Oxygen bottles in storage shall be separated from combustibles by at least how many feet?

• A. 6
• B. 20
• C. 10
• D. 12

Answer: (B)

Oxygen is a strong oxidizer, and storing cylinders away from combustibles helps prevent fires from starting or spreading if there’s a leak or heat exposure. The standard requirement is a minimum twenty-foot separation between oxygen cylinders and combustible materials. This distance reduces the chance that an oxygen-rich zone forms near flammables, which would make ignition easier and fires grow faster. The other distances are considered too small to provide adequate protection under typical safety codes, so twenty feet is the correct buffer.