Bottle Storage

[Gerald]

Hi, do any other clubs store air bottle that are used for training in sports/lesuire centre's if so do you have any problems with health and saftey, fire officers etc?
Gerald

[kwoffa]

This is interesting...my clubs cylinders are stored in a metal container away from other buildings...with all rellevant signs on the doors..this is the minimum requirement! it really is down to your local fire regulations i would certanly meet up with your local fire officer at the local fire station..who will let you know what to do..when you think what most club storage is like and what gets stored..i:e o2/air/hellium/other gasses.all signage must state whats in the rellevant container....i think in sum cases a list of all sizes/gasses possibly stored is required...to be kept at the local station...good luck and well done for highlitiing a potential nightmare scenario...i think BSAC do or should explain the correct requirements..but they may just vary to much from county to county..

[Ron Evans]

This is interesting...my clubs cylinders are stored in a metal container away from other buildings...with all rellevant signs on the doors..this is the minimum requirement! it really is down to your local fire regulations i would certanly meet up with your local fire officer at the local fire station..who will let you know what to do..when you think what most club storage is like and what gets stored..i:e o2/air/hellium/other gasses.all signage must state whats in the rellevant container....i think in sum cases a list of all sizes/gasses possibly stored is required...to be kept at the local station...good luck and well done for highlitiing a potential nightmare scenario...i think BSAC do or should explain the correct requirements..but they may just vary to much from county to county..

Not quite what you are asking, but relevant...

We had a Fire Brigade visit to my house some time ago, and I asked the chaps what they thought about the dive cylinders under the stairs. The brave brethren said that there was no legal rule, but out of preference, they would want them out of the house, in case of issues during a real fire. Fair comment I think.

I'm not sure if the actual cylinder contents matter as such, its more the explosion potential for the increased pressure under high temperatures.

[kwoffa]

Take your point Ron..however when you are storing maybe 10>15 cylinders along with O2.the risk is somewhat larger..Fireman do a great job protecting us etc...it just makes sense to make their job easier...i am not sure if there is any legal requirements..but there is recomendations.

[scubacoach]

One of the groups I dive with have to move a number of cylinder around. One of the senior instructors came up with the idea of using the trolleys for milk cartons at supermarkets for this. The racks will take 6 or 7, 10's and 12 dumpys laid down the 12 tall and 15's are a bit too long but will fit with careful packing. This way we move 25 tp 30 cyls in no time.

[kwoffa]

The idea of moving cylinders around using wheels is a good idea,i thought the problem was storage?

[Gerald]

Many thanks for your replies, in the end we had to remove them from the sports center, the problem was that the building is owned by the local council who have shall we say an ambitious health and saftey officer. I now pressing that they fund or part fund a small shipping type container outside of the main building.
G

[kwoffa]

We use a normal shipping container...they take the space of 1 carparking allocation...this might add aditional cost..i:e rent..ime not sure how it was sourced but is definatly adequate..normaly have two very strong front doors with a large catch for a lock.....remember to put a sign on it..however you dont have to advertize its scuba gear inside.Good Luck..