The Compressed Gas Association Announces Safety Alert for Carbonated Beverage Systems

POTENTIAL OF CARBONATED BEVERAGE SYSTEMS TO CREATE A LIFE-THREATENING ENVIRONMENT

Recently there have been several incidents involving improperly installed or poorly maintained carbonated beverage systems that have created hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in enclosed areas causing restaurant patrons, employees, and first responders to get sick or die.

Carbon dioxide in the gaseous state is colorless and odorless and not easily detectable. Carbon dioxide can be deadly even when normal oxygen levels are present. Reaching hazardous levels of carbon dioxide can occur quickly and without warning and result in serious health effects or death.

Because gaseous carbon dioxide is 1.5 times heavier than air, leaking carbon dioxide can accumulate at floor level in improperly or unventilated rooms not necessarily limited to the container’s location and in low areas, such as basements. Even small slow leaks can cause hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide. Ventilation systems should exhaust from the lowest level and allow makeup air to enter at a higher point to maintain a safe environment.

Potential sources of hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide, when carbon dioxide systems are indoors or in an enclosed outdoor area can include, but are not limited to:

– carbon dioxide storage containers that are not properly vented to a well-ventilated area outside of the building

  not just into walls or ceilings;

– leaking fittings, connections, piping/tubing/hoses or storage container plumbing;

– leaking carbonators, syrup pumps, bag in box (BIB) racks (i.e., any equipment using carbon dioxide); and

– leaking beer keg connections and equipment.

Carbon dioxide detectors with alarm systems should be installed in appropriate areas to detect hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide. Do not depend upon measuring the oxygen content of the air because carbon dioxide can be dangerous even with adequate oxygen for life support.

Carbon dioxide beverage systems, carbon dioxide detectors, and ventilation equipment need to be properly maintained and periodically inspected per the manufacturers’ recommendations. Operators and users should be trained to understand the proper installation and operation of carbon dioxide systems and storage contain- ers as well as the properties and hazards of carbon dioxide as provided in CGA publication CGA G-6, Carbon Dioxide [1].

For more detailed information on the proper installation and maintenance of carbon dioxide supply systems, alarm systems, and carbon dioxide containers at customer sites, refer to the original equipment manufacturers’ instructions and CGA G-6.5, Standard for Small, Stationary, Insulated Carbon Dioxide Supply Systems, and CGA SB-29, Prevention of Injury and Loss from Carbon Dioxide Delivery to Small Customer Sites [2, 3].

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The Compressed Gas Association Announces Safety Alert for Carbonated Beverage Systems (February 17, 2012)