Mumbai-based Excel Gas & Equipments, one of the India’s leading project management companies that operates in the field of gas piping installation for all research laboratories of pharma giants has recently received huge contracts from IOCL, Novartis, GVK Bioscience, Syngenta and Indian Institute of Science Education & Research.
Excel Gas has now turned out to become one of the leaders and major players in turnkey installation of gas handling systems. They have also expanded their wings in the Middle East market. In the pharmaceutical industry, the company has executed projects from concept to commissioning for major players like Cipla, Dr. Reddy’s, Biocon, Novartis, Mylan, Pfizer, GVK, Syngenta, and Hikal.
After successful completion of over 400 plus projects spread all over India and in the Middle East, today Excel Gas and Equipments stands tall in this industry and is the single point solution for design, procurement, installation and ensuring continued performance of gas handling systems.
Nitin Godse, MD, Excel Gas & Equipments, said: “The contract includes understanding client requirement, design, procurement, installation and of gas handling systems. Generally end users of gases like scientists, pharmaceutical technicians, semiconductor fab technicians are expert in their own domain. Gases being utility for their domain, they look at people who are expert in handling gases.”
He adds further, “Major safety hazards are associated with handling of gases. We need to understand that handling of gases is different than handling liquids. Gases are compressible, hence large quantity of gas is stored under high pressure into confined containers like cylinders, bullets etc. Depending on the nature of gas they are filled at various pressures ranging from 2 bar to 220 bar and sometimes even higher. Uncontrolled release of this compressed gas will cause serious safety hazards and can lead to fatal accidents. Design precautions, Correct material and fabrication methods for gas handling systems, hazard analysis, operator trainings can avoid accidents in plant laboratories.”
Godse also said that when compared to European countries, very limited regulations related to gas handling systems are available in India. Frequently referred standards and codes include NFPA 55 for fire and related hazards, PESO for use of compressed gases and OSHA for safety of the users. Apart from these, ASME B31.8 is generally referred for designing and tubing. Recently FDA has become very stringent with regulations for pharma sector particular in India.
Further, he said that FDA has issued warning letters to more than 8 major pharma companies, Form 483s to several more and even banned certain products manufactured by these companies. Mostly the issues highlighted are regarding good manufacturing practices and piping qualities. So it becomes very important to install gas handling systems and clean fluid handling systems with utmost care and after considering standards, codes and good manufacturing practices.
“Gas handling systems have to be always designed by qualified professionals who are aware of applicable standards, codes and good manufacturing practices. They should also be clear about nature of gases, materials of construction, control systems used specifically for gases, implication of gas purity, safety aspects in terms of explosion, fire or gas leakage.” said Godse.