These companies, in the industrial, food and medical gases industries, include manufacturers and suppliers of liquefied, dissolved and compressed gases in a wide variety of containers, including cylinders, tubes, tanks, etc., as well as the associated gaseous pressure systems, pipework, components and related equipment. Members also provide specialist safety, health, environment, quality, inspection and training services. Today, BCGA members employ over 19,000 people directly and account for an annual turnover of over £2.7 bn
The BCGA plays a key role in ensuring that its member companies are supported and informed. Holds dialogue with government departments and agencies, standard organisations and other trade associations Produces a range of publications including Codes of Practice, Guidance Notes and Technical papers. We are a highly regulated industry and safety is paramount to the BCGA members.
To enable all BCGA members, and related industries, to operate safely and grow, by proactively:
This vision will help support the present and future application of industry innovation.
BCGA is also a member of the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA), which is headquartered in Brussels and represents the majority of European and a number of non-European companies producing and distributing industrial, medical and food gases. BCGA also fosters cross-industry links by its involvement or membership of the CBI, TAF, Alliance of Chemical Associations (ACA) and REACH Cross Sector Group. A comprehensive list of other associations BCGA works with regularly can be found here.
We also maintain a close rapport with GasWorld Magazine, which headlines developments in the industrial gases industry throughout the year and is a key supporter to the BCGA Conference.
Manufacturers and suppliers of liquefied, dissolved and compressed gases
Manufacturers of cylinders, vessels and tanks for their storage and distribution
Manufacturers of equipment for controlling the application and use of gases
Installers of distribution pipework and systems
Providers of specialist safety, health, environment, quality, inspection and training services
Compressed and liquefied industrial, food and medical gases offer life-saving, life-enhancing and life-promoting qualities, which ultimately improve our quality of life. They are vital to the UK economy and essential to the existence and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people in the UK every day. BCGA’s Mission is to promote safety in the use, storage, transportation and handling of these gases.
Companies which manufacture and supply these vital gases are also committed to the highest standards of safety and quality, which is why they choose to become members of the BCGA. In line with its strong safety position, the BCGA is often the voice of the industry where matters of concern arise. Benefiting from a team of dedicated professionals that can assist with enquiries relating to compressed gases, BCGA has a number of committees that are responsible for different aspects of the Associations function’s including technical advice and documentation. Information on our committees is available here.
BCGA members have a wide range of skills and expertise, many offer their services to provide solutions for your gas needs.
BCGA does not accredit, approve or in any way guarantee the services offered by members and customers should make their own assessments of the quality of service being offered and of the competence of those offering the service
Our services directory provides contact information for BCGA members.
Currently of issue to the Association is the misuse of helium and liquid nitrogen, which are both critically important gases. The BCGA has produced a White Paper on Mission Safety including a wide-range of information on the concerns it shares in these two areas, and calls for action to address them. The White Paper also sets out the features and benefits of helium and liquid nitrogen – and the controls it would like to see on their use.
The BCGA actively promotes safety practice through its many publications. These publications include codes of practice, guidance notes, technical reports, leaflets and technical information sheets, as well as safety alerts and industry information, which are available as a free download.
BCGA also has a lot of useful information within our Gas Topics section, including advice on Gas Abuse which highlights the dangers of misusing gases and the potential hazards that can occur if gases are used irresponsibly. It includes reference to nitrous oxide, helium and liquid nitrogen.
BCGA Members are encouraged to take part in the work of the various Technical Sub-Committees. This is where we review changes to legislation, monitor technical improvements, update on activities taking place within the wider industry and where our publications are developed. BCGA Members also liaise with many other organisations to ensure BCGA remains current with best practice. Members can find out about the work of our committees within the members area of the website. BCGA’s work and developments are showcased each year through our annual conference in the spring.
As a safety and technical Trade Association, BCGA and its members are also actively involved in the development of Standards. Each country has its own National Standards Body. For the UK this is the British Standards Institution (BSI). However, the gases industry uses Standards which are common throughout the world and BCGA actively supports Standards-making within Europe, through the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and globally through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Many BCGA member companies work across national borders and, as a consequence, the industry is evolving to use mainly global Standards; within the UK these are published by BSI as joint Standards in the format BS EN, BS ISO or BS EN ISO. BCGA is recognised by BSI as a nominating organization and as being representative of the gases industry.
Would you like to join BCGA and become a member? You can find membership information and the application forms here.
BCGA are members of the following:
BCGA liaise with other Trade Associations involved with gases. These include:
