Fuel storage safety

01 — Fuel at a glance

Each fuel has different safety requirements, shelf life, and storage location rules.

These are general recommended limits based on NFPA 30 and local fire codes. Your local jurisdiction may have stricter limits. Check with your local fire department if you are uncertain.

02 — Gasoline storage

Gasoline is the most commonly stored emergency fuel and the most mishandled. Two months without stabilizer and it begins degrading.

Gasoline starts to degrade in as little as 30 days through oxidation and ethanol phase separation. The result is gummy varnish deposits that clog fuel systems and prevent generators from starting. Without stabilizer, gasoline stored for a season is already compromised. With stabilizer added when fresh, gasoline can remain usable for a year or more.

• Add fuel stabilizer immediately when filling containers with fresh gasoline — not after it has been sitting.
• Label each container with the date filled.
• Use the oldest fuel first (in your generator, lawn equipment, or vehicle) and replace with fresh.
• If gasoline has a dark color, strong varnish smell, or visible sediment, dispose of it at a household hazardous waste facility. Do not add it to a fresh container of gas — old gas contaminates the new.
• Fill containers on the ground, not in the bed of a pickup truck or on a surface that could build static charge.

03 — Propane storage

Propane tanks store safely for the life of the cylinder — but location and orientation matter.

Propane does not degrade in a sealed cylinder. A properly maintained 20-pound grill tank can hold usable propane for years. The safety requirements are about the tank and its storage location, not the fuel's shelf life.

• Store propane cylinders outdoors. Tanks that contain propane — or have ever contained propane — must be stored outdoors. The relief valve on the main valve can open under temperature pressure, releasing propane vapor. Indoors, this creates an explosion risk.
• Store upright. Portable propane cylinders must be stored in an upright, vertical position to keep the relief valve above the liquid propane level.
• Keep away from heat and direct sunlight. High temperature increases internal pressure and can activate the relief valve. Store in shade if possible, in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep away from ignition sources — grills, open flames, electrical panels, hot water heaters, vehicle exhausts.
• Inspect cylinders for rust, denting, or corrosion before use. A severely corroded cylinder should be taken to a propane dealer for inspection and possible replacement.

04 — Kerosene storage and fuel rotation

Kerosene has a much longer shelf life than gasoline — but grade matters, and rotation still applies.

Only 1-K grade kerosene (the purest grade, with the lowest sulfur content) should be used in portable kerosene heaters. Lower-grade kerosene produces more smoke, soot, and odor, and can damage wicks. Store kerosene in approved blue containers (the color convention distinguishes it from red gasoline containers). Kerosene stored in a cool, dark location remains usable for 1 to 2 years without stabilizer, and up to 5 years with an annual dose of fuel stabilizer.

Fuel rotation principle applies to all stored fuels: use the oldest supply first, replace with fresh, track date of fill on every container. This prevents building up a cache of degraded fuel that fails to start equipment when an outage hits. A simple label on each container with the fill date is sufficient. Rotate gasoline every 3 to 12 months (depending on stabilizer), kerosene every 1 to 2 years, and diesel every 12 to 24 months.