BBQ Safety & Gas Bottle Storage
Proper gas bottle storage and BBQ safety can make for an accident free and enjoyable BBQ season. Gas bottles must be stored upright, secured from falling, and outdoors, away from any ignition sources. BBQ safety starts with regular gas leak checks.
Let’s review BBQ safety and safe gas bottle storage for a safe BBQ season…
BBQ Safety – Gas Bottle Storage Regulations
BBQ gas bottle safety and gas bottle storage regulations include:
- Safe BBQ gas bottle storage
BBQ gas bottle handling- BBQ gas bottle operation
- Transporting BBQ gas bottles
- Protecting BBQ gas bottles from falling or impact
- Gas bottles in bushfires
- Gas bottle fittings
- How many gas bottles can I transport in my car?
- Can I store gas bottles indoors?
BBQ Gas Bottle Safety Checklist – A Quick Summary:
- Perform soapy water BBQ leak test every time you attach a fresh full BBQ gas bottle, for BBQ gas bottles safety
- BBQ gas bottle safe storage should be done outdoors in a well ventilated space
- BBQ gas bottle safe storage should never be indoors for gas bottle safety
- BBQ gas bottles safe storage should always be upright and secured from falling – Never lay a BBQ gas bottle on its side
- BBQ gas bottle safe storage should not be near an ignition source for gas bottle safety
- Always keep BBQ gas bottles cool and away from flames, sparks & heat
- Detach the BBQ gas bottle and store it separately outdoors, if BBQ or heater is stored indoors
- BBQ gas fittings and BBQ gas hose fittings should be inspected for damage or deterioration before each use
- Always turn gas off at the BBQ gas bottle, when finished with use
- Do not use undue force to open or close the BBQ gas bottle valve
- Transport BBQ gas bottles secured and upright in the boot, not in the passenger compartment for gas bottle safety
- Do not transport more than two 9kg BBQ gas bottles at a time and make sure the valves are closed
9 BBQ Gas Bottle Safety Tips
1. BBQ Gas Bottle Safety – Soapy Water Leak Test for BBQ Gas Bottles
It is important to regularly leak test your BBQ gas bottle, gas regulator and hose for BBQ gas bottles safety.
Soapy water leak test detects leaks from these items are frequently the cause of BBQ gas fires.
How to Soapy Water Leak Test for Gas Bottle Safety:
To do the soapy water leak test, start by putting some soapy water in a spray bottle.
Turn on the gas bottle without turning on the BBQ.
Next, spray the entire valve, gas regulator and hose assembly with the soapy water.
Bubbles will form if there is a gas leak and you may also smell the gas.
When done, rinse with clean water to remove the soap solution.
For more details, please see: BBQ Gas Leak Test
2. How To Attach or Change Your BBQ Gas Bottle Safely
You should know the correct way to change gas bottles for gas bottle safety.
Connecting & Disconnecting: The male connector of a POL gas regulator has a reverse or left-handed thread.
The newish LCC27 connectors have normal right hand threads.
So, to detach, you turn it clockwise and then anti-clockwise to re-attach for older POL connectors.
Turn it anti-clockwise to disconnect and then clockwise to re-attach for LCC27 connectors.
For full step-by-step instructions, please see: How to Attach or Change Your BBQ Gas Bottle
3. Turn Your BBQ Off at the Gas Bottle First for BBQ Gas Bottle Safety
The best BBQ gas bottles safety practice is to get onto the habit of turning your BBQ off at the gas bottle first for safety.
This does three important things.
First, it ensures that you don’t completely forget to close the gas bottle valve.
It also uses up all of the gas remaining in the gas lines so you are safely storing your BBQ with no remnant gas remaining in the unit.
More importantly, it eliminates the possibility of leaks from all of the burners and the gas regulator connection while in storage.
Please see: Turn Your BBQ Off at the Gas Bottle First
4. BBQ Gas Bottle Safety – LPG Gas Cylinder Safety to Prevent BBQ Gas Fires
For BBQ gas bottles safety, you should visually inspect the hose for cracking, splitting or other damage.
The real culprit in gas BBQ fires is typically the hose or BBQ gas regulator.
Hoses and gas regulators deteriorate with age and can start leaking.
It’s the gas coming from these leaks that ignites and causes the vast majority of BBQ fires.
