Gas cylinder storage rules for Australian workshops: oxy-acetylene, LPG and shielding gas

Last reviewed 4 November 2026 · Sources linked below · Written by Jay at Andwat Co, an Australian boilermaker/fabricator (Cert III Engineering, 12+ years in the trade). About

How to store and handle gas cylinders in an Australian fab shop or on a welding ute: upright and restrained, outdoors in a cage where possible, 3 m between flammable and oxidising gases, 5 m from other dangerous goods, flashback arrestors, SDSs, placards and manifests, from WorkSafe QLD, the Safe Work Australia welding code and AS 4332.

Every fab shop has them: the oxy-acetylene set on a trolley, a couple of G-size argon mix bottles by the MIG, an LPG bottle for the heating torch, and spares leaning against the wall "for now". Gas cylinders are one of the easiest hazards to get used to and one of the worst when it goes wrong. A damaged valve can turn a cylinder into a projectile, a heated acetylene bottle can fail, and an oxygen leak makes everything near it burn harder. This guide pulls together what WorkSafe Queensland and the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice for welding processes say, in plain English for a small workshop or a mobile welder.

The short answer

Upright and restrained. Rack or chain every cylinder so it can't fall. Acetylene and LPG must stay upright.
Outdoors in a cage where possible, shaded from the sun, on the ground floor, never below ground level.
3 m between incompatible gases. Keep flammable gases (acetylene, LPG) away from oxidising gases (oxygen).
5 m from other dangerous goods such as flammable liquids, corrosives and diesel, or use fire-rated barriers.
3 m from combustible rubbish such as timber offcuts, cardboard and packaging.
Away from heat and ignition, with "No smoking" and "No naked lights" signs where flammable gas is used.
Valves closed when not in use, full and empty bottles kept apart, and flashback arrestors on oxy-fuel sets.
SDS for every gas, an up-to-date inventory, and placards or a manifest if you pass the WHS Regulation thresholds.

Why cylinders are a real hazard

WorkSafe Queensland lists the dangers: fire or explosion from flammable gases near ignition sources, intensified burning from oxidising gases like oxygen, asphyxiation from inert gases like argon, nitrogen and CO₂ that push oxygen out of the air, and the physical hazard of a damaged valve or a heated cylinder releasing gas fast or rupturing. Heavier-than-air gases such as LPG and CO₂ collect in pits and low spots. Big G and F size bottles are also heavy and awkward, so they're a manual handling hazard too.

The welding code adds a point every welder should know: fuel gas leaks usually smell, oxygen leaks don't, which makes oxygen leaks harder to pick up. If a small leak happens, close the cylinder valve if you can and ventilate the area. A big release is an emergency.

Where to store cylinders

WorkSafe Queensland's position is that gas cylinders should be stored outdoors, preferably in a secure cage protected from sunlight. Indoor storage isn't recommended unless the building was designed for it, with fire-rated walls and ventilation. Its general principles:

Don't build the store from combustible materials.
Put it on the ground floor, at least 5 m from other dangerous goods (classes 3 to 9) and combustible liquids like diesel.
Avoid below-ground storage, especially for flammable or asphyxiant gases, and be careful with heavier-than-air gases that pool in low areas.
Keep significant quantities away from places where the public gathers and from property boundaries.
If cylinders are inside, the area must be well ventilated; mechanical ventilation may be needed if natural ventilation isn't enough, designed so it doesn't ignite flammable gas.

For a small shop, a lockable mesh cage on a slab outside the roller door, with a roof for shade and separate bays for fuel and oxygen, ticks most of these boxes.

Segregation: keep fuel away from oxygen

WorkSafe Queensland says gas cylinders must be segregated from incompatible gases by at least 3 m, and recommends:

keeping class 2.1 flammable gases (acetylene, LPG, hydrogen) away from all oxidising gases (oxygen)
storing toxic and corrosive gases away from all other cylinders
using mutually compatible gases, such as non-flammable class 2.2 gases like argon or argon/CO₂ mix, as a buffer between incompatible ones.

Cylinders should also be kept at least 5 m from other hazardous chemicals, or behind suitable fire-rated barriers, because corrosives can damage cylinders and burning flammable liquids can spread fire to them. Where distance can't be achieved inside a cage, AS 4332 (The storage and handling of gases in cylinders) allows a non-combustible screen wall instead; check the standard for its height and construction requirements.

In practice this means an oxy-acetylene set shouldn't spend the night in the store with both bottles still chained side by side on the trolley. Many suppliers and safety advisers interpret AS 4332 to mean that once the job's done, the cylinders go back to their own bays. Check your supplier's guidance and the standard for your setup.

