propane storage?

[cueinco]

I bought a searzall torch attachment to use on food that's been cooked sous vide. While looking at all the safety stuff (yeah, I had time on my hands), I saw the warning about not storing small 14.1 oz propane cylinders indoors. This includes attached garage, basement, or other parts of the house. Some additional poking around led to finding a reference that said, if you did store them in the house, that you could lose you homeowners coverage in case of a fire. The manufacture's web site also cautions against storing them in direct sun or in a place that can get to 120 degrees. BTW, for years I've just been storing them in my basement.

So that prompts my question, where do you store small propane cylinders? I currently have them sitting outside in an old black plastic garbage can. My concern is that the can will probably easily reach 120 degrees in the summer. My thought was to put them in a white cheapo styrofoam cooler on the North side of the house, or the South side next to a fence for shade. After all, we store white propane barbecue tanks outside all the time.

I know I'm probably over-thinking this, but how do other folks deal with it? Thanks for your thoughts....

 

[Geebs]

Honestly, I keep mine in the garage along with my extra large propane tanks for my burner when doing homebrew.

 

[weedeater]

Good question!
Never really thought about it before.
I did years ago have a propane tank that I had just had filled vent some propane spontaneously. It had just been filled and was sitting in direct sun on a hot summer day. I was told that is the reason that all the tanks you exchange for at your local stop and rob are only 85% full. They are never filled to 20 Lbs like you get when you have them refilled. Will be interested to hear other thoughts.

Weedeater

 

[Bearcarver]

I keep my backup 20 pounders outside of my garage, and my Fat Boy tank in my Pellet & Dust cabinet IN my garage.
I think their just covering their butts, by putting the warnings on the small bottles.
I would just keep them out of the sun & heat.

My heating Propane Tanks are about 10' from my bedroom wall. They are 100 gallons each, but they only fill them to 80% to allow for expansion.

Bear

 

[daveomak]

Propane Liquid to Gas Volume Expansion
Propane expands about 270 times in volume when it goes from liquid to gas.
So, 1 US gallon of liquid propane equals 36.4 ft3 of gaseous propane
1 US gallon of propane = 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF

If a tank ruptures, during a fire, you instantaneously have ~90,000 BTU blowing out windows, walls, roofs etc.... and that gas expands due to increase in temperature..

 

[GaryHibbert]

I keep my 20 pounders outside by the garage wall. I only have 1 small cylinder and that's attached to my torch. I use it to light the pellets in my AMNPS so it just sits out on my deck, by the side of the house, in the shade.
I'm not what you'd call real safety oriented, but I never store propane in the garage.
Gary

 

[cueinco]

Propane Liquid to Gas Volume Expansion
Propane expands about 270 times in volume when it goes from liquid to gas.
So, 1 US gallon of liquid propane equals 36.4 ft3 of gaseous propane
1 US gallon of propane = 91,502 BTU @ 60ºF

If a tank ruptures, during a fire, you instantaneously have ~90,000 BTU blowing out windows, walls, roofs etc.... and that gas expands due to increase in temperature..

That would explain why firefighters would be pretty upset when that stuff starts cooking-off while they're trying to put the fire out.

 

[cueinco]

I did call my insurance agent (State Farm) and asked about coverage in case of indoor storage. Her response was "I hate to think of what's in my garage". She said that in my case it wouldn't be an issue. She mentioned that gas cans, cars, etc. are generally stored in the garage. So, I'll have to consider where I'm going to keep them. You hate to be too crazy but I would like to be safe.

 

[Bearcarver]

From "Bernzomatic" site:
Never drop, throw or puncture fuel cylinders. Store fuel cylinders away from living spaces, out of reach of children and away from ignition sources. Do not leave in direct sunlight. Never store at temperatures above 120 degrees F (49 degrees C).


Bear

 

[hillbillyrkstr]

This seems to have gotten a little lot of hand. You actually called your insurance company???

Garage, shed, or barn will work. I’m honestly not even sure where mine are right now. Ones in the barn cause I used it Sunday evening. Other one is MIA. Probably in the garage.

Don’t lose any sleep over this. Warning labels on everything these days. I’m surprised each individual Apple you buy at the store doesn’t have a choking hazzard label on them. The world we live in is a joke.

Scott

 

[SonnyE]

:rolleyes: Where do the stores store theirs? o_O (Yeah, right there where the customers can access them to put in their carts.)
Yep, you are way over thinking this.:p
The manufactures have to cover their butts, and I don't mean pork butts like we eat.
I'm talking pork butts that sit around thinking of verbiage to CTA's (Cover Their Asses).
Unless you are prone to arson as a means to moving or changing properties, it is unlikely you would ever have a problem.
Propane is a heavy gas. In a gaseous state, it flows across the ground and collects in low spots. So storing it in low area's, like a basement, is not recommended. Gasoline has similar properties.
Most people don't know it, but garages are not flat. They are graded to be slightly higher at the back wall and lower at the door so fumes will flow out of the area. Usually only about 1/2" of grade change, but it is enough.
Also, Firemen and Insurance companies expect flammables to exist in a garage. Besides the obvious cars or trucks, lawnmowers, chainsaws, gas weed whackers, paints, thinners, ... etc.
And even the typical propane torch that about 100 million people own... :confused:o_O:rolleyes:
Incidentally, if your water heater is in your garage, it typically is on a pedestal so it's pilot light is away from the fume path.

 

[chopsaw]

:rolleyes: Where do the stores store theirs? o_O (Yeah, right there where the customers can access them to put in their carts.)

Well ,, the placement of commercial flammable liquid storage is decided by the fire Marshall . It is also stored in a safety cage . Kept on record on a set of as Built drawings at the fire house . Customers should not be able to access the tanks without a certified employee .

Most people don't know it, but garages are not flat. They are graded to be slightly higher at the back wall and lower at the door so fumes will flow out of the area. Usually only about 1/2" of grade change, but it is enough.

1/8 to 1/4 of an inch per foot of run is code for garage floors depending on the area . All flat work runs away from the structure , but garages fall harder than a porch or patio . My garage falls 4 inches from the firewall to the door .

cueinco , it's good to be concerned , but I keep the small tanks like you talk about in a cabinet in my garage . Spare 20 lb is in my garage just inside the garage door .