PROPANE TANK EXCHANGE SAFETY MANUAL

PROPANE TANK EXCHANGE SAFETY MANUAL

QUESTIONS?Blue Rhino 470 West Hanes Mill Rd., STE 200

Winston-Salem, NC 27105

800.258.7466

IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT DISCARD

PN 5120 (BR-17425) © Ferrellgas, L.P. All Rights Reserved.

Some states, such as Kansas and Texas, have a version specific to their state. Ask your Blue Rhino distributor.

June 2011

Tank Exchange Safety Manual

SIGNATURE PAGEThis SOP Manual has been thoroughly reviewed by a store representative, with assistance from Blue Rhino personnel.

The store representative understands the material contained herein and agrees to abide by the rules, regulations and requirements covered in this manual.

The store representative agrees to properly train other store employees who interact with the propane cylinder exchange program and to document such training.

Store name and number

Store address

Store telephone number

Store representative (print)

Store representative (signature)

Blue Rhino representative (print)

Blue Rhino representative (signature)

Date of training

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STORE COPY


SIGNATURE PAGEThis SOP Manual has been thoroughly reviewed by a store representative, with assistance from Blue Rhino personnel.

The store representative understands the material contained herein and agrees to abide by the rules, regulations and requirements covered in this manual.

The store representative agrees to properly train other store employees who interact with the propane cylinder exchange program and to document such training.

Store name and number

Store address

Store telephone number

Store representative (print)

Store representative (signature)

Blue Rhino representative (print)

Blue Rhino representative (signature)

Date of training

2

DISTRIBUTOR COPY


TRAINING VERIFICATIONThe following employees have been thoroughly trained with this manual by the store representative listed in this SOP Safety Manual.

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Employee Name (printed) Employee Signature Trainer Name (printed) Trainer Signature Date

More Signature pages can be found at the back of this book.


LEAKING CYLINDERIn the case of a leaking cylinder:

1. Identify the leaking cylinder

2. Isolate the leaking cylinder (take the cylinder to the back of the store or to an area which the public does not frequent, and KEEP THE CYLINDER AWAY FROM ANY AND ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION)

3. Check the valve handle to see that it is securely closed (turn clockwise to close)

4. Check the “bleeder screw” (typically on the left side of the valve) to see that it is securely closed (turn clockwise to close, requires a screwdriver)

5. Call Blue Rhino to request that the cylinder be picked up

6. If you consider the leaking tank an immediate threat, contact your local fire department

Telephone Number: 800.258.7466 option 5 (24 hours a day/7 days a week)

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CYLINDERS NOT ALLOWED IN STORESUnder no circumstances are grill cylinders to be allowed inside your store. No cylinders are to be taken inside your store for a short while, nor are cylinders to be stored in the store.

This includes ready-to-grill cylinders, as well as empty and returned cylinders. Customers’ empty cylinders are to be left outside the store. This, of course, does not apply to brand new cylinders (cylinders which have never been filled with propane or filled with any substance besides air) that your store is selling.


BASIC PROPANE CHARACTERISTICSVapor Pressure @ 100°F 196 psig

Specific gravity of liquid propane @ 60° F 0.504 (water = 1)

Specific Gravity of vapor propane @ 60° F 105 (air = 1)

Initial boiling point @ 14.7 psia -44° F

Weight per gallon of liquid @ 60° F 4.2 lb

Cu. Ft. of vapor per pound @ 60° F 8.66 ft3

Cu. Ft. of vapor per cylinder @ 60° F 51.55 ft3 (assuming 17.5lbs/cyl)

Ignition temperature in air 920° - 1120° F

Limits of flammability in air Percent of propane vapor in air-gas mixture a. Lower 2.15% b. Upper 9.6%

Total heating value after vaporization 21,548 btu per lb

ACCEPTABLE EXCHANGE CRITERIAStore personnel MUST exercise discretion in determining which cylinders to accept as an exchange. This diagram outlines the criteria by which to judge an acceptable cylinder. Cylinders which are excessively rusty, have dents in the body or collar or have faulty valves are NOT acceptable. Your store will be charged a SALE for all unacceptable cylinders. Please make sure that your personnel check returned cylinders carefully.

After a customer purchases or exchanges a cylinder, the cylinder must be placed in the vehicle:

Securely, and In an Upright Position. Note: Never place a tank on its side.

The transporting vehicle should be kept as cool as possible so that the heat inside the vehicle does not cause the relief valve to discharge.

