This is concerned with Cylinder Installation Requirements, specifically with what locations and layouts are suitable for the cylinders themselves. There are two Irish standards covering this: I.S. 813, Domestic Gas Installations (particularly annex B), and I.S. 820, Non-Domestic Gas Installations (again, particularly annex B).

The following is a summary of the main safety items involved: it is an interpretation of the relevant sections of those standards; while every attempt has been made to ensure its accuracy at the time of writing, no liability is assumed and you must refer to the standards for definitive guidance. It does not cover aspects of the installation other than cylinders (e.g. it does not cover pipework or appliances), it does not cover tanks (cylinders have a maximum capacity of 150 litres), and it does not cover the storage of cylinders at dealers' or distributors' premises. Further design information is also covered in the standards. For more information on obtaining or interpreting these standards, see Irish LPG Standards.

This is divided into the following sections:

Requirements Common to All Cylinder Installations

Requirements Specific to Domestic Cylinder Installations
Domestic installations are supplies to a household.

Requirements Specific to Non-Domestic
Cylinder Installations
e.g. factories, restaurants, hotels.

Requirements Specific to Non-Domestic Cylinder Installations in Purpose-Designed Recesses
In certain cases, cylinders can be recessed into an external wall.

Requirements Specific to Non-Domestic
Cylinder Installations on Rooftops
Again in certain cases, cylinders can be installed on flat roofs.

Requirements For Using Butane and
Propane Cylinders Indoors

In general, Butane cylinders are used indoors and fitted directly to appliances such as cookers and cabinet heaters via a click-on regulator and short length of hose (see Requirements For Using Butane and Propane Cylinders Indoors for the conditions for their use indoors). Butane cylinders are also used outdoors for barbecues (note that they may not give satisfactory service outdoors at temperatures below 0^oC). Propane cylinders are generally located outdoors, connected to a fixed manifold, and piped from there to the various appliances such as central heating boilers, gas fires, and catering equipment. Propane cylinders are only allowed indoors when supplying portable equipment in non-domestic premises and again are subject to conditions in Requirements For Using Butane and Propane Cylinders Indoors.

We have an explanatory page on cylinder regulators which will help on their identification and the correct use, and also one on the correct type and use of various types of LPG Hoses. Please contact us if you need any further clarification!

Requirements Common to All Cylinder Installations

Apart from Propane cylinders supplying PORTABLE equipment in non-domestic premises, Propane cylinders should be located outdoors in an above-ground, well-ventilated area where any gas leakage can safely disperse, never indoors or below ground level or in sunken depressions. Note both Butane and Propane gases are heavier than air, leakages of gas will tend to sink to the lowest level.

Cylinders should not be located where they may be subject to temperatures in excess of 40^oC. Where the cylinders are located up against a building wall, it should be two hours fire-resistant. They must not obstruct passageways or exits, and the area around them must be kept clear (particularly of flammables, e.g. rubbish). They may not be kept or used under stairways. The cylinders must be kept the following distances from the hazards listed:

Minimum separation in metres	Feature or Hazard
1.0	Windows; doors; air vents; balanced-flue outlets; trapped drains
1.5	Parked motor vehicle; fixed sources of ignition; unprotected electrical equipment; flammable or combustible material
3.0	Untrapped drain or unsealed gully; bund wall for oil tanks; openings to cellars or basements; corrosive, toxic or oxidizing materials
6.0	Mechanical air intakes
Note: Openings into chimneys or air intakes shall be at least 1.0 m above the top of any cylinder. Other openings shall be at least 0.3 m above the top of any cylinder.

Propane Cylinders must be located on a firm and level surface and precautions taken to prevent them falling over, such as chaining the cylinder collar to a wall or using a close-fitting cage or hood. A cage may be required to prevent deliberate or inadvertent interference (e.g. where there is uncontrolled access to the cylinders). A cage or guard may be necessary if the cylinders would otherwise be exposed to vehicular impact. Cages must be non-combustible with high and low level ventilation. The cylinders should be oriented so that the pressure relief valve of one cylinder does not point at another cylinder.

Dust caps should be fitted to all unconnected cylinders, whether empty or full, Butane or Propane. Cylinders should always be used and stored in an upright position.

For Propane cylinders, Automatic Changeover Regulators (which switch to reserve cylinder(s) when the main cylinder(s) run out) are recommended in all cases: they ensure continuity of supply and avoid the need to have unconnected spare cylinders. It is also recommended that, where there are more than two cylinders connected to a manifold, "Super Safe" pigtails (hoses) are fitted (these have an excess-flow valve at one end and a backcheck valve at the other end) - refer to LPG Hoses if necessary. Do NOT make up your own pigtails, obtain them from a reputable supplier.

