Our services

Mailing and Material Management Services

Compressed Gases

Nationwide shortage of Carbon Dioxide (Co2)

There is a nationwide shortage of Co2 as of December, 2024. This gas is used heavily in all sectors so we will be affected by the shortage.

We will experience a delay in filling orders for Co2 while we wait for the vendor to receive their allocation.

Global Shortage for Helium (LHe)

We are experiencing significant delays in fulfilling orders due to the shortage of Helium worldwide. Orders will be filled as the supply becomes available which could take from 2 to 3 months.

Currently, we supply UHP Helium and a few Research Grade – mostly in T size. Due to the shortage, we recommend ordering the 200 size tanks for Helium Ultra High Pure (HEUHP) as a replacement for the 300 size since these may be available sooner.

They are still experiencing this shortage as of December 2024.

Material Management Services provides gas cylinders, supplies, and other related materials to the university community on both the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. The gases listed below are available from Material Management Services. Contact us for special orders.

Argon	Hydrogen	5% Carbon Dioxide 95% Oxygen
Breathing Air	Nitrogen	5% Hydrogen 95% Nitrogen
Carbon Dioxide	Nitrous Oxide	5% Carbon Dioxide 10% Hydrogen 85% Nitrogen
Compressed Air	Oxygen

We have limited oxidizers and flammables quantities on hand due to safety regulations. Contact Procurement Services to order liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.

Specialty and medical gas mixes

Per the Gilmore Liquid Air Letter (see Related Documents, located at the bottom of this page), due to continued nationwide shortages of carbon monoxide, ethane and methane, suppliers can no longer provide estimated delivery of these products. Due to environmental laws, these gases are no longer produced in California. Instead, these cylinders are shipped from Texas and Louisiana via railcar.

Departments must return an empty cylinder when reordering these gases. Furthermore, to contain shipping costs, suppliers will not release a railcar until it is full, which means it could take more than four weeks to receive these gases.

The price of helium has increased due to rationing and supplier shortage. Please call or email Material Management Services for current prices. Orders will be filled as the supply becomes available which could take from 2 to 3 months.

Please keep the nationwide shortage in mind when placing orders for the above-referenced gases.

Lost/stolen cylinders

Missing cylinders must be reported to Material Management Services and USC Department of Public Safety. The full replacement cost for lost or stolen cylinders will be charged to your department. If a cylinder in your department’s possession is missing, notify Material Management Services immediately to avoid ongoing “demurrage” (daily rental) charges.

Because the cylinders contain hazardous material, you must notify Material Management Services to pick up the empty cylinder if it is found. There will be no refund if a lost cylinder is found.

Placing an order for delivery/pick up

Please see Related Documents, located at the bottom of this page and select Material Management Requisition Process Guide for details on how to place an order for delivery. All orders are now processed in Workday Financial Management by selecting the Purchases Worklet.

To place an order for pick-up, please see Related Documents, located at the bottom of this page and select Compressed Gas Cylinder Pick Up Request Process Guide for details. All orders for pick up of gas cylinders are now processed in Workday Financial Management by selecting the Business Forms Dashboard Worklet.

Buildings without elevator service will be evaluated to ensure delivery of cylinders can be safely completed.

Delivery and pick-up

Please note that our drivers only provide delivery and pick-up services; they do not connect or disconnect gas cylinders, valves or regulators (see Safe handling and storage procedures, below). Nor will they move cylinders to a different location. Facilities Planning and Management offers the service of disconnecting and reconnecting cylinders, valves and or regulators and installation of cylinder restraints as well as moving or relocating gas cylinders but ONLY within the same building, and NOT from one building to another. Contact Material Management Services to update the location and billing information when tanks are moved to another location.

A copy of your order indicating the item description and the quantity ordered will be attached to your delivery. You are required to sign your name on our mobile device as proof of delivery.

Check all orders upon receipt. Report any omissions, errors or damage to cylinders to Material Management Services.

