80 Passaic Avenue
Florham Park w
Chatham, NJ
973-635-7870 |
Serving the
Contractor, Landscaper and Homeowner
Since 1972
"Our Service Is The Difference" |
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What You Need to Know about OPD
Cylinders Effective
April 1, 2002 by law, all tanks must be equipped with an OPD device
- As of April 1,
2002, OPDs are required on all propane cylinders between 4 and 40 pounds
propane capacity, per the 1998 edition of NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum
Gas Code. Cylinders of this size manufactured after September 30,
1998, were
required to have an
OPD. A typical gas grill cylinder holds about 20 pounds of propane.
- Propane cylinders
with OPDs can be identified by a triangular hand-wheel (pictured right).
Some earlier model cylinders were produced with a round hand-wheel but
"OPD" is stamped on the brass valve body.
- After April 1,
2002, propane cylinders not equipped with an OPD must be retrofitted with
the device before refilling can occur or properly disposed of and replaced
with an OPD-equipped cylinder.
- Many propane
dealers will retrofit older cylinders with an OPD. As there is a charge for
this, it may be more economical to replace the entire cylinder, especially
if it is rusty. In many parts of the U.S., exchange cylinder racks can be
used to swap an empty cylinder without an OPD for a full cylinder equipped
with an OPD, for a nominal fee, eliminating the need to dispose of the
cylinder or to have it retrofitted.
- Dispose of
propane cylinders safely. Questions about safe disposal should be answered
by local fire departments, hazardous waste collection sites, or propane
refillers.
-
The
2001 edition of
NFPA
58 modified requirements to exempt horizontal cylinders manufactured before
October 1, 1998, from requiring OPDs. Also exempt are cylinders used for
industrial trucks, industrial welding and cutting gases (these cylinders
must be labeled with their use).
Please
do not ask us to refill a non-conforming cylinder, it is illegal for us to do so.
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