GAS CYLINDER RULES

2016
By NAREAN KARTHIK V.S (17 MIS 016)
CONTENTS

CHAPTER I : PRELIMINARY
CHAPTER II : GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER III : IMPORTATION OF CYLINDERS, VALVES AND
LPG REGULATORS
CHAPTER IV : EXAMINATION AND TESTING OF CYLINDERS
CHAPTER VI : FILLING AND POSSESSION
CHAPTER VIII : ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES
Various Symbols indicating the
Hazardness
DEFINITIONS SLIDE 1

1)Gas cylinder: Gas cylinder" or "cylinder" means any closed metal container
having a volume exceeding 500 ml but not exceeding 1000 liters intended for the
storage and transport of compressed gas.

2)Composite cylinder: It means a cylinder made of resin impregnated continuous

filament wound over a metallic or a non-metallic liner.

3)Compressed Gas: It means any permanent liquefiable gas or gas dissolved in liquid
under pressure (or) gas mixture which in a closed gas cylinder exercises a pressure either
exceeding 2.5 kgf/cm2 abs (1.5 kgf/cm2 gauge) at +15C or a pressure exceeding 3kgf/cm2
abs (2 kgf/ cm2 gauge) at + 50 C or both including cryogenic liquids
DEFINITIONS SLIDE 2

4) Cryogenic liquid: It means a liquid form of permanent gas having

normal boiling point below minus150C; i.e. a gas existing in the liquid form
with a boiling point of -150 Celsius.

5) Critical temperature: It means the temperature above which gas

cannot be liquefied by the application of pressure alone.

6) Pneumatic test: It is a test in which a gas cylinder is subjected to a

pneumatic pressure equal to the pneumatic test pressure or working
pressure, as specified in the manufacturing code.
Cylinder Types
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING
CHAPTER 2 : GENERAL PROVISIONS

1)Filling Possession, import and transport of any cylinder:

The gas cylinder should not be filled with any gas unless the cylinder and valve is being
constructed based on a standard mentioned in (Schedule I )by an order issued by the Chief
controller.
Welded low carbon steel cylinders for low pressure liquefiable gases manufactured to
IS:3196
Seamless Aluminum Alloy cylinder manufactured to ISO 7866 & IS 15660
There are 13 countries with different origins relating to schedule 1
The test and the inspection certificates issued by the inspection authority in respect to any
cylinder and its valve should be made available to the Chief controller
To obtain the approval the following information are required
a) The number of cylinders and their serial numbers
b) Name and address of the manufacture of the cylinders
1)Filling Possession, import and transport of
any cylinder: (Contd)

c) Previous approval if any

d) The test and inspection certificates in relation to the valves fitted or to be
fitted to the cylinder.
e) Scrutiny fee (Inspection or Examination fee)
In case of foreign manufacturers are requesting for their approval additional
fees shall be paid as per schedule 5 for the physical evaluation of the unit.
Valve Specifications

Valve fitted to gas cylinder shall comply in all respects with the following
specifications, namely:-
In respect of industrial gas cylinder and CNG on-board cylinder, IS:3224;
In respect of medical gas cylinder, IS:3745;
In respect of cylinder used with breathing apparatus, IS:7302 as amended
from time to time;
In respect of auto LPG container IS:15100
In respect of small refrigerant cylinder IS:12300
TYPICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR FIXING THE
VALVE
Valve Specifications (Contd)

The Valve fitted in the Carbon Dioxide cylinder shall be provided with a safety
release consisting of softened copper disc so arranged as to burst at a
pressure between 200 Kg/cm2 and 220 Kg/cm2
Valve for cylinder containing flammable gases not listed in IS: 3224 shall have
outlets provided with left handed screw threads for the pipes or other
connections.
All other valves shall have outlets with right-handed screw threads.
The design of spindle-operated valve shall be such that when fitted to the
cylinder, it should be impossible to withdraw the spindle under normal
operating conditions.
Regulations of the Cylinder
Safety Relief Devices

