Colour Identification of Gas Cylinders and Related Equipment Intended For Medical Use
Colour Identification of Gas Cylinders and Related Equipment Intended For Medical Use
Colour Identification of Gas Cylinders and Related Equipment Intended For Medical Use
© BIS 2021
FOREWORD
This Indian Standard (First Revision) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized by
the Gas Cylinders Sectional Committee had been approved by the Mechanical Engineering Divisional Council.
This standard was first published in 1966. In this revision the following major changes have been made:
a) Colour identification of medical gas cylinders made from aluminium; and
b) UN no/RAL no has been prescribed against each gas as alternate to colour shade no.
In the preparation of this standard assistance has been derived from the ISO 32 : 1977 ‘Gas cylinders for medical
use — Marking for identification. Gas cylinder rules – 2016.
Gases of different chemical composition and in various combinations are widely used in the medical profession for
the production of anaesthesia and for the treatment of certain pathological conditions. To ensure the administration
of these gases in a safe and a satisfactory manner it is essential that proper identification practice is followed. This
standard deals with the code of identification of medical gas cylinders based on various colour combinations for
different gases.
Identification of the contents of industrial gas cylinders has been covered in IS 4379 : 1981 ‘Identification of the
contents of industrial gas cylinders’.
It has been usual to specify the contents of gas cylinders by colour marking of the gas cylinders. With the increasing
number of gases and mixture of gases used by industry, the number of discreet colours for identifying the gases
concerned is not sufficient. Therefore, it has become customary to identify the contents of the gas cylinders
by marking the cylinders with the name of the gas and chemical formula in addition to colour marking of the
cylinders and a separate standard for colour coding for medical gas cylinders.
The composition of the Committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is given in Annex D.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with the final value,
observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis shall be rounded off in accordance with
IS 2 : 1960 ‘Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised )’. The number of significant places retained in the
rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.
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IS 3933 : 2021
Indian Standard
COLOUR IDENTIFICATION OF GAS
CYLINDERS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
INTENDED FOR MEDICAL USE
( First Revision )
1
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Table 1 Identification Marking of Medical Gas Cylinders with Chemical Formulae, UN Number and
Colour Code (Other than Aluminium Cylinders)
( Clauses 3.2, 4.1 and 5 )
Sl No. Name of Gas UN Chemical Ground Colour Colour Shade Colour of Shoulder Colour Shade
Number Symbol No./RAL No. No./RAL No.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
i) Air 1002 – French grey, C.S. 630 *White and black RAL 9003
(shade 630) RAL 9011
ii) Carbon dioxide 1013 CO2 French grey, C.S. 630 French grey, C.S. No. 630
(shade 630) (shade 630)
iii) Cyclopropane 1027 C3H6 Light orange C.S. 557 Light orange C.S. 557
(shade 557) (shade 557)
iv) Ethylene 1962 C2H4 Dark violet C.S. 796 Dark violet C.S. 796
(shade 796) (shade 796)
v) Helium 1046 He Middle brown C.S. 411 Middle brown C.S. 411
(shade 411) (shade 411)
vi) Mixture of oxygen – O2 + CO2 Graphite black RAL 9011 *White and french RAL 9003
and carbon dioxide grey C.S. 630
vii) Mixture of oxygen – O2 + He Graphite black RAL 9011 *White and brown RAL 9003
and helium (middle brown, shade C.S. 411
411)
viii) Nitrogen 1066 N2 French grey, C.S. 630 Graphite black RAL 9011
(shade 630)
ix) Nitrous oxide 1070 N2O French blue, C.S. 166 French blue, C.S. 166
(shade 166) (shade 166)
x) Oxygen 1072 O2 Graphite black RAL 9011 White RAL 9003
NOTES
1 Colour shades have been taken from either of the two standards – I) CS (Colour shade) designated from IS 5 and II) RAL: from RAL colour
Standard.
2* To be painted in quarters around the shoulder where two colours are used for identification. Please see Plan of the shoulder. See Annex A.
2
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IS 3933 : 2021
Table 2 ( Concluded )
Sl No. Name of Gas UN Number Ground Colour RAL No. Colour of Colour Shade
Shoulder No./RAL No.
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
viii) Nitrous oxide 1070 Aluminium finish 9006 Blue C.S. 166
ix) Nitrogen 1066 Aluminium finish 9006 Graphite black RAL 9011
x) Oxygen 1072 Aluminium finish 9006 White 9003
NOTES
1 Colour shades have been taken from either of the two Standards:
a) Colour shade (CS) designated from IS 5 : 2007; and
b) RAL, from RAL colour Standard.
2* To be painted in quarters around the shoulder where two colours are used for identification. Please see plan of the shoulder. See Annex B.
3 See Annex C for RAL colour code and corresponding shade.
3
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IS 3933 : 2021
ANNEX A
( Clause Table 1 )
ANNEX B
( Clause Table 2 )
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ANNEX C
( Clause Table 2 )
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ANNEX D
( Foreword )
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
Gas Cylinder Sectional Committee, MED 16
Organization Representative(s)
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IS 3933 : 2021
Organization Representative(s)
Member Secretary
Shri Chandan Gupta
Scientist ‘C’ (MED), BIS
8
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BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 to promote harmonious
development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and attending to
connected matters in the country.
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standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations. Enquiries relating to
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Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also reviewed
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should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue of
‘BIS Catalogue’ and ‘Standards: Monthly Additions’.
This Indian Standard has been developed from Doc No.: MED 16 (14963).