MicroRisk Group was engaged by the client to provide advice in relation to the design of fire protection system at a proposed hazardous waste facility in Victoria.

The client engaged MicroRisk Group to provide specific advice in relation to the storage and handling of end-of-life dangerous goods cylinders (Class 2.1) at a proposed facility to be located in regional Victoria. The client asked how the end-of-life cylinders were to be treated for the purposes of the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022 given they had their valves removed and were destined for disposal, but did have residual gas, solvent and asbestos-containing porous material which precluded direct disposal to landfill.

The client had undertaken a fire risk assessment (FRA) on the basis that the end-of-life cylinders were considered “full” even though they were effectively “empty”. As a consequence of treating the end-of-life cylinders as full, the FRA called for a fire protection system which was considered to be cost prohibitive and not commensurate to the actual fire risk.

The client sought advice on alternative approaches to classifying the end-of-life acetylene cylinders as opposed to being full.

MicroRisk Group undertook a thorough review of the regulatory framework, associated guidance and industry standards to provide comprehensive technical advice in relation to the end-of-life acetylene cylinders which would withstand scrutiny from the regulator and provide a pathway for the client to install a fire protection system which is fit-for-purpose, reduces risk so far as is reasonably practicable and meets the requirement of the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022.