If the delivery point is not accessible to the drivers:

A delivery attempt notice will be placed on the door with additional instructions.
An additional charge may be assessed for re-delivery (see Service fees, below).

Cylinders cannot be left in unsecured areas (including hallways). If drivers cannot secure cylinders, they will be returned to Material Management Services.

All cylinders (except “E” size oxygen) must be capped with the right threaded cap before returning for transport (see Service fees, below).

Service fees

Same day delivery:
- $75.00 for orders received before 9:00 am (with approvals), Monday through Friday. Same day deliveries are subject to product and staff availability. Minimum $75.00 first 2 cylinders. $25.00 per cylinder after 2 cylinders.
Re-delivery (after first attempt): $10
Demurrage charges are assessed at a rate of $0.40 per cylinder per day. Empty cylinders will continue to incur demurrage charges until they are returned to Material Management Services.
A re-stocking fee of $10 or 20% (whichever is higher) will be assessed on cylinders and equipment for any exchange or returns.
Departments will incur a $15 NON-REFUNDABLE replacement charge for returning cylinders with missing caps.
Departments will incur a $30 per cylinder clean-up fee for writing on cylinders or cylinder labels.
Transfer of cylinders from your location to another room $25/cylinder.
Transfer of cylinders from your location to another building $40/cylinder.

Billing

Gas cylinder orders are billed monthly. Statements are available upon request.

Credits and returns

Credit may be giving for returns requested within three days of receipt of order; cylinder must have the plastic valve on.
Special order items may not be returned unless they are defective.
Special gas-mixture and medical gas cylinders are not returnable or refundable.
All other returns will be credited only if they are in new condition and in original box.

Safe handling and storage procedures

Compressed gas cylinders are potentially volatile and should be handled with as much caution as high-energy explosives and projectiles. Furthermore, the contents of compressed gas cylinders expose workers to both chemical and physical hazards. The following safety practices should be observed when handling compressed gas cylinders and their contents:

Cylinders should be marked with a label that clearly identifies the contents.
All gas cylinders, full or empty, should be properly secured in an upright position with cylinder chains top and bottom fastened to a solid support.
Do not try to repair damaged cylinders or valves.
Cylinders are to be tightly capped before they are moved.
Flammable gases and materials are to be stored a minimum of 20 feet from cylinders containing oxidizers.
Oxygen cylinders must be kept free of oil or grease to prevent possible explosion.
Cylinders awaiting delivery should be stored and secured according to their hazard classes.
Cylinders should not be located where objects may strike or fall on them.
Cylinders must be secured at time of delivery.
Cylinder, valves and regulators must be connected and disconnected only by trained personnel. MMS drivers, for safety reasons, are not trained to perform this service.

Equipment information

Pressure regulators

Pressure regulators reduce the high pressure of a gas cylinder or gas pipeline to a working pressure compatible with operating equipment and instruments. A regulator controls only the pressure; it does not measure or control flow unless equipped with devices specifically designed for that purpose.

Types of regulators

Single-stage regulators
In single-stage regulators, the pressure of the gas in the cylinder pushes on the valve, opposing the force of the pressure adjusting spring. As a high-pressure cylinder empties, there is less force against the valve stem and the delivery pressure increases. This increase in pressure requires frequent adjustment to maintain a constant delivery pressure.

Two-Stage Regulators
A two-stage regulator is really two regulators in series in a single body. The first-stage is very much like the second-stage, with an inlet chamber, a stem, a diaphragm, and a pressure adjusting spring. The spring in the first-stage is not adjustable.

The first-stage will reduce the inlet pressure to an intermediate pressure usually less than
500 PSIG. The second-stage reduces the intermediate pressure to the desired working pressure. Because the second-stage sees only minor inlet pressure variations from the first-stage, a two-stage regulator will maintain a steady outlet pressure throughout the life of the cylinder. Therefore, frequent adjustment is not required.

Related Documents

Gilmore Liquid Air Letter

Compress Gas Cylinders Requisition Process Guide

Compressed Gas Cylinder Pick Up Request Process Guide