Storing LPG cylinders safely in a dealer’s warehouse: key rules

The cylinder warehouse is where a dealer keeps the most gas, so the way you store LPG cylinders there determines the safety of the whole shop and the surrounding neighbourhood. Most incidents start with small habits: laying cylinders down, stacking them near heat, ignoring a faint smell of gas. Below are the rules to apply every day.

Understand LPG to store it correctly

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is held as a liquid under pressure in the cylinder. When it escapes, it evaporates and is heavier than air, so instead of rising it collects in low places: floors, drains, manholes, basements. Commercial gas contains an odorant so that leaks can be smelled. These two facts explain most of the rules below.

Choosing the warehouse location

• Well ventilated: vents at floor level so leaked gas can escape instead of collecting.
• No enclosed low points: avoid basements, manholes and closed drains inside the cylinder area.
• Away from direct sunlight and heat: high temperatures raise the pressure inside cylinders.
• Away from flames and electrical sparks: no sockets, switches, stoves or welding machines in the cylinder area; electrical equipment in the warehouse should be of a suitable safe type.
• Clear access: wide enough for trolleys and delivery vehicles, and for evacuation if needed.

How to arrange cylinders

1. Always keep cylinders upright with the valve on top — empty ones too, because they still contain residual gas.
2. Fit the valve cap or guard when cylinders are not in use and during transport.
3. Keep full and empty cylinders in separate, clearly signed areas to avoid delivering the wrong one and to make counting easy.
4. Arrange cylinders neatly in rows with aisles between rows for inspection and picking; do not stack 45kg cylinders.
5. Do not store them with flammable goods such as paper, fabric, oil or paint.

Daily leak checks

At the start of each day and when a new batch arrives, walk through the warehouse and pay attention to any smell of gas. If you suspect a cylinder is leaking, brush soapy water around the valve and joints: bubbles show where it leaks. Never test with a flame. Move a leaking cylinder to a ventilated area away from ignition sources and notify your supplier.

If there is a strong smell of gas in the warehouse: do not switch electrical devices on or off, do not use phones in that area, open doors for ventilation, close the valves of suspect cylinders, evacuate people and call for help.

Handling and transport

• Do not throw or roll cylinders on hard floors; use a trolley for 45kg cylinders.
• On delivery vehicles, cylinders stay upright and are firmly secured so they do not knock against each other.
• Keep dented, bulging, heavily rusted or out-of-date cylinders separate and never deliver them to customers — see how to tell a compliant LPG cylinder.

Fire safety in the warehouse

A gas warehouse must meet current fire prevention and fighting requirements: fire extinguishers within easy reach, no-flame and no-smoking signs, safety rules, and staff trained to handle incidents. Specific requirements for distances and equipment depend on the size of the warehouse — work with the local fire authority when setting up a new one. General conditions for opening a shop are covered in opening an LPG dealership.

Frequently asked questions

Written by the VietnhatGas technical and sales team — a batch manufacturer of LPG cylinders. This content is for reference; regulations and standards may change, so please check the current texts.