02Sumitomo Precision Products Fabricated Brazed Aluminium Heat Exchangers (PP 44/20 & BN 28/20 & GasWorld article)
A number of industrial gas companies purchase brazed aluminium heat exchangers (BAHXs) from Sumitomo Precision Products (SPP) for use in air separation units and similar plants. SPP made EIGA members aware of administrative non-conformances relating to welds that form part of the manufacture of some BAHXs.
Based on the evaluation of its members’ operating experience, EIGA believes that the SPP supplied brazed aluminium heat exchangers are reliable and safe. SPP’s reported nonconformance does not affect the mechanical integrity of these heat exchangers and no new actions are needed for continued safe operation.
See here for the Position Paper.
Or see this GasWorld article.
A Briefing Note was also published on the subject (for members only).
03Temporary Covid19 derogation on periodic testing expires
In April this year EIGA published TB35 "COVID-19 - Multilateral Agreement M326 - Periodic Inspection and test of Pressure Receptacles for the Carriage of Gases of Class 2", requesting an exceptional temporary derogation to ADR be issued to assist in the availability of pressure receptacles for primarily medical oxygen, but also to other gases related to the medical supply chain.
The derogation was granted via a Multilateral Agreement MLA 326 and is valid until 31st August 2020.
Please note this MLA 326 is unlikely to be renewed, therefore, the EIGA members should ensure that their cylinders are not sent out untested after the 31st August MLA expiry date.
04Doc 13/20 - Oxygen Pipeline and Piping Systems
(Harmonised publication, revision of Doc 13/12) Oxygen pipeline systems developed over many decades in the various countries of Europe, North America, and in other geographies have shown good and comparable safety records, although company practices show many differences in design and operations. Some national authorities have also introduced legislation that is mandatory for the operators in those countries.
The scope of this publication is for metal oxygen pipelines, distribution piping systems, and gaseous oxygen piping on an air separation plant external to the coldbox. The scope is limited to gaseous oxygen with a temperature range between –30 °C and 200 °C (–22 °F and 400 °F), pressures up to 21 MPa (3000 psi) and a dew point of –30 °C (–22 °F) or less depending on local conditions.
05Doc 127/20 - Bulk Liquid Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon Storage Systems at Production Sites
(revision of Doc 127/13) The increase in recent years in the size and production capacity of air separation plants has led to a corresponding increase in the capacity of cryogenic liquid storage installations at production sites. Therefore, it has become more important to consider the potential hazards associated with cryogenic liquid, the consequences and effects on the local environment of a major release of liquid, and the preventive measures required.
This publication specifically covers storage installations on production sites where the storage tank is flat-bottom constructed, is connected to the production process plant, and the individual tank capacity is greater than 125 000 litres.
06TP 08/20 - Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery
(revision of TP 08/03) This Training Package has been produced to assist member companies in the training of personnel on the contents of the EIGA document 81 “Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery”. It provides additional detail and information to support the above document.
It is divided into 10 chapters, so that they can be used separately in order to be targeted to different audiences. The links to the 10 chapters (members only) are :
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 1
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 2
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 3
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 4
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 5
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 6
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 7
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 8
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 9
Road Vehicle Emergency and Recovery - Chapt 10
07TP 36/19 REV - Electronic Specialty Gases Near Miss Incidents
(Harmonised publication, rev of TP 36/13) As a part of a programme of harmonisation of industry standards, EIGA has adapted a publication developed by Japan Industrial and Medical Gases Association (JIMGA) as a globally harmonised publication. Today, a wide variety of Electronic Specialty Gases (ESGs) are used to manufacture semiconductors, liquid crystals, solar cells etc. The rapid progress of process technology is also leading to the development of new processes using new ESGs.
The safe use of both conventional and new ESGs requires a good understanding of their properties as well as safe and proper handling techniques. In practice, however, it appears that information on ESGs is often not communicated in accurate, clear or easy-to-understand ways to people who need this information.
This Training Package (members only) is presented for use in safety discussions and training sessions with member employees involved in these industries. Case examples of near miss incidents are presented in this Training Package, with illustrations to enable fast understanding of lessons to be learned.