Gas cylinder safety
Gas cylinders contain liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas or LPG) stored at high pressure so you need to be careful to store, use, refill and dispose of them safely. The following information explains gas cylinder safety practices.
Storage and maintenance
- Keep the cylinder away from heat and direct sunlight where practicable.
- Check the valves are tightly turned off.
- Carry and store the cylinder upright at all times.
- Insert a POL (Prest-O-Lite) valve plug in the cylinder when you aren’t using it.
- Check your cylinder regularly for damage, malfunction and gas leaks (a ‘rotten egg’ gas smell).
- Use an approved test station to repair or replace cylinder valves if needed.
- Do not attempt to repair or remove cylinder valves yourself—only a licensed gasfitter can do this.
Using gas cylinders and devices
When using a gas cylinder and device:
- Do not use a cylinder that has corrosion or damage.
- Do not use a cylinder that is out of date—the test date, stamped on the base or neck of the cylinder, is valid for 10 years.
- If you’re using the cylinder with a low-pressure gas device, use a regulator to control the pressure—ask your gas supplier or the manufacturer to explain how.
When you have finished, make sure the regulator hose is empty of gas:
- Turn off the cylinder valve while the gas device is still operating. Then turn off the gas device valve.
Exchanges and refills
Your local LPG retailer can safely refill or exchange your LPG cylinder. Before you purchase a cylinder or accept an exchange cylinder:
- Check it is fitted with a valve plug.
- Check the cylinder is in date—to be refilled, a cylinder must have a valid 10-year test stamp.
- Do not refill your own gas cylinder—only trained people using special equipment can do this safely.
Disposal
You can dispose of gas cylinders safely, at:
- approved gas cylinder test stations
- some council refuse centres
- some gas suppliers.