You should inspect the gas regulator for damage, paying special attention to the part that screws into the gas cylinder.
It should be clean, undamaged and if it has rubber O-rings, they also need to be undamaged.
Please watch this 30 second BBQ Gas Bottle Safety Video:
5. Safe Storage for BBQ Gas Bottle Safety
It is best to store gas bottles outdoors in a safe, well ventilated space, for gas bottle safety.
It is not safe to store BBQ gas bottles indoors.
BBQ gas bottles should always be stored upright and safe from any ignition source.
When connected, it should be on the gas bottle hook, shelf or on flat ground but never hanging by the hose.
For safe storage of your BBQ or patio heater indoors, when not in use, you should always detach the gas bottle first and store it separately outdoors
6. Where to Place Your BBQ for Use is Part of BBQ Gas Bottle Safety
BBQ gas bottles safety includes adequate ventilation, which is essential when using a BBQ to allow the gas to burn and burnt gases to dissipate.
BBQs should NEVER be used indoors because of the risk of toxic fumes, smoke or even fire.
BBQs should never be used near flammable objects and children should be kept safe, away from the gas BBQ and gas bottles.
In the event of bushfires, make sure you point the pressure relief valve safely away from flammable materials (see image).
7. BBQ Emergency Procedures for Gas Bottle Safety
If any leakage from the valve of a gas bottle is detected or suspected, move the BBQ gas bottle safely away to a location at least 20 meters from any possible source of ignition for gas bottle safety.
Check valve is turned off. Keep away from flames and sparks and hose with water.
If it is not possible to stop the leak, keep the leak uppermost so that only gas, and not liquid, escapes.
Keep hands and face away from any escaping gas or liquid.
In an emergency dial 000 for Fire Brigade or Police
8. Charcoal vs Propane Health Issues
A big problem with charcoal is that it emits almost 3 times the amount of CO2 that is produced when you use LPG (Propane).
This greenhouse gas depletes the ozone layer which, in turn, increases the risk of skin cancers.
Charcoal is also derived from biomass and creates much more smoke and particulates.
Both have adverse health effects.
A scientific study also revealed that meats grilled with charcoal contained more carcinogens than meat heated with LPG.
These carcinogens are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – PAHs.
Charcoal also burns hotter, charring the meat and creating HCA (heterocyclic amines), which is yet another carcinogen.
So, LPG grilling is arguably healthier than using charcoal.
9. What is the Best Gas BBQ for Gas Bottle Safety
What is the best gas BBQ for gas bottle safety?
The best gas BBQ is the safest gas BBQ.
The same is true for best small gas BBQ and best outdoor gas grills.
This means a BBQ that has a safety certification label and is well maintained.
Everything else falls under the category of convenience features.
So remember to maintain your BBQ in safe condition.
Now that you know how to stay safe…
16 BBQ Cooking Tips for Great Grilling
1. Ice it, Cook it or Eat it
Keep it clean and keep it cold until you cook it or eat it.
Practice good food safety and preparation.
2. Oil Me Up!
You should always season the grill.
Pre-heat the clean grill and coat with cooking oil, using a brush or spray.
Close the grill and allow it to sit for about 20 minutes then wipe the grill clean with a fresh damp cloth.
The concept is the same as the seasoning of a cast iron fry pan.
3. To Be or Not to Be Open… That is the Question
So, how do you position the BBQ lid?
Just as some things are cooked on the kitchen cooktop and some in the oven, the type of food you are cooking will determine if you leave the BBQ lid up or down.
Generally speaking, do what you would do if you were cooking indoors.
4. Now We’re Cooking – Outside In
Steaks, burgers, and veggies, that need to be seared or cooked from the outside inward, should be placed directly over the burners.
A little olive oil brushed on the steak will prevent it from sticking.
Do NOT use salt on the meat before cooking, as it draws out the moisture and makes the meat dry.
If you do salt it as you start cooking, use coarse salt to get a nice salty crust.
A bit of coarse black pepper can be nice, too.
5. Stunning Striped Steaks
Always pre-heat the grill and take the meat out of the refrigerator about 15 minutes before cooking.
Sear the meat for 90 seconds on high heat and then rotate it 1/8 of a turn (45 degrees) and sear again.
