The REAC Guru Bulletin Board

Would it still be an issue of flammable items being improperly stored if gas canisters were found in a
unit left by a resident? Are there any areas that the gas canisters can be properly stored in a unit?

One way to think of this is: If the tank blew up and killed somebody, would it matter legally who left it there? If there a chance you and your company are going to be sued, then it really does not matter who put the tank there. For this kind of thing, start thinking of safety first and REAC sec You’ll survive a failed REAC inspection. You, or someone else, might not survive a gas tank exploding into flames.

The Flammable Materials defect is always a little hard to nail down otherwise. I’m going to say that, generally, any gasoline, propane, natural gas, or kerosene container found in a Unit or in the Common Areas of a building that contains Units should be cited. Now, gas canisters like small butane cans for
refilling a cigarette lighter, small propane tanks like for a hand held torch… those are okay as long as they are stored away from a source of ignition.

Rule of thumb: If you could toss it into your cart as you shop inside a grocery store or hardware store, and walk around the store, then check out and take it home… it’s probably okay to have it in your house.

But, if you think about propane tanks meant for a gas grille – every Home Depot and Lowes that has propane tanks keeps them in a cage outdoors. They have a sign at the door that says “leave your tank outside and we will have an associate assist you.” They don’t want that tank in their store and you do
not want it in your buildings.