To ensure the personal safety of anyone handling our gases, we advise our customers on protective gear and equipment such as hoses and flashback arrestors.
HosesHoses for welding cylinders should be of the highest quality and meet European standards. Linde’s offers a range of top quality hoses. Inferior hoses harden and may crack, leak or ignite internally if oxygen gets into the system. Never use water hoses for gas supply systems.
Hoses should be the correct length and not longer than necessary. However, they must be long enough to allow cylinders to be positioned safely, away from sparks and hot metal. Do not coil surplus hose around the cylinder or regulator or on the floor close to cylinders. A fire in a coiled hose is very difficult to extinguish. Surplus hose should be positioned behind the welder to keep it clear of sparks. Hoses should not be positioned underneath the cutting/welding area.
The right connection
Bad hose connections are a frequent cause of accidents. Fitted hoses from Linde are supplied with the ends firmly attached to nipples together with loose nuts for connections to regulator outlets and blowpipe inlets. We also supply traditional hoses with hose clamps.
Never use old or used clips for hose connections. Twisted wire can cause serious injury if the hose works loose and flails about. Check connections regularly and remember to purge hoses before lighting a cutting or welding torch.
Hose check valve and flashback arrestors
Flashbacks can and do occur if oxyfuel gas equipment is not operated at the correct pressures, if the correct procedures are not observed or if nozzles become blocked. Faulty or leaking equipment can also cause flashbacks. Back feeding is another main cause of flashbacks and occurs when higher pressure gas feeds back up a lower pressure stream.
A hose check valve prevents oxygen and fuel gas mixing in the hose and subsequently causing fire, injury and damage.
A flashback arrestor is designed to quench the flashback and, in conjunction with a cut-off valve, automatically shut off the gas flow. These multifunction devices provide an additional safeguard, particularly in locations such as hospitals, garages, and workplaces with flammable or hazardous chemicals, where fire resulting from a flashback would be especially dangerous. Any equipment that uses oxygen must be specifically approved for this use. Flashback arrestors should be fitted to all fuel gas supply lines and oxygen supply lines used in conjunction with fuel gases.
Regulations regarding oxygen and flashback arrestors differ from country to country. We recommend using flashback arrestors with four safety features including a pressure sensitive shut-off valve that has to be opened manually before the gas can flow.
The correct clothing and protective equipment
When welding or cutting, operators must wear goggles with double lenses (carrying the CE mark). The inner lens should be tinted and the outer lens clear. The clear outer lenses should be changed regularly when spatter builds up. Eye protection (spectacles or goggles carrying the CE mark) should also be worn when handling high pressure gases in order to protect eyes against dust particles or the impact of a gas stream.
Do not wear clothes made of highly flammable materials. Leather gloves or gauntlets should be used where necessary. Additional protective clothing may be required in certain work environments.