January 1999

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is providing the enclosed information regarding safe handling of portable cylinder banks. This communication is intended to raise your awareness of an important safety issue regarding the use of one of our products and to reinforce Air Products' leadership in communication of safety issues to our customers. We encourage you to communicate this to all your employees.

Portable banks or "P-banks", as they are sometimes called, are metal cylinder cages on wheels which house a "bank" of multiple, manifolded, high pressure gas cylinders. These banks are most commonly found in 6 and 12 cylinder sizes but are not limited to these configurations. The cylinders, usually "A" or "B" size, are placed in the cage and connected to a manifold with a single withdrawal valve. This allows customers to use manifolded cylinders without having to purchase a separate manifold or make multiple cylinder connections for change outs. This approach helps to minimize the potential for incidents associated with the handling and change-out of cylinders.

The use of these banks requires the appropriate handling equipment. Portable banks containing six cylinders are less stable than banks containing 12 cylinders. A six cylinder portable bank may topple over if accelerated to normal walking speeds and suddenly stopped by an object or crack in the floor. The units tend to be top heavy and extreme care must be taken during their movement. Although they are equipped with wheels, local movement of these portable banks must be restricted to clean, smooth, level stationary surfaces due to the weight and size of each unit. Short distance manual movement of a portable bank requires two people. Both should remain out of the direction of travel of the bank and be aware of escape routes should the bank get out of control or start falling. If a smooth, level surface is not available over which to move the p-bank, a fork lift, crane, or other appropriate moving equipment should be utilized to move the unit.

As a member of the Compressed Gas Association and the Chemical Manufacturers' Association, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is committed to the tenets of Responsible Care® to help guide our performance with respect safety, health, and the environment. The Product Stewardship Code of Responsible Care promotes dialogue concerning the safe handling, distribution, and use of our products by our distributors, customers, and employees. This Product Stewardship Alert is part of that communication. We ask you to inform all of your employees and contractors who handle portable banks so that together we can prevent potentially serious injury.

Contact the Air Products Technical Information Center:
For technical data, product specifications, safety and environmental information, and applications assistance:

Call 1-800-752-1597 (U.S.)
Call 1-610-481-8565 (other locations)
Fax 1-610-481-8690
Email gigmrktg@airproducts.com
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST

Return to Safety Bulletins

Return to Product Safety Information