Gas Equipment Safety Inspections FAQs

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What is CP7?

This Code of Practice establishes the minimum safety standards for the assembly, examination, inspection, maintenance, and use of individual portable or mobile cylinder oxy-fuel gas equipment, with each gas supplied from a cylinder and individually controlled by a cylinder-mounted pressure regulator.

Gas cylinders are designed and manufactured to securely store a gas under pressure. When used in conjunction with the appropriate downstream pressure equipment, they provide an efficient and effective method of transporting a gas to the end process.

Welding, cutting, heating, straightening, and descaling are just a few of the applications for oxy-fuel gas equipment. The equipment is adaptable and reasonably easy to move and operate; nevertheless, it does have dangers, and as a result, its usage is controlled by a number of regulations.

What is involved in a CP7 gas inspection?

• An examination of your equipment to ensure that you are in compliance with the law and the industry code of practice
• A comprehensive report on the state of the equipment, as well as an inspection certificate
• Your working environment's dynamic risk assessment
• A visual and functional inspection of regulators, flashback arrestors, hoses, and blowpipes is performed
• Advice on the handling, storage and transport of gas cylinders and equipment

What does CP stand for?

The abbreviation "CP" stands for Code of Practice. The BCGA (British Compressed Gas Association) has a total of 48 CPs. The 48 CPs cover every element of gas, from the filling of gas bottles such as propane bottles that apply to producers to medical gas rules.

Importance of CP7 gas safety and legislation

There are many regulatory agencies that are important to the use of pressure equipment in oxyfuel applications, which are as follows:

• Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
• Acetylene Safety (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations
• The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
• Confined Spaces Regulations
• Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations

Dangers of CP7 gas

When employing oxy-fuel gases and equipment, there are a number of serious risks. These are:

• Backfire, both continuous and intermittent
• Flashback
• Backflow
• Decomposition
• Ignition within an oxygen system
• Oxygen leakage
• Fuel gas leakage
• Fumes
• Noise
• Manual handling

How often should CP7 gas inspections take place?

Gas control regulators and flashback arrestors should be examined regularly and replaced every five years, according to industry standards.

Differences between CP7, 39 and 47?

CP7 specifies transportable oxy-fuel sets, CP47 specifies inert gas regulators for welding, and CP39 specifies the in-service requirements of pressure equipment (gas storage and gas distribution systems), which includes Manifolds.

"BCGA publications are produced by and for the gases industry, but many are also used by their customers. As BCGA also involve and keep informed government bodies, Competent Authorities and Regulators, such as the Department for Transport and the national Environment Agencies, during the development of these publications they are generally accepted as being an appropriate and safe way of working. As such, they give positive examples of best practice and are recognised for this by the enforcement agencies, such as the Health and Safety Executive. It should be noted that in the event of any legal action, either criminal or civil, the courts are likely to use BCGA documents as a measure of what may be reasonably practicable."

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