Important advice on dispense gas from BOC Sureserve

The art of attracting and keeping customers means that licensees rightly devote a great deal of effort and attention to the public areas of their premises. However, the behind-the-scenes areas, like the cellar, are also essential to profitable and efficient business, as Carl Goode, Marketing Manager at BOC Sureserve, explains. The cellar is the ‘engine room' of any licensed premises. Keeping it running efficiently and safely provides the basis on which to run a profitable business. At its most basic level, if the consumer is not satisfied with the drinks or the food he (or she) is served, they will not cross the threshold again. And the quality of the dispensed drinks depends on the way the cellar is operated. Quality is an increasingly important factor in all types of business and the licensed trade is no different.

However, there are many factors involved in giving the customer a high quality product. The first step is to use a reputable dispense gas supplier who can supply cylinders that meet industry safety standards for food grade dispense gas. Dispense gas is regulated in the same way as food products to ensure the quality of the product and protect the consumer. Contaminated gas can affect your business:

• You will lose customers through poor beer quality 
• A single contaminated cylinder could contaminate up to 10 kegs of beer 
• You could put your customers and your staff at risk 

A good, safe dispense gas will be supplied in a cylinder that is in test and in good condition with a guarantee of food grade gas. The key things that you should look for from your dispense gas supplier are:

• Cylinders that are food grade quality - CO2 dispense gas cylinders should be supplied to recognised food grade standards 
• Positive pressure valves - these valves prevent moisture getting in and corroding the cylinder. Cylinder corrosion can affect the taste of the beer and even cause a failure of the cylinder 
• Correct valve outlets - to ensure that high pressure mixed gas is not put onto a low pressure CO2 regulator 
• That the cylinder label carries all the necessary information: size, quality standard, nominal weight, nominal pressure, safety advice, dangerous goods information and suppliers contact details including emergency telephone number. All these are required by law. If your cylinders don't carry all this information send them back  
• Frequently tested cylinders – every cylinder should have a coloured ring attached to the valve indicating when it is due for removal and testing by your gas provider. Dispense gases due for removal in 2009 will carry a yellow square tag. It's a blue square for 2008 

For further guidance check the BCGA guide ‘Profit Through Quality – Good Gas, Good Business'.For more information about BOC Sureserve please contact ipa's licensed team on 01372 466966 or email: licensed@ipapurchasing.co.uk

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