Overview
ISO 10464:2004 defines requirements for the periodic inspection and testing of refillable welded steel LPG cylinders (water capacity 0.5 L to 150 L). It covers inspection intervals, procedural steps and acceptance/rejection criteria for transportable dedicated LPG cylinders protected against external corrosion and manufactured to ISO 4706, ISO 22991 or equivalent standards. Vehicle onboard fuel cylinders are excluded except those for forklift trucks. The standard’s primary objective is to ensure cylinders can be returned to safe service after inspection.
Key Topics
- Scope and applicability: Refillable welded steel cylinders for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 0.5–150 L; corrosion-protected designs; exclusions for most onboard vehicle cylinders.
- Inspection intervals: Default interval is 15 years when the conditions in Annex A are met; otherwise a shorter interval (up to 10 years) applies. A written scheme approved by a competent body determines the interval.
- Core inspection procedures:
- External visual inspection (mandatory) - surface preparation (wire brushing, shot blasting, cleaning) and checks for dents, cuts, bulges, cracks, laminations, corrosion and other defects.
- Additional test options (as required by national regulations or approved schemes): hydraulic proof test, internal visual inspection, pneumatic proof and leak tests, pneumatic leak test for small cylinders (≤ 6.5 L) and volumetric expansion test (subject to authority approval).
- Rejection criteria: Defined limits for physical defects and corrosion (examples in the standard include pit depth and area corrosion thresholds), and guidance on when a cylinder must be reconditioned or rendered unserviceable.
- Thread inspection & valve checks: Provisions for inspecting internal/external threads and procedures if valve obstruction is suspected (see Annex C).
- Final operations & records: Drying, purging, tare mass checks, valve fitting, marking, date of next inspection and record-keeping requirements.
Applications
- For test stations, competent bodies and inspection technicians establishing LPG cylinder periodic inspection programs.
- For manufacturers and filling/retail operations to ensure ongoing compliance and safe reintroduction of cylinders into service.
- For regulators, safety managers and auditors who need objective acceptance criteria for cylinder condition, testing frequency and documentation.
- Useful when developing maintenance schedules, tender specifications, training materials and inspection checklists for LPG cylinder safety compliance.
Related Standards
Commonly used together with:
Keywords: ISO 10464, LPG cylinders, periodic inspection, refillable welded steel, hydraulic proof test, visual inspection, corrosion protection, cylinder safety, inspection intervals.