The Guide to Gas Cylinders (1992) was written in order to comply with the requirements of the Dangerous Goods (Class 2 –Gases) Regulations 1980.  It was prepared for the assistance and guidance of people and organisations involved in any way with compressed gas cylinders when the Dangerous Goods Act 1974 was in force.

The Dangerous Goods Act and its Regulations have been repealed and replaced by regulations made under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.  These Regulations include the Hazardous Substances (Compressed Gases) Regulations 2004, which came into effect on 26 March 2004.

A separate Approved Practice Guide (APG 4-1), also called “Guide to Gas Cylinders” has been developed by the Environmental Protection Authority of New Zealand (EPA New Zealand) to assist with compliance for gas cylinders.  This guide is available from the EPA New Zealand website and must be referred to in the first instance.

Table of Contents

ANTECEDENTS
PART 1: GENERAL
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Scope
1.3 Legal Requirements
1.4 Glossary of Terms
1.5 Abbreviations
PART 2: PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL OF CYLINDERS
2.1 General
2.2 Summary of Required Procedure
2.3 Specifications
2.4 Design Requirements
2.5 Inspection After Manufacture
2.6 Transferred to 2.4.4
2.7 Examination in New Zealand
2.8 Cylinder Exemption Scheme
PART 3: TYPE OF GAS
3.1 General
3.2 Permanent Gases
3.3 Liquefiable Gases
3.4 Acetylene
3.5 Other Gases
PART 4: MARKING AND LABELLING
4.1 General Requirements
4.2 Regulations
4.3 Interpretation of the Regulations
4.4 Contents Identification by Colour
4.5 Alterations to Marks or Labels
PART 5: NECK THREADS, VALVES AND FITTINGS, LUBRICANTS
5.1 Cylinder Neck Threads
5.2 Valve Specifications
5.3 Valve Protection
5.4 Valve Removal and Replacement
5.5 Safety Devices
5.6 Marking of Valves and Fittings
5.7 Lubricants
PART 6: TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE AND USE
6.1 General
6.2 Cylinder Attitude
6.3 Transportation
6.4 Care and Maintenance
6.5 Storage
6.6 Repair of Cylinders
PART 7: FILLING OF CYLINDERS
7.1 General
7.2 Filling Conditions for Permanent Gases
7.3 Filling Conditions for Liquefiable Gases
7.4 Filling Stations
PART 8: PERIODIC INSPECTION AND TESTING
8.1 Required Procedures
8.2 Inspection and Test Periods
8.3 Fire Extinguishers
8.4 Acetylene Cylinders
8.5 Cylinders that Cannot be Inspected Internally
8.6 Approved Testing Stations
8.7 Identification and Marking of Approved Cylinders
8.8 Colour Code for Identification of Retest
8.9 Rejected Cylinders
PART 9: IDENTIFICATION OF CYLINDERS AND ACCESSORIES
9.1 Identification of Approved Cylinders
9.2 Currently Approved Standards and Specifications for Cylinders
9.3 Previously Approved Specifications for Cylinders
9.4 Approved Specifications for Valves and Fittings
9.5 Approved Lubricants and Sealants
9.6 Approved Porous Masses for Acetylene Cylinders
PART 10: NOTES ON PARTICULAR CASES
10.1 Cylinders used on Vessels or Aircraft, or for Liferaft Inflation
10.2 Hydraulic Accumulators and Cylinders Connected to Compressing Systems
10.3 Vehicle Fuel Tanks and Forklift Cylinders
10.4 SCUBA Cylinders
10.5 LPG Cylinders
10.6 Exempt Cylinders
10.7 Carbon Dioxide Cylinders
10.8 DOT Specifications-(Also additional welding requirements)
10.9 German Compressed Gas Regulations
10.10 Primus Cylinders
10.11 Notes on Some Specifications, and Restricted Approvals
10.12 Prohibited Cylinders
10.13 Verification of testing Mark
10.14 Test Pressures and Filling Pressures
10.15 Equivalent Metric and Imperial Pressures
10.16 Ozone Layer Protection Act 1990
PART 11: EVALUATION OF NECK CRACKING IN ALUMINIUM CYLINDERS
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Brief History of Shoulder Cracking
11.3 Research Carried Out on 6061 Alloy
11.4 Modes of Failure
11.5 Review of Tests Periods for Fibre-wrapped (BA) Cylinders
APPENDIX: ALUMINIUM ALLOY DIVE CYLINDER RECALL EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE