Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Therefore, when transporting, loading, unloading and storing propane, every meter, every valve and every action matters.

🚚 1. Key Transportation Requirements

Propane must only be transported in specially equipped tank trucks or cylinders. When a tank vehicle is received, its documentation, the condition of its body, and the serviceability of shut-off and control valves must be inspected.

✅ During transportation, the following requirements must be observed:

— the vehicle must be equipped with a spark arrester and muffler;

— the vehicle must carry at least two carbon dioxide fire extinguishers;

— cylinders and tanks must be protected from impact, vibration and mechanical damage;

— containers with defective fittings, gas leaks or body damage must not be used.

⛽️ 2. The “Golden Rule” of Loading and Unloading

Propane loading and unloading operations may only be carried out upon the decision of the enterprise management. Such operations are prohibited during thunderstorms or when hot work is being performed within the facility.

✅ Before loading or unloading:

— the tank truck, railway tank car and rubber-fabric hoses must be grounded;

— grounding may only be removed after the operation is completed and plugs have been installed on the fittings;

— it is prohibited to disconnect hoses under pressure, tighten nuts or use impact tools;

— valves and shut-off devices must be opened gradually to prevent hydraulic shock;

— tanks and filling stations must never be left unattended.

⚡️ 3. Protection Against Static Electricity

Rubber-fabric hoses used during loading and unloading operations must be protected against static electricity:

— the cross-sectional area of the copper grounding cable must be at least 4 mm²;

— alternatively, the copper wire diameter must be at least 2 mm;

— the winding pitch must not exceed 100 mm.

🏭 4. Storage Requirements

A propane storage facility is not considered an ordinary warehouse but a hazardous industrial facility.

✅ Storage tanks:

— must be separated by a ventilated barrier made of non-combustible materials with a minimum height of 1.6 meters;

— tanks must be installed with a minimum slope of 2% toward the collection point for condensate, water and non-evaporated residues;

— external gas pipelines must be laid with a minimum slope of 5% toward the condensate collector;

— condensate collectors must have a capacity of at least 4 liters per 1 m³/h of gas flow rate.

✅ Cylinder installations:

— grouped industrial cylinder installations must be mounted on supports at least 15 cm high;

— cabinets must be made of non-combustible materials, naturally ventilated and lockable.

🌡 5. Temperature Requirements for Cylinder Filling

Propane cylinders may only be filled when ventilation and gas detection alarm systems are fully operational.

— in heated premises, the filling temperature must not be lower than +10°C;

— in open or covered outdoor areas, filling is permitted only when the ambient air temperature is not below −20°C.

🚗 6. Safety at Filling Stations

Passengers must leave the vehicle before refueling. If the engine fails to start after refueling, repeated ignition attempts near the dispenser are prohibited. The vehicle must be moved at least 15 meters away.

The following actions are prohibited:

— repairing gas equipment within the filling station area;

— converting a vehicle from one fuel type to another;

— overfilling cylinders;

— releasing excess gas into the atmosphere;

— leaving the vehicle or dispenser unattended.

🛠 7. Regular Inspections — The Key to Safety

Gas pipelines and fittings must be visually inspected every month, and the tightness of threaded and flanged connections must be checked under operating pressure.

Safety relief valves must be tested at least once a month by briefly opening them. The relief valve set pressure must not exceed the operating pressure of the tank or gas pipeline by more than 15%.

✅ Remember

Safety when working with propane is not merely a written requirement.

It is a matter of protecting human life, property and the environment.

🌐 Information Service of the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety