The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has released the most current (2016) version of NFPA53: Recommended Practice on Materials, Equipment, and Systems Used in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres.  American Cylinder and Safety, LLC is proud of this release since American Cylinder and Safety, LLC sits on the technical committee that is responsibile for oversight, review, and revision of these standards.

NFPA 53 combines new requirements and real-world experience to advance safety in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres (OEAs).

Developed by experts, NFPA 53: Recommended Practice on Materials, Equipment, and Systems Used in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres is your single source for the latest criteria for the safe use of oxygen (liquid/gaseous) and the design of systems for use in oxygen and oxygen-enriched atmospheres. Information is provided for the selection of materials, components, and design criteria that can be used safely in oxygen and OEAs.

Extensively used by designers, engineers, and facility managers in health care, industrial, and fire service fields, NFPA 53 applies to:

• Gas and compressed air supplies
• Medical applications, including home oxygen systems
• Spaceflight operations
• Industrial processes
• Welding applications
• Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
• Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)
• Underwater tunneling and caisson work
• Commercial and military aviation

Improvements make it easier to select materials and components, and offer important lessons learned:

• Expanded Table F.3.3.8 now includes heat of combustion and autoignition temperature data, in addition to oxygen index data, that can be used to determine the suitability of a longer list of nonmetallic materials for oxygen service.
• Must-read new Fire Experience reports in Annex D share vital examples of fire and explosion incidents, based on recent field experience and incident reviews.

As information about safety in OEAs continues to progress, make sure you stay up-to-date and informed. Save time while you protect lives with the 2016 edition of NFPA 53.  (Softbound, 60 pp., 2016)