[Safety of oxygen-pressure-reducing valves]

When a gas cylinder valve is opened slowly, as required, the associated pressure reducing valve works properly and gas expansion decreases the temperature of the device proportionally to the delivered gas flow. Conversely, when the valve is opened rapidly, the pressure in the high pressure chamber grows suddenly from 0 to 200 bars in the case of a full O2-cylinder, if no flow is required at the valve outlet. This adiabatic compression in a small space generates a peak of high temperature. In the presence of combustible foreign debris and O2, ignition can occur. When the melting point of the metallic component is reached the device bursts and those in the vicinity are at risk of burns or death from inhalation of melten metallic debris. As several of such critical incidents occurred with O2-pressure-reducing valves whose high pressure chambers were made of aluminium, the French medical devices agency has enacted a regulation prohibiting their use.