How to Store CO₂

The best way to store CO₂ is upright in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area below 70°F, with tanks and cylinders secured by chains or straps to prevent tipping. Whether you’re managing a single cylinder or an entire inventory, proper storage prevents dangerous pressure buildup, product loss, and safety incidents.

WestAir provides carbon dioxide to its customers across California and Arizona.

How to Store CO₂ Tanks

Store CO₂ tanks upright in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources, secured with chains or straps to prevent tipping. By following these specific requirements, you can safely store your CO₂ tanks:

• Temperature: keep tanks below 70°F to prevent pressure buildup and safety valve releases.
• Securing: use chains or straps positioned two-thirds up the tank height.
• Distance from heat: store away from furnaces, boilers, and welding areas to prevent heat exposure. Check your local fire code for specific distance requirements.
• Ventilation: ensure adequate fresh air circulation, especially in enclosed storage areas with multiple tanks.
• Inventory separation: store full tanks apart from empties with clear marking.
• Signage: post compressed gas storage signs with emergency contacts.
• Protection from impact: position away from forklift routes and high-traffic areas.

Can CO₂ Tanks Be Stored Outside?

Yes, CO₂ tanks can be stored outside with proper weather protection and security measures. Outdoor storage provides excellent natural ventilation.

A covered cage protects from rain, sun, and theft. The covering prevents rust and temperature swings, and the cage keeps your inventory where it belongs.

Check outdoor temperatures, as direct sunlight can push tanks past safe limits – even on a 75°F day.

Use tank heaters when temperatures drop below freezing if your equipment needs consistent pressure. Cold won’t damage the tank itself, but pressure can drop below the 12-15 PSI your keg system or welder needs to function.

How to Store CO₂ Cylinders

Store CO₂ cylinders upright with valve protection caps in place, secured against walls or in racks, with full cylinders separated from empty ones. Following these guidelines keeps your team safe and your inventory organized.

Securing and Positioning CO₂ Cylinders

Always keep protective caps on cylinder valves when not in use. These caps prevent valve damage that could turn a cylinder into a projectile if the valve breaks off.

Secure cylinders with chains, straps, or purpose-built stands. A restaurant might chain a single cylinder to the wall behind the bar. A warehouse running 20 cylinders needs steel racks.

Keep cylinders away from electrical circuits and grounding sources. If a cylinder touches live electrical equipment, the current can burn through the cylinder wall and cause an explosion.

Store cylinders where oil and grease can’t reach them – especially the valve area. These substances can react violently with pressurized CO₂ under certain conditions.

Managing Full vs. Empty Cylinders

Separate your full and empty cylinders into clearly marked areas. This prevents accidentally connecting empty cylinders to your system and helps track when you need to reorder.

WestAir offers telemetry on bulk and packaged gases, so you don’t have to worry about running out of CO₂.

Label empty cylinders immediately after use with tags or “MT” (empty) markings. Move them to your designated empty storage area the same day to maintain accurate inventory.

Store specialty gas mixtures containing CO₂ separately from pure CO₂ cylinders. Different gas mixtures require different handling procedures and using the wrong one can damage equipment or create hazards.

How Long Can You Store CO₂ Cylinders?

CO₂ cylinders can be stored indefinitely if they pass regular inspections. Check the last hydrostatic test date stamped on each cylinder – they need retesting every 5 or 10 years depending on the cylinder type.

Inspect cylinders visually each time you move them. Look for dents, cuts, gouges, or excessive rust that could weaken the cylinder wall.

Rotate your cylinder inventory using a first-in, first-out system. Mark receipt dates on new cylinders to ensure older inventory gets used first.

Further Reading: What Are the Industrial Uses of Carbon Dioxide?

What Temperature Is Safe for CO₂ Storage?

Keep CO₂ tanks and cylinders below 70°F for safe storage, with 87.8°F being the critical temperature where CO₂ converts entirely to gas. These limits apply whether you’re storing tanks or cylinders, indoors or outside.

The 70°F recommendation gives you a safety buffer. Above this temperature, pressure increases rapidly inside the container, making handling more dangerous and increasing the chance of venting through relief valves.

At 87.8°F, liquid CO₂ can no longer exist – that’s the critical temperature. Above it, you’re dealing with a supercritical fluid and rapidly climbing pressure. Exceed the relief valve setting and the tank vents automatically. That’s wasted product and a real hazard in enclosed spaces.

Monitor storage temperatures daily during summer months or in facilities without climate control. A simple min/max thermometer shows if temperatures exceeded safe levels overnight or during weekends.

Also, warm CO₂ means flat beer, inconsistent welds, and false alarms on your pressure monitors.

Consider these factors for different environments:

• Warehouse storage: maintain HVAC between 60-68°F year-round.
• Outdoor cages: provide shade covering and ensure adequate ventilation.
• Delivery trucks: never leave cylinders in vehicles overnight during summer.
• Production floors: position them away from heat-generating equipment.

Cold won’t damage cylinders, but it kills pressure. At 0°F, you’re looking at roughly 490 PSI versus 850 PSI at 70°F. That pressure drop can affect performance in systems calibrated for warmer supply pressures.

Do You Need CO₂ Monitors in Storage Areas?

Yes, CO₂ monitors are required by OSHA, IFC, and NFPA codes for storage areas – CO₂ is odorless, colorless, and displaces oxygen at floor level where it accumulates. 

Mount monitors 12 inches from the floor in any enclosed space storing CO₂.

Set three alarm levels: 

• 5,000 PPM (ventilate and investigate)
• 15,000 PPM (increase ventilation immediately)
• 30,000 PPM (evacuate and call the fire department).

Use NDIR sensor monitors that trigger exhaust fans automatically when CO₂ levels rise. WestAir partners with CO2Meter, which offers monitors with these features plus remote displays.

Test monitors monthly and train staff on alarm responses. Portable monitors add extra protection for workers moving between areas.

Position remote displays outside storage areas so workers can check CO₂ levels before they enter. CO₂ incidents happen fast, and proper monitoring is your best protection.

The Bottom Line

Proper CO₂ storage comes down to these essentials: keep tanks and cylinders upright and secured below 70°F, separate full from empty inventory, and install monitors where required. These practices protect your team and prevent you from losing product due to venting.

Further Reading: Is Carbon Dioxide a Greenhouse Gas?

Tyler O'Brien

Tyler is a results-driven marketing professional specializing in the industrial gases and equipment industry, bringing his 10 years of technical expertise and digital marketing acumen to the complex industrial gas B2B environment.