The homeowner should return home as soon as practically possible and remove the cylinder from his/her vehicle immediately.

MOVING OF CAGES NOT ALLOWEDYour store is NOT allowed to move or install additional storage cages. Only Blue Rhino is allowed to move or install additional cages. Please call Blue Rhino if you desire the cages to be moved or if you desire additional cages.

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(Standard grill propane tanks only)

• 4”collarintact.Valvemustnot protrudebeyondthecollar

• Nomultipleopenings

• Intact&operable uprightvalve withoutgauge

• Noexcessive rusts,dents, orstructural defects

• Footring intact

Tank Exchange Safety Manual 6

CYLINDERS MUST BE STORED UPRIGHT AND IN CAGEDisplays must be protected in accordance with all local and state requirements.

CYLINDER VALVESEach cylinder is equipped with a valve. This valve controls the flow of propane from the cylinder. DO NOT operate the cylinder if the valve appears to be faulty.

To turn the valve OFF, turn the handwheel clockwise; to turn the valve ON, turn the handwheel counter-clockwise. All valves have a safety relief valve. This safety relief valve is on the rear of the valve and will release propane if the pressure inside the cylinder exceeds 375 psi. Never adjust, tamper with or obstruct the relief valve.

ACME valves, which have both internal and external threads, contain a spring-loaded safety device. The valve cannot flow propane unless the valve is properly connected to the appliance. When the appliance is properly connected, the spring-loaded safety seat is depressed, thus opening a channel for propane to flow.


DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAGESPer NFPA 58, Section 8.4, the applicable distance requirements are shown on the attached table. This Table deals with distances from doorways, buildings, fuel dispensers, etc.

Combustible materials and sources of ignition must be at least five (5) feet away from any cylinder exchange rack.

NFPA 58 8-4 Storage Outside of Buildings.8-4.1 Location of Storage Outside of Buildings. Storage outside of buildings for cylinders awaiting use, resale, or part of a cylinder exchange point shall be located at least 5 ft. (1.5m) from any doorway or opening in a building frequented by the public where occupants have at least two means of egress as defined by NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. For buildings, or sections of buildings, having only one means of egress, the location of such storage from the doorway or opening shall be at least 10 ft (3m); 20 ft (6.1m) from any automotive service station fuel dispenser; and in accordance with Table 8-4.1.2 with respect to:

(1) The nearest important building or group of buildings.

(2) The line of adjoining property that can be built upon.

(3) Busy thoroughfares or sidewalks on other than private property.

(4) The line of adjoining property occupied by schools, churches, hospitals, athletic fields, or other points of public gathering.

(5) A dispensing station.

Table 8-4.1.2Horizontal Distance to:

Quantity of LP-Gas Stored 1 and 2 3 and 4 5

720 lb or less (48 cyls or less*) 0 0 5 ft

721 lb to 2,500 lb (49 cyl to 166 cyl*) 0 10 ft 10 ft

2501 lb to 6,000 lb (167 cyl to 400 cyl*) 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

6,001 lb to 10,000 lb (401 cyl to 666 cyl*) 20 ft 20 ft 20 ft

Over 10,000 lb (Over 666 cyl*) 25 ft 25 ft 25 ft

* - assumes a net weight of 15.0 lb of propane per cylinder

Displays must be protected in accordance with all local and state requirements.


AVAILABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE OF CONTENTS OF SOP MANUALThis SOP manual should be placed in a conspicuous location in each store and must be easily accessible to all store employees who handle the propane cylinder exchange program. All store employees are to know the location of this SOP manual within the store. The store employees are encouraged to refer to the SOP manual any time they have questions or concerns regarding propane safety. Store employees who work with the propane exchange program must be trained on the contents of this SOP Manual by the Store Representative, and such training is to be documented on the Training Verification form.

ACCIDENT REPORTINGAll accidents must be reported to Blue Rhino. To contact Blue Rhino, call 800.258.7466, option 5.

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TRAINING OF EMPLOYEESEach employee who handles the propane cylinder exchange program must be diligently trained on the contents of this book. The training is to be conducted by the store representative listed in the front of this Safety Manual. This book serves as the outline of his or her training.

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TRAINING VERIFICATIONThe following employees have been thoroughly trained with this manual by the store representative listed in this SOP Safety Manual.


TRAINING VERIFICATIONThe following employees of the Category “P” licensee have been thoroughly trained with this manual by the store representative listed in this SOP Safety Manual.

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PROPANE TANK EXCHANGE SAFETY MANUAL

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