How to identify gas cylinders

The permanent stamp on the cylinder neck is the primary means of identifying the contents of a gas cylinder. The distinctive colour and a label on the cylinder neck also help to identify the cylinders.

Stamp

The name of the gas is always stamped on the cylinder shoulder. The labels also contain information about the manufacturer, inspections, weight, pressure and volume, and meet the requirements of the SFS-EN 13769 standard.

Colour

The colour of the cylinder indicates the product group as follows:

            industrial gas - graphite grey (RAL 7024)
    medical gas - white valkoinen (RAL 9010)

 

If an identifying colour has been designated for a certain gas, the colour of the cylinder shoulder indicates the content:

           acetylene - oxide red,  RAL 3009
    helium - olive brown, RAL 8008
    oxygen - pure white, RAL 9010
     nitrous oxide - gentian blue, RAL 5010
    argon - emerald green, RAL 6001
    nitrogen - jet black, RAL 9005
    carbon dioxide -dusty  grey, RAL 7037

 

If no identifying colour has been designated for a certain gas, the colour of the cylinder shoulder indicates the gas properties:

          toxic - zinc yellow, RAL 1018
    flammable - flame red, RAL 3000
    oxidising - light blue, RAL 5012
    inert - turquoiset green, RAL 6016

 

In addition, a neck ring can be used as a further recognition aid (to indicate the purity level, special application, or similar).

The colour of the cylinder body (except for propane) meets the requirements of the EN 1089-3 standard.

Labels

Gases: yellow
Medical gases: white

The label indicates the name of the gas, the possible trade name, and safety instructions.