
Illegally altering LPG cylinders or tampering with them damages the cylinders. It can make them unsafe.
Carefully inspect cylinders for signs of tampering. If you find signs of tampering or have doubts about the cylinder, contact a reputable gas supply company. The company can exchange the cylinder for one that complies with requirements.
Filling damaged or out-of-date cylinders is illegal and can be dangerous. The integrity of the cylinder cannot be confirmed. LPG cylinders out of test date must not be filled until they are tested and restamped. Testing and restamping must be by an approved gas cylinder test station.
Standards Australia operates the approved gas cylinder test station scheme. Test stations must comply with the AS 2337 series. The AS 2337 series sets out:
– how test station owners carry out LPG cylinder inspections
– the mark that must be stamped on cylinders that pass an inspection or test
LPG cylinders need to be inspected and tested to confirm they can withstand the working pressure or stress of holding compressed gas.
Cylinders that cannot take the pressure or stress can leak. Leaks can lead to fire, explosion, injury or death.
LPG cylinders require regular checks and must have a current test date stamp. If the test date stamp is out of date, it is not current.
A cylinder that is out of date must not be refilled until it is tested and restamped.
Only approved gas cylinder testing stations can test and restamp LPG cylinders.
LPG cylinders require testing by an authorised tester:
– every 10 years for cylinders with:
– removable cylinder valves, and
– equal to or greater than 5.5kg water capacity with internally fitted self-closing valves which prevent internal inspection
– every 15 years if the cylinder is equal to or greater than 100kg water capacity
– if they have any signs of damage or defects
– if they have not been inspected and tested at the required intervals
How to check the test date on an LPG cylinder?
The test and inspection date is usually stamped into the cylinder collar. The attached picture shows where to find test and inspection date information on an LPG cylinder.