Did you know? Use by and storage.

While completing a forklift verification of competence (VOC) or conducting a forklift licence course with experienced drivers, it’s too often the case that the trainees are un aware of the stamped date on the LPG bottle. Not only does this date go unnoticed but there are misconceptions about what has expired and when.

The date stamp does not mean the gas inside expires since LPG – Propane does not have a shelf life. The date stamp refers to either the bottles manufacture date, or, if there is more than one date, the later date indicates when the bottle underwent a safety inspection.

The only limiting factor to shelf life is the gas bottle itself. Gas bottles should be thoroughly inspected every 10 years and either placed back into service or removed completely from use. Bottles do not contain water or oxygen internally so they are unlikely to rust from the inside. If kept clean and stored correctly in a cool dry place, bottles can last for up to 30 years even though some rust may appear on the outside.

There is considerable information about the correct storage of gas bottles including the use of lockable storage cabinets, location and positioning (see our blog – How often do you see this?).

The regulations below contain valuable information on this subject.