FIVE YEAR REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDATION FOR FLASHBACK ARRESTORS AND PRESSURE REGULATORS

Murex Welding Products is reminding users that Pressure Regulators and Flashback Arrestors contain elastomeric components which deteriorate and cause the units to fail in service.  Pressure Regulators used in 'low wear' situations such as educational establishments, laboratories and similar applications are particularly prone to failure.Indeed a number of very serious incidents have occurred as the usual result of an elastomeric component failure is a large discharge of gas from the over pressure relief valve.

 The consequences of such releases can be atmospheric enrichment or depletion leading to fires or asphyxiation.They can also lead to a variety of other unsafe conditions.

In response to the need for industry safety, the British Compressed Gases Association recommended in their Code of Practice 7 that Regulators and Flashback Arrestors be replaced or refurbished after 5 years in service or manufacturers recommendation.  This is an excellent recommendation and has been widely adopted by industry.

All Saffire regulators and flashback arrestors now have the benefit of two permanently marked codes.The manufacturing date, typically D4EA plus an additional Inspection/Replacement code, typically 2010, as shown below.This dual system gives the essential age information required by the user.