Oxygen cylinders in storage shall be separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials by a minimum distance of how many feet?

Oxygen cylinders in storage shall be separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials by a minimum distance of how many feet?

• A. 5
• B. 10
• C. 20
• D. 50

Answer: (C)

Oxygen supports combustion, so keep it well separated from fuel-gas cylinders and other combustible materials to reduce the chance that a leak or heat source could ignite a fire. The minimum distance commonly required is twenty feet, which helps prevent oxygen enrichment near fuels and gives room for safe dispersion if a leak occurs. Some codes also allow equivalent separation by using a noncombustible barrier at least five feet high with a 30-minute fire-resistance rating, but twenty feet is the straightforward minimum in many OSHA guidelines. Five feet or ten feet is too close for forgiving ignition risk, while fifty feet is more than necessary.

Oxygen supports combustion, so keep it well separated from fuel-gas cylinders and other combustible materials to reduce the chance that a leak or heat source could ignite a fire. The minimum distance commonly required is twenty feet, which helps prevent oxygen enrichment near fuels and gives room for safe dispersion if a leak occurs. Some codes also allow equivalent separation by using a noncombustible barrier at least five feet high with a 30-minute fire-resistance rating, but twenty feet is the straightforward minimum in many OSHA guidelines. Five feet or ten feet is too close for forgiving ignition risk, while fifty feet is more than necessary.