Using Propane Safely e-learning reference material

Guide Book Series

Identifying Cylinders

Identifying Cylinders Product labels and colour codes

Operators need to know what gas is inside a cylinder. The primary means of identification is the product label. The hazard of the gas may be confirmed by the colour of the cylinder shoulder.

An important part of the label is the hazard diamond(s) which represent the characteristic of the gas. A label with multiple diamonds indicates multiple associated hazards. The colour coding of gas cylinders changed in 2001. The colour coding now applies solely to the shoulder or curved part at the top of the cylinder. This means that the shoulder colour for all gas cylinders supplied by all the gas suppliers in the UK are standardised. With respect to labelling and colour coding propane cylinders have an ‘exemption’ in that suppliers are able to stencil the gas name onto the side of the cylinder instead of attaching a label to the cylinder. Also, propane cylinders can be supplied in a variety of colours. It is essential that operators ensure that the cylinder contents are either labelled or stencilled onto to the cylinder.

A propane cylinder without either a full, complete, legible product label or the gas name stencilled onto the side of the cylinder must not be used and must be immediately returned to the gas supplier.

Product name

Safety information

Supplier’s name

Cylinder size

Emergency contact number

A selection of propane and butane cylinder colours and sizes.

12

23 1

Dangerous goods identity number

Cylinder weight