WLPGA Safety Alert – Dangers of Refilling LPG Cylinders on Autogas Refuelling Sites The WLPGA Core Safety Group was established in 2021 to create a renewed focus on safety across the LPG industry, provide advice, and transfer experiences. This Safety Alert is the latest in a series of Safety Alerts and Technical Bulletins produced by the WLPGA Core Safety Group. Background A leaking or overfilled LPG cylinder is dangerous and may result in serious damage to life and/or property A domestic consumer in Europe had his LPG cylinder refilled at an Autogas filling station. The Autogas filling nozzle had been connected to an adaptor to fit the cylinder. The cylinder leaked in the consumers vehicle and an explosion occurred. The preferred practice is that LPG cylinders are owned and refilled by the distributor who supplies them. This allows the cylinder to be thoroughly inspected, maintained - and if necessary, requalified - to ensure the cylinders are in accordance with safety standards and regulations. Consumer owned cylinders should not be encouraged because they may circulate in the market without any proper checking. This Safety Alert highlights the dangers of consumers refilling domestic LPG cylinders at Autogas refuelling sites and discourages the availability of adaptors to facilitate this practice. Guidance Notes for Refilling Cylinders Most cylinders are owned by, and remain the property of, the gas supplier whose name is printed/stamped/ marked on the cylinder. These cylinders are filled by weight and must only be filled in a dedicated filling plant by the gas supplier or their authorised filling contractors, including approved competitors or distributors. It is unlawful for anyone else (either a company or private person) to fill these cylinders. LPG cylinders should only be filled by trained and competent personnel. Filling procedures must be in place, and include: -

Ensuring the cylinder to be filled is manufactured to a suitable standard and designed for use with LPG Ensuring the cylinder to be filled is compliant with the relevant specification and qualified Re-testing cylinders should at specified intervals Checking the condition of the cylinder before filling, with criteria for acceptance/rejection Details on how the cylinder is to be safely filled Details of the post fill checks (absence of leak, no overfilling or underfilling, fit for purpose) to ensure the cylinder can be dispatched safely

The self-filling of domestic LPG cylinders by consumers is not permitted in most countries. This includes the refilling of domestic LPG cylinders at Autogas refuelling sites. Country regulations impose duties on any operator of a public LPG refuelling facility to ensure safety obligations are met. For example, cylinders produced and filled in the US market are the property of the customer and are filled to strict local guidelines and standards by trained employees. Locations where cylinders are refilled are places of work and must comply with relevant legislation. If an Autogas refuelling site owner/operator, or their employees, authorise the dispensing of LPG then they are deemed the ‘filler’. All employees must be aware of their responsibilities to others, which include the public. Risks include overfilling of a cylinder, a leaking cylinder, an uncontrolled release of LPG, and a fire/explosion. Periodically refillable LPG cylinders must be requalified and permanently marked (stamped, engraved, or etched) by an approved inspection body. This will not occur if cylinders do not return to the filling plant. For more information contact David Tyler at the WLPGA Core Safety Group ([email protected]).– JANUARY 2023

Bu doküman Genel olarak sınıflandırılmıştır. This document is classified as Public.