Handling and moving cylinders

Store them upright and secure them with a rack or a non-abrasive coated chain that won't scratch the markings.
Don't roll or drag them. Use a cylinder trolley with a restraining strap.
Don't knock them about. WorkSafe Queensland warns that acetylene may react violently after being excessively shaken, heated or knocked.
Don't use cylinders as rollers or as a bench, and don't stack things on top of them.
Wear eye protection, safety boots and gloves in storage and handling areas.
Keep cylinders clear of stairs, exits, ladders and walkways.

Oxy-fuel sets: arrestors, hoses and valves

The Safe Work Australia welding code's control measures for compressed and liquefied gases include:

keep cylinders maintained and free of leaks or dents
secure hoses with crimping or other suitable permanently fitting clips
fit flashback arrestors at the blowpipe and regulator ends of both the oxygen and fuel gas lines
keep the cylinder valve closed when the cylinder isn't being used
keep heat and ignition sources away from all cylinders, even non-flammable ones.

The code also notes acetylene cylinders have a fusible plug in the neck and must always be stored and used upright. WorkSafe ACT adds that flashback arrestors must suit the gas and equipment, should comply with AS 4603, and should be inspected and tested by a competent person every 12 months. Put that date in your plant register so it doesn't get missed.

Oxy-cutting and heating is hot work, so the usual permit and fire-watch controls apply as well. See our hot work permit guide.

Paperwork: SDSs, inventory, placards and manifests

Most compressed gases are hazardous chemicals under the WHS rules, so the paperwork side matters too. WorkSafe Queensland says to:

get an SDS from the supplier for each gas, keep them in a register close to the workers who use the gas, and make them available to emergency services
do and record a risk assessment and write simple procedures for storing and handling cylinders
keep an accurate, up-to-date inventory and keep quantities as low as possible, rotating stock first-in, first-out
have an emergency plan covering gas leaks, fire and explosion.

Thresholds kick in as quantities grow. Above the placarding quantities in Schedule 11 of the WHS Regulation, you need class diamond placards (at least 100 mm) at the store and building entrances, and a "HAZCHEM" outer warning placard visible from every entrance. Above the manifest quantities in Schedule 12, you need an emergency services manifest and site plan, ideally in a red weatherproof box at the main entrance, and in Queensland you must notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. A small shop with a few bottles is usually well under these quantities, but check the schedules if you hold a lot of LPG or have a bulk tank.

If you're setting up the register for the first time, our hazardous chemicals register guide explains what has to be on it.

Gas on a welding ute

Mobile welders carry the same hazards in a smaller space. Keep cylinders upright and restrained in an open, ventilated tray or rack, keep the valves closed when not in use, and don't leave bottles in a closed vehicle in the sun. Transport of dangerous goods has its own rules, so check your state regulator and your gas supplier's carrying guidance before you load up. Our mobile welder SWMS guide covers the on-site side.

A 5-minute cylinder check for your shop

Every cylinder upright and chained or racked?
Fuel gases at least 3 m from oxygen, or behind a suitable screen wall?
Store outdoors or properly ventilated, shaded, and at least 3 m from rubbish and timber?
Full and empty bottles in separate, marked spots?
Oxy-fuel sets fitted with arrestors at both ends, and arrestor test dates current?
SDS on file for every gas, and the inventory matches what's in the cage?
"No smoking / No naked lights" signs up where flammable gas is used?

Quick answers

How far apart do oxygen and acetylene cylinders need to be stored?

WorkSafe Queensland says gas cylinders must be segregated from incompatible gases by at least 3 m, and recommends keeping class 2.1 flammable gases such as acetylene and LPG away from all oxidising gases such as oxygen. AS 4332 also allows a suitable non-combustible screen wall where the distance can't be achieved; check the standard for the details.

Can I store gas cylinders inside my workshop?

WorkSafe Queensland says cylinders should be stored outdoors, preferably in a secure cage protected from sunlight, and that indoor storage isn't recommended unless the building was designed for it with fire-rated walls and adequate ventilation.

Do gas cylinders have to be stored upright?

Yes for acetylene and LPG. The Safe Work Australia welding code says cylinders should be stored upright so the safety device works, and that acetylene cylinders must always be stored and used upright. WorkSafe Queensland says to store cylinders upright and secure them against falling.

Do I need flashback arrestors on an oxy-acetylene set?

The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice for welding processes says flashback arrestors should be fitted at both the blowpipe and regulator ends of the oxygen and fuel gas lines. WorkSafe ACT says they should comply with AS 4603 and be inspected and tested by a competent person every 12 months.

Do gas cylinders go on my hazardous chemicals register?

Gases classified as hazardous chemicals are covered by the WHS hazardous chemicals rules. WorkSafe Queensland says to get an SDS from the supplier for each gas, keep it in a register, keep an up-to-date inventory, and that placards and an emergency services manifest are needed once stored quantities pass the thresholds in Schedules 11 and 12 of the WHS Regulation.

Sources

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General information only, summarised from the official sources above as at the review date. It isn't legal, tax, WHS or engineering advice. Rules change and your situation may differ, so check the source or ask a professional.