How and why Crystella ensures the safe transportation of CO2 cylinders
Crystella is proud to do the right thing 100% of the time. We excel in the safe transport of highly pressurised, gas-filled cylinders for 3 important reasons:
- Health and safety
- The environment
- Legal compliance
What a lot of consumers don’t know about the CO2 cylinders used for creating sparkling water at home or in the office is that they’re classified as Dangerous Goods by freight companies. This is because they are highly pressurised.
Now before you start worrying that they might be hazardous in your home or workplace, rest assured that they’re not. Hazards arise when CO2 cylinders are punctured or compressed, such as in a rubbish compactor (like in an apartment building or the back of a rubbish truck), or in landfill.
So how then can CO2 cylinders be transported from place to place?
The short answer is road freight. The longer answer is that they must be carried by freight companies that are licensed to handle Dangerous Goods.
Even removalist companies won’t carry barbecue gas bottles because their trucks and shipping containers are enclosed spaces where the inside temperature can become dangerously hot. And Australia Post will only carry Dangerous Goods Liquids with a maximum capacity of 100ml, such as mini travel cans of hair spray or small deodorant cans. (DG Class 2.2 / DG UN # 1013, Carbon Dioxide.)
Licensed carriers of Dangerous Goods know how to properly handle gas cylinders. The cylinders must be restrained in an upright position, never left in enclosed vehicles for long periods, and not exposed to high heat. Plus, all packaging material must be clearly marked with markings and logos as legally required. These carriers also know how to remove pressure regulators, turn off cylinder valves, and plug valve outlets if necessary. With all this in mind, it seems mind-boggling that anyone would send CO2 cylinders off on a journey without consideration of full compliance. After all, Dangerous Goods carriers exist to manage this task and keep the community safe.
Unfortunately, not every company does the right thing
As with most things in life, there will always be someone taking shortcuts to save money, effort, or time.
In one Australian example, a freight company transported approximately 3,664 kg of aerosols (in this case, flammable gas), shrink wrapped to wooden pallets, but not restrained by any other method. For breaching the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, they were fined $15,000 by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). In court, the judge said no leniency would be shown to the company so that the sentence would serve as a deterrent and to preserve community expectations around the risks surrounding transporting dangerous goods.
This is just one of many occurrences of operators not following the rules. They may or may not be aware that they are fully liable for damages if the gas cylinders they carry explode.
Crystella are experts in the proper handling of gas cylinders
At Crystella, we believe in doing the right thing at all times, for the benefit of our customers, our business, the environment, and the community in general. As part of the Bromic Group, a global leader in gas, plumbing and refrigeration with a history dating back forty years, Crystella is well qualified to know – and follow – the rules.
Crystella is proud to do the right thing 100% of the time. We excel in the safe transport of highly pressurised, gas-filled cylinders for 3 important reasons:
- Health and safety
- The environment
- Legal compliance
What a lot of consumers don’t know about the CO2 cylinders used for creating sparkling water at home or in the office is that they’re classified as Dangerous Goods by freight companies. This is because they are highly pressurised.
Now before you start worrying that they might be hazardous in your home or workplace, rest assured that they’re not. Hazards arise when CO2 cylinders are punctured or compressed, such as in a rubbish compactor (like in an apartment building or the back of a rubbish truck), or in landfill.
So how then can CO2 cylinders be transported from place to place?
The short answer is road freight. The longer answer is that they must be carried by freight companies that are licensed to handle Dangerous Goods.
Even removalist companies won’t carry barbecue gas bottles because their trucks and shipping containers are enclosed spaces where the inside temperature can become dangerously hot. And Australia Post will only carry Dangerous Goods Liquids with a maximum capacity of 100ml, such as mini travel cans of hair spray or small deodorant cans. (DG Class 2.2 / DG UN # 1013, Carbon Dioxide.)
Licensed carriers of Dangerous Goods know how to properly handle gas cylinders. The cylinders must be restrained in an upright position, never left in enclosed vehicles for long periods, and not exposed to high heat. Plus, all packaging material must be clearly marked with markings and logos as legally required. These carriers also know how to remove pressure regulators, turn off cylinder valves, and plug valve outlets if necessary. With all this in mind, it seems mind-boggling that anyone would send CO2 cylinders off on a journey without consideration of full compliance. After all, Dangerous Goods carriers exist to manage this task and keep the community safe.
Unfortunately, not every company does the right thing
As with most things in life, there will always be someone taking shortcuts to save money, effort, or time.
In one Australian example, a freight company transported approximately 3,664 kg of aerosols (in this case, flammable gas), shrink wrapped to wooden pallets, but not restrained by any other method. For breaching the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, they were fined $15,000 by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). In court, the judge said no leniency would be shown to the company so that the sentence would serve as a deterrent and to preserve community expectations around the risks surrounding transporting dangerous goods.
This is just one of many occurrences of operators not following the rules. They may or may not be aware that they are fully liable for damages if the gas cylinders they carry explode.
Crystella are experts in the proper handling of gas cylinders
At Crystella, we believe in doing the right thing at all times, for the benefit of our customers, our business, the environment, and the community in general. As part of the Bromic Group, a global leader in gas, plumbing and refrigeration with a history dating back forty years, Crystella is well qualified to know – and follow – the rules.
