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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, DC  20549


                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
                     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


              Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): 
                                July 28, 1997


                                 AIRGAS, INC.
             ______________________________________________________
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



   Delaware                1-9344               56-0732648  
_______________    _______________________    _____________
(State or other    (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                Identification
incorporation)                                 No.)



                      259 Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
                            Radnor, PA  19087           
                    _______________________________________
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
                                                    _______________


















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Item 5. Other Events.
        ____________

   On July 28, 1997, Airgas, Inc. reported that it has reached a comprehensive
settlement with all of the defendants in the refrigerant gas litigation, as
described in the press release attached as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein
by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         __________________________________________________________________

(a)  None

(b)  None

(c)  Exhibits.

     99  Press release dated July 28, 1997










































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                                  Signatures
                                  __________


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                         AIRGAS, INC.




                    BY:  /s/ Gordon L. Keen, Jr.
                         ___________________________
                         Sr. Vice President - Law
                         & Corporate Development


DATED:     July 28, 1997