Carrying Gas Canisters in the Car

Although the winter months are coming to an end, there is still a chill in the air, and many people in Spain still rely on bottled gas to heat their homes, and many more rely on bottled gas for cooking.

Although the gas supply companies will deliver the bottles to your home, many people find it more convenient to pick up their own supply at many of the outlets across the country, exchanging the empty bottles for full ones, but in order to do this, we have to think about the safety and security implications of carrying a potentially lethal canister.

Depending on their size and weight, the canisters can be very heavy as they are filled with pressurised gas. At home, care should be taken as to where they are stored, in well ventilated places, away from heat and ignition sources, far away from toxic materials and always in an upright position.

In the car, it is equally crucial to take the necessary steps to ensure your safety and the safety of other road users.

Spanish law states that you can carry 2 gas bottles in the car, and they must be carried in an upright, vertical position. You must also take necessary measure to ensure that the canisters are secured in the vehicle and cannot move during the journey.

The law also states that when you are carrying gas canisters, it is forbidden to park the vehicle in an underground car park.

You should also check with your local supply company for their recommendations for storage and carriage, as gas canisters can pose a major threat if not handled correctly, but are perfectly safe if the advice is followed.

Here is the Royal Decree which relates to carrying Gas in the car…

Real Decreto 919/2006, de 28 de julio, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento técnico de distribución y utilización de combustibles gaseosos.

Centros de almacenamiento y distribución de envases de gases licuados del petróleo (GLP).

6. Transporte de envases de GLP: Que los vehículos particulares que transporten envases de GLP tendrán limitada su carga a 2 envases móviles de hasta 15 Kg. de capacidad unitaria. Además indicar que:

Los envases, tanto llenos como vacíos, con válvula de seguridad, se transportarán siempre en posición vertical en sus correspondientes jaulas para el transporte o correctamente estibadas. Los envases nuevos o reparados, sin gas, en transporte desde fábrica o taller a la planta, podrán ir en posición horizontal.

Los envases, tanto llenos como vacíos, deberán ir sujetos y se tomarán las disposiciones necesarias para evitar su caída durante el transporte.

Queda prohibido el estacionamiento de vehículos que contengan envases de GLP, cualquiera que sea su volumen de carga, en estacionamientos subterráneos.

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