallets shall be in a vertical column of any stack • The effects of wind loading on flat pallet and unpalletised stacks shall be risk-assessed • The quantity of LPG in any vertical column of a stack shall not be greater than that given in

Table 3.

The quantities given in Table 3 (previously Table 2) have also changed.

Container storage

When storing oxygen cartridges and LPG cartridges together, the maximum amount of oxygen permitted has risen from 50 litres to 150 litres. The maximum amount of LPG permitted remains 5,000kg.

When the containers are held in a specially designed room within a building, Section 2.6.4 sets out that the storage area shall be at ground level, with no voids or basements below, and that the walls shall be masonry construction (or similar) with a minimum fire resistance of 60 minutes.

Appendix

• Appendix A contains a table showing the properties of LPG.

This has been expanded from the previous version. • Appendix B is legal requirements • Appendix C is safety data sheets • Appendix D is standards and references • Appendix E is definitions • Appendix F is hazardous places and area classifications • Appendix G is guidance on electrical requirements • Appendix H is fire resistance.

Summary As previously stated, this Industry Standard Update is only a brief overview of the information contained in the amended standard. Registered businesses should be aware that they have a responsibility to ensure that they are fully apprised of all the requirements of the whole published standard and its practical application.

Bibliography 1. Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice

7:2021 Storage of Full and Empty LPG Cylinders and Cartridges

2. Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice

7:2004 Storage of Full and Empty LPG Cylinders and Cartridges