How to Store Petrol Safely at Home: Rules That Prevent Fires

When fuel is expensive or hard to find, some people are tempted to keep spare petrol at home. Petrol is extremely flammable, and fires from stored fuel injure people and destroy homes every year. This article explains the risks and the safe practices. The best advice is to store as little as possible, and in many cases to store none.

Why petrol is so dangerous

The liquid itself does not burn. The vapour above it does, and petrol gives off vapour even at very low temperatures. The vapour is heavier than air, so it sinks and spreads along the floor, and it can travel a long way to a flame or spark, such as a pilot light, a switch, a cooker, a cigarette, a generator or even static electricity. When it ignites, the flame can flash back to the container. A closed room with a few litres of petrol can fill with enough vapour to explode.

Check the rules first

Many places limit the amount of fuel that individuals may keep, and some forbid storing it in residential buildings. Rules also apply to carrying fuel in vehicles. Check with your local authority and your insurer, because storing fuel against the rules can also affect insurance claims. If you are unsure, assume that you should not keep it indoors.

Use the right container

• Use a container made for fuel, made of suitable metal or heavy-duty plastic and clearly marked for petrol. These have tight caps and are tested for fuel.
• Never use drinks bottles, milk jugs, buckets or glass jars. Thin plastic can soften or leak, and a clear bottle looks like a drink, which has caused poisonings, particularly of children.
• Keep the cap tightly closed and check the container for cracks, rust and leaks.
• Label the container with the contents so nobody mistakes it for something else.
• Do not fill a container to the top. Leave some air space, since petrol expands as it warms.

How much is sensible

Keep the smallest amount that you need. A single container of a few litres for a lawn mower or a generator is very different from dozens of litres piled in a store room. The larger the quantity, the larger the fire. Do not build up a stock because you expect prices to rise. The savings are small compared with the risk, and petrol also goes stale.

Where to keep it

• Store it outside living areas, in a detached shed or a well-ventilated outdoor space that is shaded from direct sun.
• Keep it well away from anything that makes heat or sparks, including cookers, water heaters, electrical panels, generators and tools.
• Do not store it in a basement or in a cupboard inside the house, or in an attached garage with no ventilation, where vapour can collect.
• Keep it out of reach of children and animals and locked away if possible.
• Never keep it in the passenger part of a vehicle. Heat can build up quickly inside a parked car.

Handling and filling

Fill containers outdoors, on the ground, not on the back of a pickup or on carpet, so that static electricity can discharge safely. Keep the nozzle touching the container. Switch off any engine, generator or heater first, and let a hot engine cool completely before refuelling it. Do not smoke or use a phone near fuel. Wipe up small spills and let the vapour disperse before starting anything.

Do not use petrol for other jobs

Never use petrol to light a fire, clean clothes or floors, kill insects or start a stove. Many serious burns come from these habits. Do not siphon it by mouth, as swallowing petrol can be fatal.

How long does it keep

Petrol changes as it ages. Lighter parts evaporate and gum can form, so engines may run badly on old fuel. For a few weeks in a sealed container it is usually fine. Beyond a few months it is best to use it up in a car, not a delicate small engine. Do not mix old fuel into a tank in large amounts.

If something goes wrong

• Small spill: ventilate, remove ignition sources and absorb it with sand or an absorbent material. Dispose of the material safely.
• Fuel on skin or clothing: remove contaminated clothes and wash the skin with soap and water. Do not go near a flame while wet with fuel.
• Fire: do not use water on a petrol fire. Get everyone out and call the fire service. A suitable extinguisher may help with a very small fire, but do not take risks.
• Swallowed fuel or breathing problems: seek medical help immediately and do not induce vomiting.

A safer approach

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep petrol in my car's boot? A closed boot can fill with vapour, and heat builds up inside a parked vehicle. If you must transport fuel, use an approved container, keep it upright and secure, and take it out as soon as you arrive.

What about generators and lawn mowers? Switch them off and let them cool before refuelling, and fill them outdoors. Never refuel a hot or running engine.

How do I get rid of old petrol? Do not pour it down a drain, onto the ground or into a water source. Contact a local fuel station or your local authority and ask about safe disposal.

Talk to your household

Everyone in the home should know the rules, including children and anyone who helps with chores. Explain why fuel must never be near a flame, and what to do in an emergency. Keep the number for the fire service and a charged phone somewhere easy to find.

Buy fuel as you need it from a licensed station. This also protects you from poor-quality fuel, as we explain in what to do if a pump overcharges you. If you want to protect your budget, work out what you actually need each month with our monthly fuel cost method and check prices in our price table. Saving fuel through better habits, as described in our guide to fuel prices in Pakistan, is far safer than stockpiling it.