AS 4484:2016 – Gas cylinders for industrial, scientific,medical and refrigerant use—Labelling and colour coding.
4.1 General
The contents of a cylinder or bundle of cylinders, shall be identified on its label. The colours of the cylinder or bundle of cylinders shall be a secondary means of identification. Identification is achieved by symbols and text representing the contents of the cylinder being either directly printed or stencilled on the cylinder’s surface or in the form of pre-printed labels applied to the cylinder’s surface.
The cylinder shall be legibly labelled.
NOTE: AIX Code. Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals CoP. SUSMP and TG() No.69 hase labelling requirements that may apply to gas cylinders.
As the colour coding of a cylinder includes the body colour and if applicable, its body labels, not more than 20% of the body of the cylinder may be used for promotional or marketing purposes.
The required label(s) should be located as close as practicable to the valve end of each gas cylinder or to the outlet on a bundle of cylinders.
On a composite cylinder a complying label may be applied under a clear outer resin layer or under a clear outer filament winding.
4.2.2 Durabll liv of labels
Each label and their means of attachment shall be of material that ensures the label will remain in place and be legible after normal exposure to conditions incident to transport. storage and use.
4.3 Body labels
Body labels may be used on the body of a cylinder to identify the name and/or the chemical symbol of the contained gas.
When used, body labels shall be applied to two opposing sides of a cylinder, unless the water capacity of the cylinder is less than 15 1 where a single body label may be applied.
For bundles of cylinders a body label shall be applied to a minimum of one cylinder on at least two opposite sides of the bundle.
The body label text shall be in either black or white, with the colour being selected to contrast with the body colour.
Body labels shall be clearly visible.
4.4 Special labelling
Where the Cotitents of the cylinder have a special condition, such as a specific storage tcmpcraturc, or the constituents arc in special or laboratory proportions, such as multi-component gas mixtures, the cylinder shall be identified in accordance with one of the following:
(a) By labelling to show the special condition, and the special or analysed proportions.
(b) By a label indicating that the contents arc a special gas mixture and referring to a report that is attached to the cylinder.
The major constituent or balance gas need not hase the percentage marked and should be shown as. ‘IN ___________ (name of balance gas)’ or ‘BALANCE____________ (name of balance gas)’. The minor constituents should have their proportions given as a percentage, or ppm. (volume) or other means as appropriate.
Painting and othcr pcrnlancnt coatings or trcatrncnts including weather resistant plastic films are acceptable methods of colouring.
NOTIS:
I Past editions of this Standard assigned colours to some gases which may not agree in full wrih Ihc identification of characteristics abosc. Thesc assignations are well recognized through long-term use and arc continued in the rcspccti’.e Tables.
2 The gas characteristic colours are the same as in EN 10R9-3:20l I.
3 Cylinders that, prior to the publication of this Standard. hase used a white body as an alternatise to Silser Greygalsanited may continue to do so until they are remosed from sersiec.
4 Cylinders that, prior to the publication of this Standard, base used a brown band to indicate a non-flammable and nan-tosic (N.O.S.) refrigerant gas or hase used hues otyellow other than Canary Yellow to indicate a rccosered refrigerant gas. may continue to do so until they are repainted or recoloured.
5.2 Rcquircmcnis for coatings
The paint permanent coating or film used shall be fade and ultraviolet-resistant as far as practicable.
For compositc gas cylinders, a clear or translucent film may he spcciflcd by the cylinder manufacturer to assist inspection of the fibre condition. Where a coloured coating or film is applied to a composite gas cylinder, the colour shall be as specified in this Standard. A white opaque plastic film is an acceptable alternative for the colour white.
5.3 Eduetor tubes
A cylinder with a single outlet salse fitted with an eductor tube for liquid withdrawal, shall he labelled to identify the liquid withdrawal facility with the clearly written word(s) ‘Liquid: or Liquid Withdrawal’.
The cylinder, other than a liquid petroleum gas (LP Gas) cylinder, shall also be labelled with two longitudinal stripes, which are—
(a) on opposite sides of the body of the cylinder: