Oxygen bottles in storage shall be separated from combustible materials by a minimum of ______ feet.

Oxygen bottles in storage shall be separated from combustible materials by a minimum of ______ feet.

• A. 6
• B. 10
• C. 12
• D. 20

Answer: (D)

Oxygen cylinders must be kept away from combustible materials because oxygen supports and accelerates combustion. In an environment with elevated oxygen, materials that don’t usually ignite easily can catch fire more readily and burn much hotter and faster. If a leak occurs, the oxygen around the leak can feed any flame, making a small fire much more dangerous near stored cylinders. The safety standard sets a substantial separation to minimize these risks. The minimum separation is a notable distance—large enough to reduce the chance that heat, sparks, or flames from nearby hazards reach the cylinder and to limit the amount of oxygen-enriched air near combustibles. This spacing helps prevent fires from involving the oxygen supply in the first place and keeps ignition sources farther away from stored cylinders. If the space cannot be kept that far apart, other protective measures such as a fire-rated barrier or appropriate ventilation and strict storage procedures are required to maintain safety.

Oxygen cylinders must be kept away from combustible materials because oxygen supports and accelerates combustion. In an environment with elevated oxygen, materials that don’t usually ignite easily can catch fire more readily and burn much hotter and faster. If a leak occurs, the oxygen around the leak can feed any flame, making a small fire much more dangerous near stored cylinders. The safety standard sets a substantial separation to minimize these risks.

The minimum separation is a notable distance—large enough to reduce the chance that heat, sparks, or flames from nearby hazards reach the cylinder and to limit the amount of oxygen-enriched air near combustibles. This spacing helps prevent fires from involving the oxygen supply in the first place and keeps ignition sources farther away from stored cylinders.

If the space cannot be kept that far apart, other protective measures such as a fire-rated barrier or appropriate ventilation and strict storage procedures are required to maintain safety.