Cellar CO2 / mixed gas monitor and cylinder storage
A fixed, calibrated CO2/gas monitor in any cellar or gas store where CO2 or mixed-gas cylinders are used to dispense drinks, wired to an audible and visible alarm, plus safe cylinder storage and adequate ventilation.
A fixed, calibrated CO2/gas monitor in any cellar or gas store where CO2 or mixed-gas cylinders are used to dispense drinks, wired to an audible and visible alarm, plus safe cylinder storage and adequate ventilation.
CO2 is an asphyxiation risk in a confined cellar — it is heavier than air, invisible and odourless, and there have been fatalities in pub and bar cellars from undetected leaks. A fixed monitor is what gives you and your staff warning before it becomes dangerous.
Ask for a fixed, calibrated CO2 alarm wired to an audible and visible warning outside the cellar, not a handheld unit.
Many wholesalers supply and maintain the monitor as part of their line-cleaning contract — worth checking before you pay a contractor separately.
Who this is for
Any venue with a cellar or gas store using CO2 or mixed gas to dispense beer or soft drinks.
What you’ll hold
- CO2 monitor installation and calibration record
Watch out for
- Relying on a battery handheld detector instead of a fixed, calibrated monitor wired to an alarm — this is what HSE guidance and most insurers expect for a below-ground cellar.
- Poor cellar ventilation meaning CO2 still pools at floor level even with a monitor fitted. Get ventilation assessed at the same time as the monitor.
- No signage or staff training on what the alarm means and what to do — a monitor alone is not enough.
Sources
- HSE — General hazards of carbon dioxide checked 2026-09-02
See also
- Cellar gas monitor service and calibration— this becomes an ongoing job once you’re open →
This is item 12 of 66 in the free UK Launch Checklist. See the whole list →