Regulator Installation and Operational Safety Advice
Air Products takes the safety of its employees and customers very seriously. As such, we only use top quality components in our equipment range and employ the highest standards of construction when it comes to assembling your gas equipment.
In order to ensure consistent build quality we use a small team of dedicated technicians at our European equipment centre, all trained to the highest standards in regulator assembly and safety. Once your order arrives our team will assemble the regulator to your specification and rigorously test the equipment to ensure optimum performance. It is then specially packed and delivered by courier to prevent damage and guarantee that you are not kept waiting longer than strictly necessary for your equipment.
Safety checking prior to use
- Always use safety goggles and gloves when handling gas equipment.
- Ensure the regulator adjusting knob is fully turned counter clockwise, i.e. OFF.
N.B. Never let high pressure gas flow straight through the regulator because this could damage or compromise the life of the sensitive internal parts.
- You should stand at arms length, with the cylinder valve between you and the regulator.
N.B. Any connection point is potential dangerous, so always be vigilant. Slowly open the cylinder valve, allowing pressure to gradually increase in the regulator.
- Once the high pressure gauge has levelled off, open the cylinder valve fully.
- Check that the valve connection is leak tight.
N.B. Always close off the cylinder valve after use. Doing so will prevent unwanted gas escape when the cylinder is not being supervised.
Adjusting the pressure
Now that your process is ready for use you can set your working outlet pressure.
- Turn the regulator adjusting knob clockwise to allow gas to pass through the equipment.
- By turning the adjusting knob you are able to set your chosen or recommended working outlet pressure; by referring to the low pressure gauge.
N.B. Make sure the cylinder valve is always accessible.
Precautionary Measures
- Never replace the low pressure gauge with one of lower pressure.
The gauge may rupture if the regulator adjusting knob is unintentionally turned too far.
- Check diaphragm regulators for creep
(Leakage of gas from the high pressure to the low pressure side when the adjusting knob is turned fully counter clockwise.)
- Provide check valves
Gas from high pressure systems can flow back into the regulator. Back pressure protection will prevent damage to the regulator.
- The relief valve and captured vent for all products should be piped to a safe location.
This will reduce the threat of asphyxiation, poisoning, corroding and ignition.
Removing the regulator from Service
- Close the cylinder valve
- Vent the gas from the regulator and system.
Extra measures need to be taken for flammables, toxics, corrosives or oxidants. Air Products offers a selection of purge systems which will help remove the gas, and may prolong the life of your regulator.
- Once the gas has been removed turn the regulator adjusting knob anti-clockwise to turn it off.
- Disconnect all low pressure equipment that is connected to a high pressure source. If this is not possible then at the very least the equipment should be vented after use.
- Disconnect the regulator from the cylinder.
- When storing the regulator make sure that the inlet and outlet fittings are protected from dirt, contamination and mechanical damage.
- Replace the cylinder outlet seal and valve cap.
Important do’s and don’ts when it comes to equipment safety
- Avoid pressure shocks and mechanical impact
- Always keep the regulator clean.
- Always pressurise a regulator slowly and stand with the cylinder valve between you and the regulator.
- Never swap gauges or inlet fittings, and never use the regulator for any other type of gas other than the one it was ordered for.
- Never lubricate a regulator or use cleaning fluids on it.
- Never reverse the flow through a regulator or rely upon it to act as a check valve.
- Always depressurise a regulator before closing the adjusting knob and removing the regulator from the cylinder. This is especially important for two stage regulators.
- Regulators should not be used up to the point when they are worn out.
N.B All of the safety advice contained within this section is given as a helpful guide and is based on typical applications only. It is not intended to be comprehensive and we would always advise that you seek clarification on procedure and training needs with your health and safety department, and the suppliers of the equipment and gas you are using.
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