The colour applied to the shoulder, or curved part at the top of the cylinder, signifies the European standard colour coding.
The aim of the new standard (EN 1089-3), which has replaced the old cylinder colour scheme (BS349), is to help improve safety standards within the gas industry.
The shoulder colours inform about gas properties, but the most common pure gases have their own colours.
Gas Mixtures
Toxic and / or corrosive gases - Yellow
Flammable gases - Red
Oxidizing gases - Light blue
Inert gases - Green
Pure Gases
Acetylene - Chestnut
Oxygen - White
Argon - Dark green
Nitrogen - lack
Carbon Dioxide - Grey
Helium - Brown
Hydrogen - Red
Nitrous Oxide - Blue
Cylinder body - AGA colour coding
The colour of the body of the cylinder may differ for the same gas among different gas companies. AGA cylinder body colours vary a little in different countries. Main cylinder shoulder colours are displayed below:
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AGA Cylinder body colors:
Industrial gases - Black
Acetylene - Chestnut
Food Gases - Green
Specialty Gases - Silver gray
Medical gases - White
