is it legal to store petrol?

[cheyenne]

would it be legal to store petrol in my shed?if so how much.can you use plastic containers or jerry cans,and how long does petrol keep for?cheers.

[Hellion]

Not sure if it's legal but it is very, very dangerous. I worked for a while on a refinery and it is scary how easily petrol will ignite. Never use metal jerry can's even to transport the stuff (yes I know you can by them). Please, please don't store it, buy it as you need it!

[Lindy Loo]

I second your answer Hellion!! Definitely not a good idea. Found this on the London Fire Brigade site http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/detail.asp?id=34 It is against the law to store more than 20 litres of petrol and this must be stored in no more than 2 x 10 litre proprietory metal petrol containers. If plastic containers are used no more than 10 litres must be stored in 2x5 litre proprietary petrol containers. They must be marked as "PETROLEUM" and "HIGHLY FLAMMABLE". There is more in the article, but hope this helps for starters.

[cheyenne]

thanks hellion&lindy loo,you have settled an argument for me,cheers vinny.

[Oneeyedvic]

If it helps - petrol does also go off - it was something I was warned of as I am a biker but don't use it in winter - come summer when starting it any petrol in the tank is not as flamable

[tomd]

Do you all seriously not keep a can of petrol in the garage for the lawnmower? As you can buy it in petrol cans from the stations, what do they expect you to do with it?

[New Forester]

In the fuel tank of a car, motorbike or mower, there is an air-vent and petrol gradually evaporates. After months or years, the lighter fractions have gone, leaving only the heavier ones, and the remaining petrol is more like paraffin (I realised this when my stored car would not start...). In a sealed can it cannot happen -- all fractions remain inside and the petrol should "keep" as long as the can lasts. Beware, however, of cans with a poor seal, which will vent under the high pressure generated in warm conditions. Incidentally these are even more likely to go up in flames.