N2-GEN™ 4 Deployable / NM400 — Safety Guidelines – South-Tek Systems

Applies to: N2-GEN™ 4 Deployable (hard case) and N2-GEN™ 4 / NM400 (standalone)

Does NOT apply to: N2-GEN™ HPC Deployable (HPCD) — see N2-GEN™ HPC Deployable article set

All personnel installing, operating, or maintaining the N2-GEN™ 4 must read and understand this article before working with the equipment. Incorrect use can cause equipment damage, personal injury, or death.

General Safety Practices

Read the full O&M manual and this article before installing, operating, or performing any maintenance on the system.
Only use the N2-GEN™ 4 in accordance with its designed purpose. Do not tamper with, experiment on, or attempt to exceed the equipment's technical specifications.
Only qualified personnel — capable of working on electrical and pneumatic equipment — are permitted to perform installation, maintenance, and repairs. Unqualified individuals must not attempt to service the equipment.
Follow all applicable OSHA regulations and local health and safety codes throughout installation, operation, and maintenance.
Contact South-Tek Systems if a problem cannot be resolved using the O&M manual or this knowledge base.

Nitrogen — Asphyxiation Hazard

Nitrogen is an odorless, colorless, non-poisonous inert gas. However, in high concentrations it displaces oxygen in the air and can cause rapid asphyxiation without warning. The N2-GEN™ 4 produces nitrogen at a low flow rate that quickly dissipates under normal ventilation, but the hazard must always be respected.

🛑 Asphyxiation Risk: Never operate the N2-GEN™ 4 in a sealed or poorly ventilated space. Install and operate the system only in a well-ventilated room that is not sealed off from normal air changes. If headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness occurs near the equipment, immediately move to a different room or outdoors, move to fresh air, and ventilate the area before re-entering.

Never directly inhale nitrogen gas from any port, vent, or connection on the system.
Do not discharge storage nitrogen or vent the system into an enclosed area.
If a nitrogen leak is suspected, leave the area immediately, ventilate, and locate and correct the leak before restarting.

Pressurized System Safety

🛑 Pressurized Vessel Warning: Do not puncture any part of the nitrogen storage tank. Pressurized gas can burst a damaged vessel with sufficient force to cause serious personal injury or death.

Never remove, cut, or work on any hose — inside or outside the generator or tank — without first turning off the power switch, closing all preinstalled isolation valves, and fully relieving pressure from the affected section.
Never detach any pressurized line before closing the upstream valve. A pressurized line that is suddenly disconnected can cause equipment damage and personal injury.
Do not expose the nitrogen storage tank, generator, or any pressurized hose to excessive heat or open flame. Expanding gas from heat exposure can burst a vessel or hose.
Safety relief valves rated at 150 PSIG are installed on the storage tank to protect against over-pressurization. These valves must never be disabled, capped, bypassed, or tampered with in any way.
Always perform a leak check after any gas connection is made or disturbed — see the Installation & Startup article for the leak check procedure.
Always confirm all gauges read 0 PSIG before opening any internal component during maintenance.

⚠ System Remains Pressurized After Shutdown: The nitrogen storage tank and all connected gas lines remain under pressure after the unit is powered off. Never assume a stopped system is depressurized. Always close the appropriate isolation valve and confirm pressure has been fully relieved before opening any connection or component.

Electrical Safety

Always turn the power switch to Off and unplug the power cord from the outlet before performing any maintenance, opening the cabinet, or servicing any component.
Connect the N2-GEN™ 4 to a dedicated 110 VAC / 20 Amp circuit following all applicable local electrical regulations. Ground the connection when available.
Do not reroute, tap into, or replace any electrical component or wiring with non-manufacturer-specified parts.
This system is not intended for use with or around liquids. Do not operate in wet environments or where water could contact the unit.

⚠ Lockout Before Service: Always turn the power switch to Off and unplug the power cord before opening the cabinet or working on any internal component. Turning the switch off alone is not sufficient — the cord must also be physically disconnected from the outlet to prevent inadvertent re-energization.

Solvent and Chemical Hazards

The N2-GEN™ 4 uses an intake fan to continuously draw surrounding air into the cabinet. Any solvent, aerosol, or chemical vapor present near the unit during operation will be drawn in and can permanently damage the filter elements and membrane elements.

Install and operate only in a solvent-free environment. Do not operate near paint, adhesives, cleaning chemicals, fuel vapors, or any chemical aerosol.
Never spray cleaning solutions, leak detection fluid, or any liquid into or around the cabinet while the system is powered on.
If cleaning the exterior of the cabinet is necessary, power down and unplug the unit first. Apply cleaning solution to a cloth and wipe the surface — do not spray directly onto or into the cabinet.
Use alcohol or similar mild solvent applied to a cloth for component cleaning where required. Do not use solvents inside the cabinet.

🛑 Solvent Damage Is Not Covered Under Warranty: Filter and membrane damage caused by solvent or chemical vapor ingestion is not covered under warranty. This type of damage is often not immediately visible but will cause progressive purity degradation that accelerates rapidly.

Safe Handling and Positioning

Always keep the unit in an upright position during storage, transport, and operation. Never lay the system on its side.
Install the system where it cannot be exposed to water or struck by moving equipment or vehicles.
For the Standalone / NM400 configuration: ensure the wall or floor mount is secured to a structure capable of supporting the unit weight (75 lbs minimum) and that the unit cannot tip or fall due to vibration.
For the Deployable configuration: ensure the hard case is upright (longest side vertical) with at least 12 inches of clear space on both sides for compressor cooling airflow.
Do not place or stack objects on top of the unit.

BlastOff™ Alarm Safety (if equipped)

If the BlastOff™ light illuminates and the buzzer sounds, the system has detected a nitrogen line leak and has shut down automatically. This is a safety condition that requires immediate attention.

Turn the power switch to Off.
Inspect all external gas connections, hoses, and fittings for leaks. Listen for hissing and feel around connections by hand.
If a leak is found, close the upstream isolation valve, relieve pressure, and repair using factory replacement parts with Teflon tape on all brass fittings.
If no external leak is found, leave the unit off and contact South-Tek Systems before reopening and inspecting internally.
Once the leak is confirmed repaired, cycle the power switch off and back on to reset the alarm and resume operation.

🛑 Do Not Repeatedly Reset: If the BlastOff™ alarm activates repeatedly or daily, there is a real and ongoing safety issue. Do not continue resetting the alarm as a workaround. Leave the unit off and contact South-Tek Systems for a solution.

Emergency Procedures

Emergency Situation	Immediate Action
Person feels dizzy, lightheaded, or short of breath near the unit	Immediately move to a different room or outdoors; breathe fresh air; ventilate the space before re-entering; check for nitrogen leaks before restarting the system
Gas line or fitting ruptures / sudden pressure release	Turn the power switch off immediately; close the nearest upstream isolation valve; vacate the immediate area; do not re-enter until the system is fully depressurized; correct the fault before restarting
Unit or pressurized vessel exposed to fire or extreme heat	Evacuate the area immediately; do not approach the unit; contact emergency services; do not attempt to operate or inspect the unit until it has been evaluated by a qualified technician
Electrical fault or fire	Disconnect power at the circuit breaker; use appropriate fire suppression for electrical fires; evacuate and contact emergency services
Any unsafe condition not covered above	Turn the power switch off and unplug the unit; evacuate if necessary; contact South-Tek Systems at (910) 415-1880 before restarting

Contact South-Tek Systems

Phone: (910) 415-1880

Email / Ticket: support@southteksystems911.zendesk.com