Additional Hazard or Information Sheet
To be used in conjunction with Fire Cylinder guidance
Document overview
Initial information to both inform and assist Incident Commanders in dealing with this subject matter:
Incidents involving acetylene cylinders
 Highly flammable
 Fireball up to 25m
 Blast pressure wave
 Projectiles up to 200m/flying debris
 Structural collapse
 Acetylene stored next to oxygen/supporting gas
 Decomposition of acetylene
 Mechanical shock to heated cylinders
 Gas leaks causing asphyxiation/narcotic effect
 Flashback
 Asbestos content in many cylinders
NOTE: The activation of a pressure relief device, indicates the likelihood of catastrophic failure leading to significant hazards for firefighters and the public
 Position appliances 200m from incident and upwind, if possible
 Identify and confirm if acetylene is involved, if in doubt assume acetylene
 Establish initial cordons of 200m around the hazard zone, this can be reduced where substantial shielding is identified
 Inform Fire Control with priority message “acetylene involved”
 Identify signs of heat damage/flashback/direct flame contact using thermal imaging camera (TIC)
 Do not move acetylene cylinders subjected to heat/fire
 Formulate plan defensive/offensive
 Establish communications with HMEPA at earliest opportunity
 Minimum personnel in hazard zone
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 All personnel within hazard zone to wear full firefighting PPE with fire hood up and eye protection. This can be reduced by an HMEPA. Additionally, BA should be worn by anyone committed to within 25m
 Consider the need and priorities for evacuation/public safety
 Request police attendance for outer cordons
 Extinguish all fires in the vicinity of the acetylene fire where possible
 Use the acetylene flowchart to start the safe system of work
 Instigate cooling phase – at least one hour of mass cooling timed from when the fire is extinguished: o Effective cooling is considered as mass cooling of the cylinders surface. The time should be increased for multiple cylinders; the HMEPA will inform the IC on a reasonable time scale depending on situation o There may be circumstances where attempts to apply cooling water would expose firefighters to unacceptable levels of risk that outweigh the benefit likely to be gained. At such incidents the alternative would be to leave the cylinder in place without applying water until it bursts or all sources of heating are removed
 After one hour a wetting test should be carried out– wet the cylinder shell and observe any drying of the surface. Confirm the cylinder has returned to ambient temperature using a TIC or remote thermometer and record the temperatures
 Carry out the monitoring phase – at least 1 hour, checking the cylinder is not warming up in 15 minute intervals. Any increase in temperature will result in returning to the cooling phase for a further hour.
 Successful conclusion of this monitoring phase will result in the cylinder being declared safe.
 For an acetylene leak use emergency action code ‘2SE’ to determine response o o o
Mass cooling with fine spray, maintaining the cylinders surface strength
Consider ground monitors/lashed jets
Agreed protected approach routes
 Do not extinguish flames from cylinder valve group
 Identify whether cylinder can safely be turned off
 Consider specialist advice from British Compressed Gas Association or cylinder owner, detailing: o o o
Name of caller and FRS representing
Premises name and location and directions
State the response required, either onsite or telephone advice o The number of cylinders and if they require recovering can save time if it is included in the initial contact
 If an acetylene cylinder has failed catastrophically for no apparent reason the Health and Safety Executive must be informed.
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 Nominate a Safety Officer
 ‘Empty’ acetylene cylinders still contain a significant amount of dissolved acetylene, even though the gauge reads zero
 Notify local authority and consider the use of emergency planning for protracted incidents that may require rest centres
 Reduce the initial cordon to a risk assessed hazard zone identifying available shielding, recording the decisions
 The proximity and importance of adjacent occupancies and key infrastructure, such and major roads and rail networks
 Inform the highways agency or local authority to establish road diversions. Use media messages to warn and inform the community: o o o
Go in – to a safe building
Stay in – until you are advised to do otherwise
Tune in – to local TV or radio for more information
 Following an explosion, inform Explosive Inspectorate at HSE
‘METHANE’ Assessment
Major incident declared
Exact location
Type of incident e.g. explosion fire, release of gas
Hazards present and potential
Access – routes that are safe to use
Number/type/severity of casualties
Emergency services now present and those required
Emergency action code: 2SE
1 COARSE SPRAY
2 FINE SPRAY
Liquid Tight Chemical Suits P V
R
S
T
V
W V
X
Y
Z
V
Breathing Apparatus &
Fire Kit
Fire Kit
Liquid Tight Chemical Suits
Breathing Apparatus &
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD
3
4
FOAM
DRY AGENT
DILUTE
SPILLAGE
CONTAIN
SPILLAGE
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(extracted from Hazmat Manual)
SUSPECTED ACETYLENE CYLINDER EXPOSED TO HEAT
No
Does the cylinder show signs of heat damage, flash-back or direct flame contact (i.e. above
300°C)?
Yes
Allow to cool, handover to responsible person/owner
 Are the cylinder labels burnt?
 Has the plastic test ring melted?
 Is the paint on the cylinder body scorched?
 Is there any visible bulge in the cylinder?
 Are pressure relief devices operating?
 Does the cylinder surface steam or dry out quickly when water is applied?
 Is there any other sign of heat?
 Eye witness testimony?
Do not move the cylinder, designate a Hazard
Zone
“Cooling Phase” - Apply cooling water from a shielded location as soon as possible. Continue cooling for 1 hour after the fire has been extinguished. (Note: If a significant area of the cylinder is buried/concealed (i.e. dry) consider increasing the cooling time)
 Establish initial
200m cordon
 Contact the gas supplier for advice
Interrupt cooling
Apply the “Wetting Test”, and/or use thermal imaging equipment to check that cooling has been effective
Yes
 Get a clear view from a shielded location
 Spray as much of the cylinder surface as possible
 Stop spraying
 Is the cylinder surface steaming?
Re-apply cooling water for
1 hr
No
Does the cylinder surface dry out rapidly?
No
Yes
“Monitoring Phase” - Stop water cooling, do not move the cylinder, maintain an appropriate hazard zone, re-apply the Wetting Test and/or thermal image equipment tests at 15 minute intervals for 1 hour.
If re-heating is observed water cool continuously for 1 hour then start the
Monitoring Phase again.
Is the cylinder leaking?
No
Yes
Significant leak only
Do not move cylinder, allow it to vent safely, assess any fire or explosion risks caused by the escaping gas.
NB Continue shell temperature monitoring if the leak is significant
Risks controlled
No further action by FRS, hand-over to owner or responsible person
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This incident type is potentially linked to the following other operational guidance documents:
Document name
To be populated
Link to document
 Fire and Rescue Service Operational Guidance – Incidents involving hazardous materials - 2012
Ref no:
Date of issue:
Version no:
H2.3.0 Lead FRS:
29/04/2014 Review date:
1
Protective marking:
Cornwall
28/04/2017
None
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