SIST EN ISO 11117:2020 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 11117:2019 - Gas cylinders - Valve protection caps and guards - Design, construction and tests - specifies minimum design, construction and test requirements for devices that provide the primary protection of cylinder valves used with liquefied, dissolved or compressed gases. The standard covers valve protection caps, valve guards (including devices protecting valves with integral pressure regulators - VIPRs) and the type testing needed to demonstrate adequate protection during handling, storage and transport.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and exclusions: Applies to valve protection caps and guards that inherently protect the valve. Excludes cylinders with water capacity ≤ 5 L, protection devices welded or brazed to the cylinder, and breathing-apparatus cylinders.
• Design and fitment: Requirements for secure fixing (screw threads or other means), provisions to assist fitting/removal (e.g., hexagonal boss), and consideration of water drainage.
• Venting: Valve protection caps must provide sufficient venting capacity - typically a cross-sectional vent area of at least 157 mm² for conventional cylinder valves; examples include two or more vent holes of ≥ 10 mm diameter arranged symmetrically. Quick‑release valves (ISO 17871) may require specific assessment of vent capacity.
• Mechanical properties and tests: Type testing procedures include torque tests, vertical pull tests (formerly axial test), and drop tests with defined acceptance criteria to confirm protection if a cylinder topples.
• Materials, marking and documentation: Specifies acceptable materials, required marking (including provisions for an “ISO P A” style marking), and test-report requirements to support conformity.
• Permitted mass: Defines the maximum total mass (package plus contents) the protection device is intended for.

Applications

• Ensures valve protection devices reliably prevent valve damage and accidental gas release during transport, storage, and handling of industrial, specialty and bulk gas cylinders.
• Used for type qualification of caps, guards and other handling devices attached to cylinder packages.
• Supports compliance with transport regulations and can be referenced in UN Model Regulations for safe transport of dangerous goods.

Who should use EN ISO 11117:2019

• Cylinder and valve manufacturers and designers
• Gas suppliers and packagers responsible for cylinder safety and transport compliance
• Certification bodies and test laboratories performing type testing and issuing conformity reports
• Safety engineers, procurement teams, and regulatory authorities assessing valve protection solutions

Related standards

• ISO 10286 - Gas cylinders terminology
• ISO 10297:2014 - Cylinder valves - specification and type testing
• ISO 13341 - Fitting of valves to gas cylinders
• UN Model Regulations (transport of dangerous goods)

EN ISO 11117:2019 is essential for anyone specifying, testing or certifying valve protection caps and guards to ensure safe, compliant handling and transport of gas cylinders.