The cylinders manufactured in India if they contain the safety relief devices
those devices should be manufactured and maintained as per the standard IS:
5903
Cylinders which contain poisonous gases should not contain any safety relief
devices. The poisonous gases include (Carbon monoxide, Hydro-cynic acid,
Hydrogen chloride, Hydrogen bromide, Hydrogen fluoride, Sulphur dioxide
etc)
The Cylinders which are manufactured in foreign countries but are approved
to be used in this country if they are fitted with any Safety relief devices which
are to be maintained in the same manner as they were originally made in
abroad.
Marking on the Cylinders

1) Clear and permanent labelling (Probably on the Shoulder of the cylinder)

2) Kindly avoid the name plate affixed to the cylinder by the means of
soldering because there are chances of that getting corroded leading to a gas
leakage.
3) Near to the marking some space has to be provided for placing the test
date obtained during the periodic inspection.
4) The markings can also be made with letters and numerals but it should be
easily readable.
5) Marking of the expiry date in the cylinder is highly important.
Markings on the Valve

1) All the markings made in the valve should be clear and readable

2) Valve specifications

3) Year, Month, and the Quarter of the Manufacture

4) Manufactures symbol

5) The name or the chemical symbol of the gas for which the valve is to be
used

6) Inspectors stamp
 IMPORTATION OF CYLINDERS
a) IMPORTATION BY SEA
1) The agent who is sending the cylinders from abroad should inform the
conservator before 48 hours of its intended arrival at the port.

2) A person willing to import cylinders filled with any compressed gas shall
produce his license personally or can also produce his license in the form of an
agent to the customs collector for importing such gas cylinders, valves, or LPG
regulators.

3) Only if a Customs Collector permits any cylinder can be imported inside the
port. Each and every item which is to be imported should be lawfully correct only
then it can be landed.
IMPORTATION BY LAND AND AIR

Importation by land.- No gas cylinder filled with any compressed gas, valves
and LPG regulators shall be imported by land save with the previous sanction
in each case, of the Central Government and under such conditions and
restrictions as it may impose.

Importation by air.No cylinder filled with any compressed gas shall be

imported by air save with the previous sanction in each case of the Director
General of Civil Aviation.
EXAMINATION AND TESTING OF
CYLINDERS
Gas should not be filled in any cylinder unless the cylinder is being subjected
to hydrostatic test . The test can also be undergone as per the writing
provided by the Chief controller

As per Schedule 4 the testing station should provide or mention the facilities
in the testing station with a scrutiny fee as mentioned in schedule 5.

Initially the cylinder testing station may give them a period of one year and
this period may be extended to a period of 5 years based on the ISO
accreditation certificate issued by any agency.
CONDEMNING OF CYLINDERS

Any Cylinder which fails to pass the periodic test or examination or if it is

found to be unsafe to use or if it is used beyond the expiry service of life
should not be refitted with any gas and should be destroyed by flattening it as
a whole or being cut into pieces. So that they are not allowed to rejoin as a
whole by welding to form it as a cylinder as specified in IS:8198.
All the markings on the cylinder should be defaced before it is being
destroyed.
History sheets or records of the closed cylinder shall be sent to the chief
controller in writing on the 1st January , April, July, and October every year
FILLING AND POSSESSION

A license is required for filling and possessing a cylinder to be filled with compressed
gas.
No person can fill any cylinder unless it is approved and it passes the examination and
test specified in the rules
The working or internal pressure in any cylinder charged with a permanent gas shall
not exceed two-third of the test pressure.
ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES

To the chief controller or the controller whose jurisdiction the area falls by Fax, email
the occurrence of the incident should be reported immediately, this should be
followed by a letter within 24 hours.
The District Authority concerned, the officer in charge of the nearest police station
having the quickest route should also be informed with the incident.
Whenever a District Magistrate holds an Inquiry he shall adjourn such an inquiry
unless chief controller or the officer nominated by him is present to watch the
proceedings, the representative may not be needed if in writing is confirmed by the
Chief controller
The chief controller or his representative is at liberty to inquire any witness during the
above process or if there is a loss of human life