Gasoline and diesel fuel are required to power automobiles, generators, and other heavy-duty equipment. So, Carrying extra fuel might help you be ready for emergencies or harsh weather.
However, because gasoline and diesel are very explosive, some safety precautions must be taken when storing additional fuel.
Follow this step-by-step guide to guarantee safe gasoline and diesel fuel handling and storage.
Step-by-Step Guide to Properly Store Fuel in A Jerry Can
Check Local Regulations and Fire Codes
If you’re considering storing extra gas or diesel fuel in a jerry can, check your local legislation to ensure storage amount and capacity allowances.
Gasoline is classified as a Class 1 flammable liquid by the NFPA-National Fire Protection Association, and ordinary diesel fuel is classified as a Class 2 flammable liquid. Although the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Fire Code (IFC) have created rules for the safe storage and use of flammables, these guidelines are only mandatory once adopted by a federal, state, or local body.
OSHA, on the other hand, has developed the required requirements. Refer to OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.106 and 29 CFR 1926.152 for particular storage requirements and advice on the safe storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids.
Only Use Approved Containers
According to OSHA, only portable tanks, authorized safety cans, or containers approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT), Factory Mutual (FM), or Underwriter Laboratory (UL) should be used to store fuel.
Approved fuel containers usually have a label or text saying that they fulfill the DOT or other safety standards and numerous safety features such as automatic pressure vents, flash arrestor screens, tight-fitting lids, and a robust base.
Fuel containers are frequently color-coded based on the sort of fuel they are intended to hold:
- Red: Gasoline
- Blue: Kerosene
- Yellow: Diesel
- Green: Oil
Carefully Fill the Fuel Container
When filling a fuel container, keep your face away from the nozzle and at least 50 feet away from potential ignite sources such as heat, electricity, or sparks.
The American Petroleum Institute recommends filling the container at most 95 percent full to allow for expansion. Close and seal the container tightly, then note the fill date to ensure the fuel is used before it expires.
Add Fuel Stabilizer
Fuel stabilizers aid in the prevention of chemicals and microbiological growth on the gas. If you aren’t going to use the fuel within 30 days, make sure to put the necessary amount of stabilizer in the gas can, then add fresh fuel and close the top.
Fuel additives can help keep fuel in storage for up to two years.
Benefits Of Using Jerry Can
More Robust
Steel is more corrosion and rust-resistant than plastic but is also more heavy-duty. This raises the risk of contamination, particularly if the cans contain hazardous compounds.
Plastic jerry can manufacturers also put their goods through a series of endurance tests to establish their limits. As long as they adhere to the suggested capacity limit given by the jerry can companies, users may be assured that their containers will not leak or burst.
Less Expensive
Metal is often more expensive than plastic due to the difficulties in acquiring its fundamental materials. Buying a quality jerry can is a better investment since you get more bang for your buck because it lasts longer and costs less for each piece.
You might alternatively buy a recycled plastic container, which is usually less expensive. Just keep in mind what it was initially intended for. For example, even if the container has been cleaned and sanitized before the sale, avoid storing water in a can that previously held a hazardous chemical, as this will contaminate your water.
Re-usability
Plastic jerry cans offer a longer shelf life. Significantly, any other type of material may only be used three times before it must be completely discarded. This implies that firms will have to spend significant money on replacement and repair expenditures.
Conversely, plastic may be recycled and reused more than 50 times before being discarded. As a result, the latter strategy makes greater commercial sense.
Lighter
Plastic, for example, is lighter than metal. As a result, plastic jerry cans are more portable than steel jerry cans. Even if an empty steel can is just slightly heavier than an empty plastic can, the weight difference may influence loaded container shipment.
A delivery truck, for example, may handle more Plastic Jerrycans (Jerigen Plastik) filled with gasoline than steel Jerrycans since each container’s additional weight adds to the consignment’s overall weight.
Minimizing Space
Did you know that stacking empty plastic cans can save up to 76% of your needed space? Empty cans nest inside one another due to their great design, allowing you to save money on the return transportation of empty packing. Even with the lid closed, the bins can be stacked. When the lid is unfastened, the bins nest together, saving space for storage or transit.
Moisture-Resistant
The can is impenetrable to water. When submerged in water, they have no detrimental consequences. Plastic is frequently less expensive to transport than other materials because it does not need to be loaded and thus takes up less space.
Bottomline
Many safety warnings associated with gasoline are so broad or harsh that most people disregard them. However, there are real dangers.
One cup of gasoline vapor has the explosive energy of five pounds of dynamite. That is why we use gasoline in the first place: its high energy density makes it an excellent portable fuel. That is why a gallon of it can propel a two-ton car for more than 25 kilometers.
Treat gasoline in your home with the same caution as a handgun.
That means keeping it in a strategic location, away from youngsters, away from things that could accidentally cause it to boom, and so on.