Where two or more cylinders are connected to a manifold, a main isolation valve should be fitted to the outlet of the manifold.

Requirements Specific to Domestic Cylinder Installations

In addition to Requirements Common to All Cylinder Installations:

If you have propane cylinders supplying your installation and they are located in an enclosed yard, no more than six cylinders are permitted. In addition, the yard must have a minimum area of 30 m², unless all the pigtails / hoses are "SuperSafe" ones (these have an excess-flow valve at one end and a backcheck valve at the other end - refer to LPG Hoses if necessary), when the minimum area is reduced to 15 m².

Requirements Specific to Non-Domestic Cylinder Installations

In addition to Requirements Common to All Cylinder Installations:

Cylinders shall not be located within 3 m of any fire exit from a building. Cylinders in an escape route or passageway from a fire exit shall not reduce the width of the route to less than the width of the building exit. Suitable access to the cylinders for the emergency (fire) services shall be provided.

Cylinders shall be kept the following distances from boundaries:

Total quantity of LPG in Kgs	Minimum Separation Distance - metres from nearest cylinder to boundary
	(a) No fire wall provided	(b) From fire wall	(c) From fire wall forming part of a building
15 - 400	1.0	NIL	NIL
400 - 1000	3.0	NIL	1.0
Note: The distance from the nearest cylinder to a boundary shall not be less than the distance given in column (a) when measured around the fire wall.

Requirements Specific to Non-Domestic Cylinder Installations in Purpose-Designed Recesses

Some non-domestic premises do not have a yard in which they can locate their cylinders. It may be possible to build a recess, from the outside, into one of it's outside walls for locating the cylinders, sealed off from the inside of the building. In this case, the following requirements must be met:

It must comply with the Requirements Common to All Cylinder Installations. The location must be notified in writing to the appropriate fire authority.

The recess shall be at ground-floor level and for the exclusive use of housing LPG cylinders. The recess may contain a maximum of eight cylinders (400 Kg gas). The maximum depth of the recess shall be 0.8m (i.e. only one or two cylinders deep).

The floor, ceiling and the dividing walls between the recess and the rest of the building shall be brick or concrete, be non-combustible, and be of not less than four hours fire resistance. Access to the recess shall only be from outside the building. Any pipe entries shall be suitably fire-stopped to maintain the four hours fire resistance.

The recess must have permanent unobstructed ventilation to the outside equal to half the area of the floor, either via openings in the doors or by leaving gaps above and below the doors. Where necessary, the openings should be protected against unwarranted access, such as by means of 50 mm x 50 mm mesh.

Cylinders shall not be located within 3 m of any fire exit from a building. Cylinders in an escape route or passageway from a fire exit shall not reduce the width of the route to less than the width of the building exit. Suitable access to the cylinders for the emergency (fire) services shall be provided.

Requirements Specific to Non-Domestic Cylinder Installations on Rooftops

Where no alternative location is possible, cylinders may be installed on rooftops provided the following requirements are met:

Requirements For Using Butane and Propane Cylinders Indoors

In domestic premises, propane cylinders should never be used or kept indoors.

In non-domestic premises, propane cylinders are only permitted indoors if (a) they are supplying portable or mobile equipment, (b) access by the public must be restricted, (c) they must be used under supervision, and (d) they must be removed outdoors when not supervised (e.g. the end of a working day).

In domestic premises, butane cylinders may be used indoors provided (a) the cylinder valves are self-closing (all Flogas butane cylinders have self-closing valves), (b) the capacity of the cylinder is not greater than 15 Kg (all Flogas butane cylinders are below this), (c) the number of cylinders is kept to a minimum, and (d) the cylinders are well-ventilated and NOT below ground level.

In non-domestic premises, butane cylinders are only permitted indoors where (a) an outdoor propane supply is not possible, (b) the cylinder valves are self-closing (all Flogas butane cylinders have self-closing valves), (c) the capacity of the cylinder is not greater than 15 Kg (all Flogas butane cylinders are below this), (d) the number of cylinders is kept to a minimum not exceeding four in one building, (e) a fire detection system is provided in the part of the building that the cylinders are used, (f) the cylinders are well-ventilated and NOT below ground level, (g) access to the cylinders is controlled, and (h) the part of the premises where the cylinders are located is clearly shown on any notification or plans submitted to the regulatory or fire authorities. In certain circumstances, consideration should be given to enclosing the cylinders to provide protection in the event of fire and the installation of a gas detection system.

Please note that the use of cylinders indoors may be subject to other restrictions such as legislation and codes of practice issued by the Health and Safety Authority and the Department of Environment and Local Government.

Click here to view a diagram showing the distance requirements