Important Information - Please read!

As the temperature increases the CO2 charge greatly expands.

Below is a description of the relationship between the pressure of the CO2 charge in a CO2 cylinder and the affects of exposure to increased temperature has on it.

• A CO2 cylinder is filled with liquid CO2 by weight. At the time of fill the temperature of the charge is extremely cold and the pressure is around 100psi.
• When a fully charged CO2 cylinder warms up to room temperature (70°F), the pressure inside the cylinder increases to 837psi.
• When the same cylinder reaches 87.9°F the entire charge becomes a gas no matter what the pressure. A fully charged CO2 cylinder at 87.9°F will have an internal pressure of approximately 1100psi.
• At 120°F the same cylinder will have an internal pressure of nearly 2000psi. This cylinder at 120°F now has an internal pressure greater than the marked service pressure of the cylinder and is properly filled, not overfilled.
• At 155°F the same cylinder will reach a pressure of 3000psi, a pressure great enough activate the safety venting the charge through the safety.

As you can see, when the temperature of the fully charged cylinder increases, the pressure increases. A temperature of 155°F, at which the safety would actuate and vent the contents of the cylinder, is not that high of a temperature. This temperature could easily be reached in many different environments (i.e. in a vehicle on a hot day, enclosed car hauler, etc.). Unexpected venting of a cylinder through its safety can be startling and coming into contact with the venting of the CO2 charge of a cylinder can cause personal injury such as frostbite.

When using, handling, transporting, and storing a CO2 cylinder, always be aware of the temperature to which the cylinder will be exposed. This is not just the temperature the cylinder is exposed to at that point in time, but also the maximum temperature that the cylinder will be exposed to at any time in its service. Brinic Enterprises, LLC, along with the CGA, recommends that CO2 cylinders not be used at temperatures exceeding 120°F.