AS 3848.1-1999

Specifies the procedures to enable the safe filling of portable cylinders to be undertaken and details the methods of decant filling of medical air and decant filling of medical oxygen. The Standard emphasises the need for trained staff only to execute these procedures and draws attention to dangers associated with these filling practices.

This Standard provides guidance on safe practices for the decant filling of medical air or medical oxygen into portable cylinders.These gases are recognized as medicinal gases and as such are subject to regulation under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act) by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The requirements of this Act include entry of therapeutic goods (including medicinal gases) on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods and the licensing of manufacturers (as defined in the Act) by the TGA.Compression filling of gaseous oxygen, because of its complexity, is a potentially hazardous procedure and this Standard does not endorse this practice.There are special dangers associated with handling oxygen. The practices given in this Standard for oxygen are intended to be applied only by suitably trained personnel.WARNING: DANGER OF EXPLOSION. INCOMPATIBILITY MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS IF EQUIPMENT PREVIOUSLY USED FOR MEDICAL AIR (MAXIMUM OF 22% OXYGEN) IS USED WITH OXYGEN-ENRICHED MIXTURES. TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN PRACTICES CONCERNING MEDICAL OXYGEN AND MEDICAL AIR.NOTE: Resuscitators for human use as used by ambulance authorities, medical and paramedic personnel are referred to in AS 2488.Dangers associated with filling cylinders for these applications are identified, and safe practices to minimize these dangers are given. The practices are intended to be applied in conjunction with the equipment manufacturer's instructions.Decant filling of medical oxygen for use by the filling organizations on patients in their care, together with decanting methods for personal and domestic use, are considered to be outside the scope of this Standard. Practices and methods given in this Standard are also recommended for use in areas exempted from TGA licensing requirements.There are particular hazards associated with decanting of oxygen above 17 500 kPa (17.5 MPa) settled pressure at 15°C, and that process is beyond the scope of this Standard.Guidance is given on decanting equipment, selection and storage of cylinders, and cylinder reconditioning.Compressed air for use with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) is specifically excluded from this Standard (refer to AS 3848.2).

First published in part as part of AS CB4 Supplement 3-1974.
AS CB4 Supplement 4 first published 1974 AS CB4 Supplement 3-1974 revised and redesignated AS 2705-1984.
AS CB4 Supplement 4-1974 revised and redesignated AS 2704-1984.
AS 2704-1984 and AS 2705-1984 revised, amalgamated and redesignated in part as AS 3848.1-1999.