Before system cylinders are handled or moved, which steps must be taken?

• A. Cylinder outlets shall be fitted with anti-recoil devices, cylinder caps, or both when the outlet is not connected to the system pipe inlet
• B. Actuators shall be disabled or removed before cylinders are moved from retaining bracketing
• C. Both A and B
• D. Neither A nor B

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is to prevent any accidental release or dangerous movement of pressurized cylinders during handling. When a system outlet isn’t connected to the piping, it must be kept closed or otherwise secured with an anti-recoil device or a cap. This keeps a potential discharge path sealed and reduces the chance that a valve might vent or that a released gas could propel the cylinder if the outlet were disturbed.

At the same time, before moving cylinders from their retaining brackets, the actuators that would release the agent must be disabled or removed. This ensures that simply handling or jostling the cylinder can’t unintentionally trigger discharge, which protects both people and surrounding equipment.

Putting both steps in place covers two critical safety angles: preventing gas from escaping through an exposed outlet and eliminating the possibility of an automatic release during movement. That’s why performing both actions is the correct approach.