New England Medical Center

Respiratory Care Programs

Changing Compressed Gas Cylinders
Training Module

Prepared by William R. Howard, MBA, RRT

Director, Respiratory Care

Cylinder Changing:
Training Module

This module is intended to:

Provide background information
in the changing of compressed
gas cylinders
Identify the steps to be
demonstrated in the changing of
compressed gas cylinders

Cylinder Changing:
A gas cylinder should be
changed when the contents,
as identified by its pressure,
decreases to about 500 psig.

Cylinder Changing:
Empty Cylinders
Cylinders are never truly
"empty."
Empty cylinders shall be
handled in the same manner as
full and partially full cylinders.

Cylinder Changing:
Empty Cylinders

Full and empty cylinders are

not to be connected or in the
same manifold together, (or
stored together).

Cylinder Changing:
Empty Cylinders
Empty cylinders are to be
labeled:

"Empty"

Cylinder Changing:
Empty Cylinders
Valves are closed on empty
cylinders, leaving a positive
pressure inside of them.
Valve protective caps, (received
with full cylinders), are replaced
on empty cylinders.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:

Identify from your

supply room, a full
cylinder of gas for
your specific needs.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:

YOKE STEM
Remove protective cap
and/or valve covering
material from yoke
stem.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
With E-Cylinders and
smaller, be sure that a NEW
sealing grommet is installed
between the yoke stem and
the receiving end of the
regulator. The OLD
grommet must be removed
and discarded.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Grommet
installed on
regulator:

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
There is no sealing
grommet with
larger cylinder or
threaded nut-style
regulators.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:

The cylinder valve is

opened momentarily
and then closed to blow
dirt from the outlet.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
If the gas you are selecting
is toxic/poisonous, crack
in the safety of an exhaust
hood or in a place of
adequate ventilation.

Cylinder Changing Specific Procedures:

The outlet of an oxygen
cylinder valve is never wiped
or touched.
This avoids leaving organic
residues that might be ignited by
exposure to high oxygen pressure,
for example.

Cylinder Changing Specific Procedures:

Oil or grease must be
avoided on the high-pressure
side of oxygen cylinders or
other cylinders containing
oxidizing material.
(Otherwise a fire or explosion could
result.)

Cylinder Changing Specific Procedures:

Cylinders are only to

be used with a
regulator.
A regulator lowers
the cylinder pressure
to safe level.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
A regulator and gauge
shall be installed at the
point of use to show:
The outlet pressure when
the source cylinder is
used.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
A regulator and gauge
shall be installed at the
point of use to show:
The remaining contents of
the cylinder

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures :
Cylinder valves are
closed when not in use.
They are never tampered
with, forced, lubricated,
or modified.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Cylinders are used
only with fittings,
valves, regulators, and
tubing designated by
the manufacturer for
the gas being used

Cylinder Changing Specific Procedures:

Connections are not
forced or made from
homemade adapters.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Wear appropriate eye
protection
Crack cylinder to
remove dust.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Attach the closed
regulator to the cylinder.
Never open the cylinder
valve unless the
regulator is completely
closed and tight.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
T-or Yoke-style regulators
are to be hand tightened
only

Large-tank or nut-threaded
regulators, (those without
sealing grommets), are to
be wrench tightened.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
If using a yoke style
regulator, common to Esize cylinders, do not use
the wrench to tighten the
regulator onto the
cylinder.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Face the pressure
gauge away from you
when opening cylinder
valve.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Identify that the pressure
gauge reads full :
Full for most non-liquid
cylinders is 2,000-2,200
psig.
Turn the cylinder valve
off.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
If the contents gauge
does not decline, then
the connection is
tight.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Open the
administration
flowmeter to release
pressure.
Close the flowmeter.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
The full cylinder is now ready
for use.
Follow your Department
procedure for appropriate
leak-free connection to your
equipment.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
The full cylinder is now ready
for use.
To deliver therapeutic gas to a
patient, the clinician will need
to connect to a flow-meter that
is specific to the cylinder gas.

Cylinder Changing:
Specific Procedures:
Only licensed
personnel under
physician authority
may dispense or
administer therapeutic
gases to a patient.

Click here for Cylinder

Changing POST-Evaluation