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What
do cylinder colours signify?
Cylinders are painted in a single colour, or have one body
colour and different colour
on the shoulder (the curved part at the top of the cylinder). These
colours basically
indicate to the user the potential hazards of the product within
the container. Specific
products such as dissolved acetylene, argon and helium have specific
colour codes. |
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Can
I identify the product in the cylinder from the cylinder colour?
No. The cylinder colour will only indicate the hazards associated
with the contained product. The product label is the primary
means of identifying the product, and the product label must
always be checked before use. |
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There
are several labels on the cylinder. Which one is the product
label?
The product label is shown on the attached cylinder identification
chart. |
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Why
are cylinder colours changing?
For many years, different standards for cylinder colour coding
have been in force in each European country. With the increasing
movement of cylinders across borders, confusion and potential
safety hazards have resulted. To minimise the risk to gas users,
we are adopting a single harmonised standard for cylinder shoulder
colours across Europe. |
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What
are the main changes?
Some shoulder colours will remain as
they are:
- Flammable: Red
- Toxic: Yellow
Other shoulder colours are new:
- Inert: Bright Green
- Oxidising: Light Blue
- Oxygen: White
There are other specific colour changes, details of which
are given in the BCGA technical information sheet - available
from the BCGA website www.bcga.co.uk |
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Will
the cylinder body colours change?
Yes, in some cases. Air Products will adopt a standard scheme
for the various categories of gases:
- Standard gases: Graphite Grey
- Food grade gases: Light Grey
- Special and ultra high purity gases:
Metallic Grey
- Breathing and diving gases: Dusty Grey
Full details of both the old and new colour schemes are shown
on the attached ID chart, copies of which you will have received
by post. |
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Are
there any other changes to the cylinder construction?
No. There are no alterations to either cylinder valves or
valve guards. This is simply a colour change. |
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When
will I have cylinders delivered bearing the new colours?
We are starting the painting programme during September 2004.
You may therefore have deliveries of cylinders with both the
old and new colours from October onwards. Air Products has
many hundreds of thousands of cylinders in the marketplace,
and we estimate it may take up to 10 years to complete the
programme fully. All of the new cylinder identification charts
therefore show old and new colour schemes for this reason. |
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What
will the colour coding convention be for cylinder banks and packs?
Air Products is moving towards a standard design for banks
and packs, the main feature of which is a protective shroud
covering the upper part of the cylinders. Since the shoulder
will therefore not be exposed, all cylinders in packs and banks
will be painted the relevant shade of grey for standard gases,
food grade gases etc as detailed above. The primary means of
identification will be an oversize label on the shroud. |
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Who
should I notify of these changes?
Anyone in your organisation who handles or uses gas cylinders
should be made aware of these changes, particularly the importance
of checking the product label before use. |
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How
can I obtain additional copies of the cylinder identification
literature?
Call our customer services department on 01242 1836. |
