Roberts Oxygen and AirGas are close to the Campus and will drop off tanks at the warehouse, who then bring the tanks to the back of the building in the cage located outside of the loading dock.  PIs or their students need to then bring tanks up to the lab and bring the empties down, with the cylinder top attached. Empties are then taken back to the warehouse for pick up.  

ARC3Gases is located in Frederick, but does several deliveries on campus each week. ARC3 will deliver to the point of use inside the building (either distribution closet or to your tissue culture lab) but will need an account generated with your purchasing agent in your department: Biological Sciences, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering for the delivery and billing to be correctly set up.  

One other difference between the two distributors is how demurrage is charged. With Roberts and Airgas, each tank accrues a monthly demurrage charge. ARC3 will assign a yearly tank rental, assuming the number of tanks you have for your research will remain fairly static throughout the year.  

Personally, I'm a fan of ARC3 as delivery and billing are both streamlined and tanks are not grabbed from a lab without their knowledge. 

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about setting accounts up.

Thank you!