ISO 10961:2019

Overview

ISO 10961:2019 - Gas cylinders - Cylinder bundles - Design, manufacture, testing and inspection specifies requirements for the design, construction, testing and initial inspection of transportable cylinder bundles. It applies to bundles of compressed gas, liquefied gas and gas mixtures (including acetylene; additional acetylene-in-solvent requirements are in Annex B). A cylinder bundle is a portable assembly of two or more cylinders with a frame and manifold, intended to be lifted and transported as a unit (total water capacity ≤ 3 000 L; toxic gas bundles limited to 1 000 L).

This third edition (2019) updates terminology, clarifies drop and leak test descriptions, differentiates rotating drop tests by cylinder orientation, and relocates filling-identification guidance to Annex C.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Design: frame layout, protective structure, arrangement of cylinders, compatibility with applicable single-cylinder standards.
• Materials: selection of metallic and non‑metallic materials compatible with contained gases.
• Frame: structural and non‑structural member requirements to protect cylinders, valves and manifold and to enable safe handling.
• Cylinders, valves and fittings: requirements for cylinder valves, fittings and connections; main valve(s) and main connection(s).
• Manifold: piping, connections, isolation and leak‑tightness criteria for manifolds linking cylinders to main connection(s).
• Assembled bundle: assembly integrity, fastening, lifting points and maximum gross weight considerations.
• Manufacturing: welding, brazing, qualification of personnel and production inspection.
• Testing and type approval: type tests for frame, manifold and whole bundle; drop tests, leak tests and acceptance inspections at manufacture.
• Identification and marking: product, hazard, filling identification (Annex C) and precautionary labelling; colour coding guidance.
• Special cases: Annex A covers bundles disassembled for filling; Annex B gives additional acetylene bundle requirements.

Practical applications

ISO 10961:2019 is used to ensure safe, reliable design and production of portable cylinder bundles for:

• Industrial gas suppliers and manufacturers producing bundled gas units
• Welding and cutting equipment providers (acetylene bundles)
• Filling plants and gas distribution centers performing initial inspection and filling
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies conducting type approval and drop/leak testing
• Safety engineers and procurement teams specifying bundles for storage, transport and on-site use

Note: the standard is intended primarily for industrial gases (can be used for LPG), but it does not cover permanently fixed vehicle/rail/ground installations or bundles designed for extreme/offshore conditions.

Related standards

Key referenced standards include ISO 10297 (cylinder valves), ISO 3807 (acetylene cylinders), ISO 11114-1/2 (material compatibility), and welding/brazing standards (e.g., ISO 9606-1, ISO 13585). Annex C aligns bundle filling identification with the UN Model Regulations.

Keywords: ISO 10961:2019, cylinder bundles, gas cylinders, design, manufacture, testing, inspection, manifold, acetylene, drop tests, type approval.