Definitions (Section 4)

Chemical asset custodian. The person designated by an area manager or supervisor as the responsible party for chemical storage assets

Chemical management services (CMS). The software (Haas tcmIS) and material inventory management system through which chemicals are purchased, inspected, delivered, inventoried, paid for and reported

Compressed Gas Association (CGA). An industry- and government-recognized body that sets standards for compressed gases and CGCs

Cylinder, compressed gas (CGC). A pressure vessel designed to hold compressed gas at an absolute pressure greater than 1 atm at 68°F (20°C)

Cylinder, abandoned. Any cylinder that is out of compliance (for example, missing a label, not restrained, shows obvious signs of neglect) for which no owner can be located
Cylinder, non-SLAC owned. Any cylinder that belongs to a contractor or a gas supplier (applies generally to return-to-vendor CGCs, not single-use cylinders)
Cylinder, return-to-vendor. Any refillable CGC that is supplied by the gas supplier
Cylinder, SLAC-owned. Any cylinder that has been purchased by the federal government and made available to SLAC. SLAC-owned cylinders may be labeled as belonging to the Department of Energy (DOE) or a branch of the US Armed Forces. SLAC's current inventory is managed through the Haas tcmIS system.

Gas. A state of matter in which the matter expands to the confines of its container, such as a CGC. SLAC's CGC inventory includes gases with properties that require particular use, storage and handling practices. Gas properties (which are listed in the MSDS) and states include

Gas, asphyxiant. A material capable of reducing the level of oxygen in the body to dangerous levels, most commonly by displacing breathable air in an enclosed environment. Displacement reduces the oxygen concentration below the normal level, which is in the 20 percent range. Oxygen deficiency can lead to breathing difficulties, unconsciousness or even death within minutes. (See Chapter 36, “Cryogenic and Oxygen Deficiency Hazard Safety”
Gas, compressed. A material, or mixture of materials, that is a gas at ambient temperature and pressure but is contained in a CGC or other pressure vessel. Within the vessel, a compressed gas may be in a gaseous or liquid state, depending on its unique characteristics under particular temperature and pressure conditions.
Gas, corrosive. A gas that exhibits chemical properties that cause visible destruction of, or irreversible alterations in, living tissue and certain metals by chemical action at the site of contact
Gas, flammable. A material that is a gas at room temperature and that is ignitable at ambient temperature and pressure when in a mixture of 13 percent or less by volume with air
Gas, inert. A non-reactive, nonflammable, non-corrosive gas such as argon, helium, krypton, neon, nitrogen, and xenon
Gas, oxidizing. A gas that can support and accelerate combustion of other materials
Gas, toxic. A property of certain materials that causes injury, illness, or death when inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin if the material is not handled properly. The CGA defines a toxic gas as any gas that can kill 50 percent of the test subjects (LC50) with a concentration of less than or equal to 5000 parts per million.

Handling. The deliberate movement of material in containers by any means to a point of storage or use

Hydrostatic test. A pressure test done at an off-site facility to verify that a cylinder meets safety specifications

In use. The state of CGC content being withdrawn and used in a non-recoverable manner for application (see also storage, below)

Material safety data sheet (MSDS). A document produced by chemical manufacturers and importers to relay chemical, physical, and hazard information about specific substances

Regulator. A device that controls the release of gas from CGCs

Six pack. A gas delivery system that consists of a regulator, tubing, valves, and a metal frame that can hold up to six CGCs. Gas is delivered from one CGC at a time and each is emptied in turn.

Storage. The state of a CGC having been set aside for future use, safe keeping, or inventory of compressed gases or liquefied gases in containers that are not in the process of being used, serviced, loaded or unloaded

Storage area. A designated area, either indoors or outdoors, within which an inventory of CGCs are not in the process of being used, loaded, or unloaded

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