Compressed Gas Cylinders Safety

Dear Readers,

Industrial, manufacturing, repair shops, fabrication shops and construction operations require the use of compressed gases for a variety of different operations. Compressed gases present a unique hazard. Depending on the gas, there is a potential for simultaneous exposure to both mechanical and chemical hazards. 

Hazards include

• Fire & Explosion

• Missile hazard from broken cylinder heads

• Frostbite or gas injection under skin

• Impact from falling cylinders

• Poisoning     

• Asphyxiation     

• Over exposure 

Main Causes are inadequate training and supervision, poor installation, poor maintenance, poor storage, faulty equipment etc. 

We shall ensure at most safe precautions to create safe working environment to eliminate the risk of injury due to the compressed gas cylinders. The smart safety rules and controls are as follows.

• Inspect cylinders, regulators, flash back arrestors, hoses for damage and as per the standards before each use. Check cylinder & gas identification

• Use a cart/wheeled trolley or other secure means for moving - never carry or roll gas cylinders

• Grease or oils in areas where compressed oxygen is used can cause fire or explosion

• Use non-sparking tools for flammable gases

• Secure cylinders at work areas. Installation of caps on all cylinders

• Never refill or attempt to repair a gas cylinder

• Move leaking cylinders out of the offices/work areas – then vent all remaining gas.  Mark damaged cylinders “Damaged. Do not Use”

• Engineering controls such as gas cylinder storage areas, leak monitors, fume hoods, ventilation systems, sprinkler systems 

• Administrative controls such as inspections, training, audits, signage & labels, identification of authorized employees, safe operating procedures

• Proper personal protective equipment use

Personnel working with the compressed gas cylinders must be aware of the risks and follow safe work practices. Please take note on the identification of Hazards, required safety control measures, and communicate the information to the entire site crew.

Purpose of Admixtures

Dear Readers,

In continuation with Admixtures article, let us understand the functions

Functions of Admixtures

Concrete admixtures have various functions and they are as follows:

(a) To  increase  the rate  of strength development at early ages – calcium chloride is the most widely  used accelerator,                              

(b) To retard the initial setting time while pumping concrete over a long distance,

(c) To  increase the workability without changing the water content – pozzolana such as fly ash is used,

(d) To increase the strength,

(e) To  increase  the  resistance  to  freezing  and  thawing  – vinyl  resin  is  an  air entrainment admixture which is used for this purpose,

(f) To decrease heat evolution,

(g) To increase water tightness,

(h) To decrease capillary flow of water, and

(i) To decrease rate of bleeding and segregation. 

Chemical admixtures are various types and they are:

(a) Accelerating admixture – A substance that increases the rate of hydration of hydraulic cement, reduces the setting time, or in other words, increases the rate of strength development.

(b) Retarding admixture – A substance which delays the setting time of cement paste.

(c)   Water – reducing admixture – A substance which either increases the workability of freshly mixed mortar or concrete without increasing water-cement ratio or maintains workability with reduced water-cement ratio.

(d) Air – entraining admixture – A substance that causes air to entrap/Cd in the form of tiny bubbles in mortar or concrete during mixing to increase its workability and resistance to freezing and thawing.

(e)  Super plasticizing admixture   – A   substance that has very high workability with a large decrease in water content (at least) for a given workability. High range water reducing admixture (HRWRA) is also referred to as a superplasticizer.

To Know more about concrete admixtures click Here

Difference Between Sheet and Plate

Dear Readers,

We often used both Sheets and Plates in construction Industry. Let us see the difference between sheet and plate.

Sheet metal and plate metal are different forms of steel. The most notable difference between plate and sheet metal is the thickness of the products. Plate metal is thicker when compared to sheet metal.

Sheet metal is produced on an industrial scale by applying rolling, processing and drying techniques. Eventually it is the process of rolling that will decide whether a particular metal will be classified as sheet or plate. Rolling metal adds pressure which determines the overall thickness of the metal. If the metal is rolled thin then it is considered to be sheet and if it is thick then the metal can be classified as plate.

Sheet metal is made from steel and it is a metal that has thickness less than 6mm.

The only difference between sheet and plate steel is the gauge (thickness) of the metal. They both have very different uses, depending on the varying durability and weight requirements for different projects.