How many times have we heard this sentence, and how many other common places, or idioms, that we did not never analyzed correctly, because we were looking at what was happened and at the damage to person and things.
But the cylinders do not erupt, they are not bombs, they are pressure containers and as all the containers they may break, and this happens when the internal pressure exceeds the resistance of the container.
When this happens there is a leakage of the contents, which is usually liquefied gas, which in contact with the air and in some cases in the presence of sparks, explodes. This brokes out! Therefore it is the content that broke out, while the cylinder can break or at list move because of the violent escape reaction of the gas contained in it.
The problem of the damage and the danger linked to rupture remains, so it is necessary that the manufacturers of pressure vessels follow closely the regulations which deal with these containers and which regulate the precise characteristics and the operational limits.
The cylinders for domestic gas or camping, which are more widespread, are all tested at a pressure which is much more higher of the operating and one of those, taken with a certain frequency from production, is brought to rupture and it withstands impressive pressures, so it is unlikely impossible that a cylinder for the home gas breaks down or “explodes”, but it can nevertheless be that we forget to close the trade, with the consequences that we know.
There are many other pressure receptacles installed on equipment and all these must be CE marked and, depending on the use, must submit checks by notified institutions who attest the conformity of the product, but it is the manufacturer who has to accomplish all the practices for the marking, which is the only way to the marketing.
Therefore, stay calm about the out breaking of the cylinders, but….. look at the mark!
