Safe cylinder storage

One fact explains most of what follows: LPG is heavier than air. A leak does not rise and disperse — it sinks, spreads across the floor and collects in the lowest space it can find.

Why must the cylinder stand upright?

Because the valve is designed to draw vapour from the top of the cylinder, not liquid from the bottom. A cylinder on its side can feed liquid LPG into the regulator and hose, which they are not built for.

Upright also keeps the safety relief path clear, which is what it is designed around.

Where should a cylinder never be kept?

• Basements and cellars. A leak has nowhere to go but down, and it stays there.
• Stairwells. They are escape routes, and gas collects on the lower steps.
• Under stairs or in a sealed cupboard. No ventilation means no way for a leak to clear.
• Next to the stove. Keep at least 1.5 metres between the cylinder and any heat source.
• In direct sun. Heat raises the pressure inside the cylinder.

What does good ventilation actually mean?

Air movement at floor level, not just a high window. A vent near the ground lets a heavier-than-air leak drain out instead of pooling.

A cylinder kept outside in a shaded, ventilated cage is better placed than one in a warm sealed kitchen cupboard.

Does it matter how many cylinders are stored together?

Yes. A spare beside the one in use is normal and sensible. A stack of cylinders in a domestic room is not — the more gas in one place, the more a single leak can do.

For commercial quantities, keep them outside in a secured, ventilated cage away from the cooking line.

What about moving a cylinder?

Carry it upright, close the valve first, and never drag it by the collar across a floor. Transport it upright and secured, with the vehicle ventilated — never sealed in a hot boot for hours.