enser installations
safe if properly used
Inexpert handling of technical equipment creates
unsafe situations. In such cases even the most
stringent safety measures taken by the manufactu
rer will not be sufficient. The same also applies to
dispenser installations. Hans Schutt, Heineken's
consultant Export Draught Beer Operations,
therefore takes a firm line where problems with
an installation are concerned: hands off!
Hans Schutt, Heineken's consultant Export
Draught Beer Operations.
Reports occasionally appear in
the press about beer kegs
which explode. Sometimes
such accidents cause injuries. Further
investigation into the cause of the
accident usually shows that it is due
to human error.
Nothing can go wrong with the
installation, the keg or the cylinder.
Hans Schutt is willing to back that to
the hilt: "All dispenser installations,
carbon dioxide cylinders and kegs
which leave the Heineken brewery
are safe. Dangerous situations only
occur if laymen start coupling things
up or start tinkering themselves when
problems occur."
Forces
Big physical forces exist in and
around a dispenser installation. The
pressure of the carbon dioxide gas in
the cylinder is 60 to 80 bar. The cylin
ders as well as the pipes and kegs are
designed to withstand these forces. If
an installation has been fitted by the
specialist, then the on premise owner
need have no worries.
Mr Schutt has visited many coun
tries all over the world in recent years
and can (unfortunately) quote examp
les of unskilled handling. "Sometimes
I see connections between gas cylin
ders and kegs and 1 think 'how on
earth did they manage to connect it
up like that?'. The result is a highly
dangerous situation, but people don't
realise the risks involved, simply
because they don't have the specia
lised knowledge. There is still a lot of
ignorance in this area in the on pre
mise trade."
Carbon dioxide gas
On the list of safety recommen
dations, perhaps the most important
is proper handling of the carbon
dioxide cylinder. Mr Schutt explains
the recommendations one by one:
"Make sure that the cylinder is fasten
ed to the wall with a chain or a brack
et, because if the cylinder falls over
the reducing valve may break off and
the cylinder may explode. Though the
cylinder is safe, it should always be
kept away from sources of heat. So do
not store cylinders in metal contain
ers in the full glare of the sun."
"Make sure that the room in
which the cylinder is installed is pro
perly ventilated. Carbon dioxide gas
in itself is not dangerous. It is an
odourless, non-toxic and a naturally
occurring gas. But if the balance
between oxygen and carbon dioxide
gas is disrupted, a dangerous
situation will arise. Carbon dioxide
gas is heavier than air, so it will hang
around in the cellar. Exposure to a 3-
4% concentration of carbon dioxide
gas causes dizziness, shortness of bre
ath and a throbbing sensation in the
ears. Once the concentration has
climbed to more than 5%, there is no
longer any time to do anything.
"Lastly, I would emphasise that
you should never use big pincers to
try and force open a gas cylinder
which is tightly closed. If you cannot
open the cylinder by hand, put it on
one side and use the next one."
THE WORLD OF HEINEKEN
