This publication is intended for natural gas users, shippers, carriers, distributors, equipment designers, safety administrators, and anyone seeking an introduction to natural gas. If more detailed or specialized information is required, consult your supplier. The information in this publication is intended to complement federal, state, provincial, territorial, local, and insurance company safety requirements.

This publication addresses the following:

• safe use and handling of products and systems that store, vaporize, transfer, and handle natural gas;
• hazards and safeguards associated with natural gas; and
• training of personnel involved with the handling of natural gas.

Natural gas is a combination of several different gases in differing concentrations. The guidelines contained in this publication assume that pipeline quality natural gas as defined in this publication is in use.

Many standards exist for the design, construction, installation, inspection, and examination of natural gas equipment and facilities. A complete description of the applicability of each standard is beyond the scope of this publication.

Where an applicable standard does exist, its rules shall be followed in conjunction with applicable local codes and regulations.

This publication covers recommendations for maintaining the proper solvent level in acetylene cylinders. While the background, precautions, and general procedures given apply to all solvents in use with acetylene, special emphasis is given to the use of acetone and dimethylformamide (DMF).

Included are residual gas tables based upon the best available data that reflects current industry practice. The expected accuracy of these values is approximately ? 10%, and should be used as a guide only.

The guidelines contained in this publication apply to acetylene cylinders manufactured to:

-U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Specifications 8 and 8AL found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) 178.59 and 178.60 and used per 49 CFR 173.303 as well as older specifications cylinders ICC-8, ICC-8AL, DOT E-6517, DOT E-7542, or DOT E-10320 [2]; or

-Specifications TC 8WM and 8WAM found in Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B339, Cylinder, Spheres, Tubes and Other Containers for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, and used in accordance with Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations of Transport Canada (TC) found in CSA B340, Selection of Cylinders, Spheres, Tubes, and Other Containers for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Class 2, as well as older specifications cylinders CTC-8, CTC-8AL, or CTC-8WC [3, 4, 5].