Am moving to an all cement house. Can I use my b-tank with proper
ventilation in my home? What is the Canadian insurance companies
policies on that?
When I first decided to start metalsmithing a number of years back I
posed a question on the forum about which gas would be the best to
use in the basement of the house. This was a mistake. I now have
four torches. Acetylene/Air Silversmith B cylinder, Oxy/Acetylene,
Oxy/Propane and Butane. The Oxy/Acetylene stays in the garage where
it belongs. I use my Acetylene/Air B cylinder in the basement of the
house (concrete foundation and perimeter). I have a window in the
studio for ventilation and if I need to evacuate fumes I place a fan
behind me. I live in Canada. My home insurance agent advised me that
the plumber torches (which is what the Silversmith Acetylene/Air B
cylinders are) are fine to use in the house (otherwise plumbers
wouldn’t be able to do their job). I store the tank outside in the
garage in a storage cabinet when I’m not using it and leak test it
whenever I change out the Silversmith torch for the Mini torch using
oxy/acetylene. I also make sure to bleed the tank, blah, blah, blah
you know the drill. Bottom line, gases are only as safe as the
person using them, you just need to follow safe standard operating
procedures.
When I first decided to start metalsmithing a number of years back I
posed a question on the forum about which gas would be the best to
use in the basement of the house. This was a mistake. I now have four
torches. Acetylene/Air Silversmith B cylinder, Oxy/Acetylene,
Oxy/Propane and Butane. The Oxy/Acetylene stays in the garage where
it belongs. I use my Acetylene/Air B cylinder in the basement of the
house (concrete foundation and perimeter). I have a window in the
studio for ventilation and if I need to evacuate fumes I place a fan
behind me. I live in Canada. My home insurance agent advised me that
the plumber torches (which is what the Silversmith Acetylene/Air B
cylinders are) are fine to use in the house (otherwise plumbers
wouldn’t be able to do their job). I store the tank outside in the
garage in a storage cabinet when I’m not using it and leak test it
whenever I change out the Silversmith torch for the Mini torch using
oxy/acetylene. I also make sure to bleed the tank, blah, blah, blah
you know the drill. Bottom line, gases are only as safe as the person
using them, you just need to follow safe standard operating
procedures.
Hello J Dalely,
The best and most accurate answer will come from your insurance
company. Judy in Kansas
I keep an acetylene B tank in my basement, secured by chain to my
work bench. To determine legal and safety restrictions I contacted my
gas supplier who referred me to my local fire department who referred
me to the county building code agency and they looked up legal
for me. In my state, keeping an acetylene B tank in a
private residence is legally unrestricted. But everyone I contacted
gave valuable safety tips. I also contacted my homeowners insurance
company, because each one has its own rules.
I would recommend contacting the same organizations in your area,
particularly your fire department and your own insurance company.
Good luck.
What is legally allowed varies by location and by insurance company.
I wanted to put a big tank outside, with a permanent pipe to the
torch inside - had seen that done somewhere else. Was told that was
not legal where I live :(But it IS fine to have the Acetylene B tank
inside. but NOT ok to have the propane tank inside. but IS ok to
have propane gas fireplaces inside. go figure! NOT ok to have said
fireplace in a bedroom where I live, but just watched one of those
TV home shows and they carefully put in a gas fireplace in a
bedroom…
So clearly what is legal, and what is allowed, vary widely!
Make sure and check with your local fire department too. some want
to know who has gas tanks and where they are located, so if they
ever have to respond to fire they know in advance.
Do make sure you buy or make a secure stand for any inside tanks.
just to be on the safe side!
Good luck!
Beth Wicker