Catalogue description Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: Gas Cylinders and Containers Committee

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) set up the first Gas Cylinders and Containers Committee in 1935. Its terms of reference included the consideration of reports produced by the Gas Cylinders Research Committee and the Welded Containers Committee of DSIR and other matters referred to it by DSIR in the light of related scientific developments and changes in industrial practice. The Committee's primary duty was the supervision of research work on behalf of the Home Office, to facilitate the framing of regulations for the manufacture and use of cylinders and containers for the transport of gases.

A review of DSIR research committees in 1945 concluded that, since the actual research work was being carried out by the National Physical Laboratory - the Executive Committee of which supervised all its other functions - there was insufficient reason to justify the supervisiory work of gas cylinders and containers research being done by the Gas Cylinders and Containers Committee. Nonetheless, it was felt that the usefulness of the Committee to the Home Office in the field of drafting and revision of legislation and regulations was too valuable to be abandoned, and the Committee was re-constituted in February 1946 as an advisory body appointed by the Home Secretary.