Cylinder campaign

The London Fire Brigade has been working hard to improve controls over the safe use, signage and storage of acetylene gas cylinders, and creating a greater awareness of the dangers when the cylinders are involved in fires and other incidents.

Current situation

In 2007 there were 18 incidents involving acetylene gas cylinders in the capital. Because of the danger of these cylinders exploding, a hazard zone of 200 metres radius is initially set up every time they are reported to be involved in a fire.

This hazard zone can remain in place for more than 24 hours after the fire has been extinguished, causing major disruption to roads and public transport, evacuations from homes and closed businesses.

Apart from this danger, LFB is concerned about the real cost of these incidents to Londoners in terms of shutdowns to the transport network affecting road, rail and buses, lost business income and inconvenience to the evacuated residents.

Accordingly we have been working to prevent incidents occurring and to resolve incidents safely and effectively when they do occur.

What have we done?

The LFB has led the way in establishing a National Stakeholder Group for Acetylene in Fire (NSG). This is a multi-agency group involving, amongst others, the Fire Service, the British Compressed Gas Association (BCGA) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG)

The London Fire Brigade has been working with the Emergency Planning team at the London Borough of Islington on an awareness campaign targeted at local businesses that use acetylene cylinders.  An information leaflet developed from this work in 2007 explains the risks involved with storing acetylene and the dangers acetylene cylinders can create if they are involved in fires. It focuses on alternatives to using the gas but also covers information about how to use and store acetylene cylinders safely if a business still need to use the gas.

This leaflet is now being distributed across London through the London Fire Brigade and borough councils.

Fire Safety Inspecting Officers are now prioritising premises that use Acetylene and ensuring that the safe storage and use is included as part of their Fire Risk assessment.

The BCGA have also assisted the LFB in providing specialist training to dedicated officers attending cylinder incidents, to enable them to recognise and assess the condition of cylinders at an earlier stage.

The Brigade is also carrying out a six month trial with Network Rail and defence company QinetiQ using Remote Operated Vehicles. These ROVs can be used to safely assess and deal with the cylinders, allowing incidents to be resolved more quickly.

For more information on the NSG and BCGA visit their website at  http://www.bcga.co.uk/

Press releases

Press releases

• Brigade trials solution for fires involving Acetylene cylinders
• Brigade research shows acetylene gas incidents increasing
• Authority leads urgent discussions on London acetylene threat

Documents:

• The Cylinders In Fire National Stakeholder Group

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