ISO 10460:2018

Overview

ISO 10460:2018 - "Gas cylinders - Welded aluminium‑alloy, carbon and stainless steel gas cylinders - Periodic inspection and testing" - sets international requirements for the periodic inspection and testing of welded gas cylinders. It covers cylinders with a water capacity from 0.5 L to 150 L (and, where practical, <0.5 L and >150 L up to 450 L) used for compressed and liquefied gases. The standard is intended primarily for industrial gases (other than LPG) but may also be applicable to LPG; specific LPG requirements are addressed in ISO 10464. Excluded are acetylene cylinders and composite (fully or hoop‑wrapped) cylinders.

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

• Scope and applicability - cylinder types (welded aluminium‑alloy, carbon steel, stainless steel), capacity ranges, and exclusions.
• Inspection intervals - guidance referencing national regulations and the UN Model Regulations (P200); Annex A provides typical intervals and Annex B shows an example date‑ring system.
• Inspection procedures - mandatory sequence and recommended order: depressurization and devalving; external visual inspection; internal visual inspection; neck and thread checks; pressure testing; valve/accessory inspection; and final operations (drying, cleaning, painting, revalving, marking).
• Visual inspection criteria - external and internal examinations, preparation and cleaning requirements, and criteria for acceptance or rejection (see Annex C for imperfections and rejection conditions).
• Pressure test requirements - test equipment, test criteria and acceptance criteria for pressure testing of cylinders.
• Repairs and requalification - differentiation between major and minor repairs, permitted repair actions, and conditions for returning a rejected cylinder to service.
• Competence and calibration - inspections must be performed by trained, competent personnel using calibrated equipment and following manufacturer recommendations.
• Safety considerations - cautions regarding hazardous tests and limits on heat‑related operations to protect mechanical properties.

Practical Applications and Users

ISO 10460:2018 is practical for:

• Cylinder manufacturers and designers
• Gas suppliers, fillers and distributors
• Inspection, testing and repair facilities
• Transport and logistics companies handling cylinders
• Regulatory bodies, safety officers and auditors implementing maintenance and requalification programs

Use cases include establishing periodic inspection programs, operating cylinder testing stations, documenting requalification records and ensuring compliance with international transport and safety rules.

Related Standards

• ISO 10464 (LPG applications)
• ISO 10286 (terminology)
• ISO 11114‑1 / 11114‑2 (material compatibility)
• ISO 11621, ISO 13341, ISO 13769, ISO 22434, ISO 25760

Keywords: ISO 10460:2018, gas cylinders, periodic inspection and testing, welded aluminium‑alloy, carbon steel, stainless steel, pressure test, visual inspection, cylinder requalification, UN Model Regulations.