Hi, This is the how I have been told to proceed when opening a gas tank... some 35 years ago. This practice can have been associated with the construction design of the old gas regulator where a few explosion of the gauges were reported. The design of the gauges used for gas regulator has changed over time and you can see a safety devices on the back of most (not all) new gauges were a metallic flap is screwed on the back of the gauge to allow any pressure build-up to be release away from the face of the operator. I never been the witness of any such explosion but I am still avert my face away from the regulator gauge when I have to open one.... Pierre Ben RuekbergSent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List 2010-04-30 09:19 AM Please respond to DCHAS-L Discussion List To DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU cc Subject [DCHAS-L] Gas Regulator Question Long ago, when I was taking welding lessons, the instructor taught us to avert our faces from the regulator gauges when opening a gas tank because of a possible defect in the regulator that would pressurize the gauge and explode the glass. Since that time, I have read several books on laboratory practices and do not recall any of them alluding to the practice of averting oneีs face when opening a gas cylinder. Should they? With all the accumulated experience in this group, has anyone heard of this practice or hazard? (Note: My old instructor might have been confusing a defective regulator hazard with the one resulting from using a contaminated regulator with an oxygen cylinder.) Thank you very much, Ben
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