Industrial vs household gas: how do they differ, and who should use which?

When customers call a dealer, they are often asked whether they want “household gas” or “industrial gas”. It sounds like two different fuels, but in practice industrial vs household gas is not a choice between two gases: both are LPG, and the differences lie in the packaging, the equipment used with it, the installation requirements and the users. Understanding this helps you choose the right gas supply and avoid using the wrong equipment.

Both LPG, used differently

Both are liquefied petroleum gas, consisting mainly of propane and butane; both are heavier than air and have an odorant added — see what is LPG. “Industrial” and “household” describe the intended use, not two separate gases. Industrial gas serves high-consumption users such as restaurants, canteens and factories.

Quick comparison

Packaging

Household gas mainly comes in 12kg cylinders that one person can carry. Industrial gas usually comes in 45kg cylinders — a full cylinder weighs about 83 – 87kg — or is filled into fixed storage tanks for very large consumers. How dealers divide their orders between the two cylinder sizes is covered in 12kg vs 45kg LPG cylinders.

Is the propane – butane ratio different?

It may be, depending on the supplier and the time. Propane vaporises better at low temperatures, so a propane-rich mix gives a steadier vapour supply when large amounts of gas are drawn; some suppliers therefore adjust the ratio for industrial customers, but this is not a general rule — ask your supplier if your equipment requires a specific composition. For the properties of butane, see what is butane.

Regulators and associated equipment

This is the difference most likely to cause problems. Household stoves use low-pressure regulators; wok burners, dryers and industrial burners need higher flow and pressure, so they use a regulator or regulating system as instructed by the equipment manufacturer. Mixing them up can cause flare-ups or a weak flame — see gas regulator. On the cylinder side, you need a cylinder valve of the right type for the regulator in use.

Installation and safety requirements

For a 12kg cylinder, having the dealer fit the cylinder, regulator and hose to the stove is enough. An industrial gas system includes a separate cylinder area, a manifold, fixed pipework and emergency shut-off valves; it must be designed, installed, leak tested and accepted by a qualified contractor in accordance with current regulations — see gas for industrial kitchens. VietnhatGas manufactures cylinders and cylinder valves and does not install systems.

Can a household use a 45kg cylinder, or an eatery a 12kg cylinder?

• A household using a 45kg cylinder: in terms of fuel it is possible, but the cylinder is very heavy, needs a well-ventilated spot outside the kitchen area and is hard to change, and many buildings do not allow it; the regulator must still be a low-pressure type. For most households, a 12kg cylinder makes sense.
• An eatery using a 12kg cylinder: suitable for a small eatery with one or two burners. A large burner running continuously will need frequent cylinder changes, and the cylinder easily gets cold and the flame weak — see frozen gas cylinder. In that case, switch to a 45kg cylinder or a cylinder manifold.

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.