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Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing, fitting and looking after flashback arrestors.
Most arrestors combine several safety devices in one body. A non-return valve stops gas flowing backwards, a flame arrestor (a sintered or metal element) absorbs the heat and stops the flame travelling on, and many also have a cut-off valve that shuts the gas flow when a flashback is detected by pressure or temperature.The exact design varies by maker and by gas. This is why an arrestor must be the right type for the gas it is used on, and why it should never be taken apart or modified.
After a flashback, a resettable arrestor can be put back into service by following the maker's reset procedure, usually once the cause has been found and the unit has been checked. A non-resettable arrestor has done its job once and must be replaced.Resettable types are convenient and are common on modern equipment, but they still need to be tested and inspected as the maker directs. If an arrestor has stopped a flashback, treat the rest of the hose and equipment with suspicion and have it all checked before using it again.
No. Arrestors are made for a specific gas and are marked accordingly. Fuel gas arrestors normally have left-hand threaded connections, usually shown by a notch cut in the nut, while oxygen ones have right-hand threads. This is deliberate, to stop gases being connected the wrong way round.Fuel gas types also differ from one another in their design, so use one that is marked as suitable for the gas you are running, whether acetylene or propane. Never force a connection that does not fit, and never use adaptors to get round the thread difference.
Every arrestor has some resistance to flow, because the gas has to pass through the flame arrestor element. For normal welding, cutting and heating this makes no noticeable difference. For high-flow work, such as large heating nozzles, you need an arrestor rated for the flow you are using.Check the maker's flow rating against the nozzle you plan to use. If the flame seems starved or weak and the regulator is set correctly, a blocked or undersized arrestor is one possible cause worth checking.