This will give it an attractive crosshatch pattern, assuming you are not cooking on a flat plate grill, and help seal in the natural juices.
Remember to reduce heat to normal cooking temperature after searing.
6. I Need My Space
You should only turn the meat once. Be patient!
The meat needs room, too. Don’t overcrowd the grill or it can heat unevenly.
There should be at least 2cm between the pieces of meat.
Also, make sure you have enough gas so that the cooking session is uninterrupted.
7. No Poking, Prodding or Mashing
To retain the natural juices, don’t poke holes in the meat! This includes piercing the sausage skins.
Use long handled tongs or spatulas instead of BBQ forks.
Also, don’t mash down on meat and burgers, as it forces out the natural juices and leaves you with dried out meat.
8. Leave Me Alone… I’m Resting
Let your grilled meat “rest” for five minutes after cooking, covered loosely with foil, to ensure more tender and juicy results.
Letting the meat rest also applies to roasts and other cooked meats, as well.
9. Slow Cooking – Inside Out
Whole chickens, roasts, and most fish fillets require indirect heat.
Try preheating the grill with all burners then, when the grill is hot, turn off one side of grill, put the slow cooking food over the unlit burners and close the lid.
In effect, it becomes an oven. This will help cook the meat evenly, browning it while keeping it juicy and tender.
Use a meat thermometer, where appropriate, to determine when it is done.
10. Pouch Protector Preparation
You can use aluminium foil to create little cooking pouches for delicate foods, like fish fillets.
Cook away from the lit burners or place the pouch on the warming rack, if you have one.
11. Warm & Wonderful
You can toast bread, cook delicate foods or just keep cooked food warm by using your warming rack.
12. I’m Smokin’!!!
Wood chip smoke can enhance the flavour of your food.
You put the wood chips in a steel smoker box or in a small aluminium foil tray within the BBQ.
Hickory is a good all-round choice, if you are just starting.
Smoker boxes and wood chips can be found at BBQ specialty stores. Follow the wood chip supplier’s instructions.
13. Leftover Pizza?
Did you know that a gas grill is the perfect way to reheat pizza?
Just set the BBQ on low, preheat, put the pizza directly on the grill and close the lid.
Heat until cheese starts to melt.
14. Flare Up? Lid Down!
Use lean cuts of meat and/or trim away the fat to reduce the chance of flare ups.
Make sure the grease tray is empty before you start, too. Very high temperatures should also be avoided.
However, if it does happen, flip down the grill lid and turn OFF all burners and the gas bottle, if safe to do so.
When the flare up is over, you can resume cooking.
NEVER spray water on BBQ flare ups or on any grease fire.
15. Marvelous Marinated Meat
For more intense or varied flavours, consider using meat marinades.
You marinate the meat before you BBQ, as instructed by the marinade maker or recipe.
You can use large freezer bags for marinating.
Just put in the meat and marinade, seal and shake. Refrigerate, shaking it occasionally, until you’re ready to BBQ.
Make sure you drain off any excess marinade before cooking and do NOT pour it over the meat while cooking.
16. A Little Something on the Side
If your BBQ is equipped with a side burner, you can use it just like a kitchen cooktop.
This adds to the selection of dishes you can choose to cook outdoors.
Eric Hahn has over a decade of experience in the LPG industry and has become a key figure in shaping how LPG is marketed and communicated. As the creator of one of the world’s first LPG blogs, Eric has authored over 200 technical posts, helping educate and inform the industry and consumers.
Eric has served on multiple committees for Gas Energy Australia and the World LPG Association (WLPGA), contributing to important discussions and advancements within the global LPG sector. He has presented at WLPGA Annual Conferences, sharing his expertise as a speaker, panellist, and panel chair.
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Steve Reynolds
Technical Consultant
Steve Reynolds is a leading expert in the LPG industry with over 22 years of experience. As part of the national management team at ELGAS, Steve ensures the safe and efficient storage, handling, and transportation of LPG. He serves as the lead investigator for incidents and collaborates with authorities on industry developments.
Steve is a technical advisor to Standards Australia and Gas Energy Australia (GEA), and an active member of the World LPG Association (WLPGA), contributing to global standards and technical reviews. He holds a BSc. (Hons) in Industrial Chemistry from UNSW and has held senior safety and technical roles at ELGAS, making him a trusted authority in LPG safety and standards.