Gas Cylinder Storage Safety

Gas cylinders contain highly compressed and often flammable gases that may be extremely sensitive to the environment--especially in the absence of proper safety precautions. There are a variety of rules for storage safety that are of the utmost importance in minimizing combustion as well as exposure to hazardous fumes.

Potential Hazards

• Part of gas cylinder storage safety is recognizing potential disasters. Physical damage to a cylinder could cause the unit to explode, causing fires and shrapnel. This damage may result from excessive heat, exposure to electric circuits, falling over or anything else that could cause a crack in the body of the cylinder. Since many gases are highly compressed and/or flammable, sensitivity to physical damage can be very high, and as little as a vibration could cause explosions.

Storage Room Conditions

• A storage room for gas cylinders should be dry and well-ventilated. Another key concern is valve leakage; if valves are not properly secured during storage, gas leaks can spread hazardous fumes and may promote a highly flammable environment; this is why proper ventilation is key. The storage room must also be void of salt, possible ignition sources such as open flames or sparks and corrosive materials that could damage the units.

Proper Labeling for Storage

• Clear and precise labeling is important for storing gas cylinders. Since oxygen cylinders, flammable gas cylinders and liquid nitrogen cylinders, for example, have very different properties and rules for storage, they must be clearly identified for optimal safety. Labels must be durable and located on the shoulder of the cylinder, including a tag with the trade name of the chemical contents as well as the dates of use with their corresponding users. Unmarked and ambiguously labeled cylinders must be segregated at once and reported to the manufacturer for clarification.

Securing the Cylinders

• Most accidents happen when unsecured cylinders tip and fall over. For this reason, it is necessary to secure cylinders to a stationary support or to a cart with straps, chains and/or cables. Liquefied flammable gas cylinders must always be stored in an upright position. Valves must always remain closed, and valve protection caps should always remain intact during storage.

Separation of Distinct Gases

• Since the interaction of certain distinct gases can cause combustible reactions (especially between oxygen and flammable gases), proper separation is of key importance. Oxygen cylinders should be stored at a minimum of 25 feet from fuel-gas cylinders, or with a non-combustible wall of at least 5 feet high for separation. You should also divide empty and full cylinders into separate storage areas.