CGA C-6—2019 COMPRESSED GAS ASSOCIATION, INC.

PAGE i

CGA C-6—2019

STANDARD FOR VISUAL

INSPECTION OF STEEL
COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS
TWELFTH EDITION
PAGE ii COMPRESSED GAS ASSOCIATION, INC. CGA C-6—2019

PLEASE NOTE:

The information contained in this document was obtained from sources believed to be reliable and is based on
technical information and experience currently available from members of the Compressed Gas Association, Inc.
and others. However, the Association or its members, jointly or severally, make no guarantee of the results and
assume no liability or responsibility in connection with the information or suggestions herein contained. Moreover,
it should not be assumed that every acceptable commodity grade, test or safety procedure or method, precaution,
equipment or device is contained within, or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or suggest
further requirements or additional procedure.

This document is subject to periodic review, and users are cautioned to obtain the latest edition. The Association
invites comments and suggestions for consideration. In connection with such review, any such comments or
suggestions will be fully reviewed by the Association after giving the party, upon request, a reasonable oppor-
tunity to be heard. Proposed changes may be submitted via the Internet at our website, www.cganet.com.

This document should not be confused with federal, state, provincial, or municipal specifications or regulations;
insurance requirements; or national safety codes. While the Association recommends reference to or use of this
document by government agencies and others, this document is purely voluntary and not binding unless adopted
by reference in regulations.

A listing of all publications, audiovisual programs, safety and technical bulletins, and safety posters is available
via the Internet at our website at www.cganet.com. For more information contact CGA at Phone: 703-788-2700,
ext. 799. E-mail: [email protected].
Work Item 18-008
Cylinder Specifications Committee

NOTE—Technical changes from the previous edition are underlined.

NOTE—Appendix A (Informative) is for information only.

TWELFTH EDITION: 2019

ELEVENTH EDITION: 2013
TENTH EDITION: 2007
NINTH EDITION: 2005
© 2019 The Compressed Gas Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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CGA C-6—2019 COMPRESSED GAS ASSOCIATION, INC. PAGE iii

Contents Page

1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

2 Scope ............................................................................................................................................................. 1

3 Definitions ....................................................................................................................................................... 2

4 Inspection equipment ..................................................................................................................................... 6

4.1 Depth gauges, metallic scales, etc. ..................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Ultrasonic devices ............................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 Magnetic particle inspection ................................................................................................................ 6
4.4 Penetrant inspection materials ............................................................................................................ 6
4.5 Weight scales ...................................................................................................................................... 6

5 Markings ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

6 Low pressure cylinders exempt from pressure testing ................................................................................... 7

6.1 Preparation for inspection ................................................................................................................... 7
6.2 Exterior inspection ............................................................................................................................... 7
6.3 Inspection report ................................................................................................................................ 14

7 Low pressure cylinders subject to pressure testing ...................................................................................... 15

7.1 Preparation for inspection ................................................................................................................. 15
7.2 Internal inspection ............................................................................................................................. 16

8 High pressure cylinders ................................................................................................................................ 16

8.1 Preparation for inspection ................................................................................................................. 16
8.2 Hammer test ...................................................................................................................................... 16
8.3 Exterior inspection ............................................................................................................................. 16
8.4 Internal inspection ............................................................................................................................. 25

9 References ................................................................................................................................................... 26

10 Additional references .................................................................................................................................... 26

Figures
Figure 1—Crevice corrosion near the cylinder footring ......................................................................................... 2
Figure 2—Crevice corrosion (cutaway view) ......................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3—General corrosion with pitting ............................................................................................................... 3
Figure 4—General corrosion with pitting on cylinder wall ..................................................................................... 3
Figure 5—Isolated pitting ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 6—Line corrosion ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 7—Measuring the length of a dent ............................................................................................................. 5
Figure 8—Relative pitted depth corrosion loss ................................................................................................... 10
Figure 9—Bulged cylinder on left, normal cylinder on right ................................................................................. 12
Figure 10—Cylinder section on left with removable boot; cylinder section on right with permanent boot
(cutaway side view) ............................................................................................................................ 15
Figure 11—Cylinder section on left with removable boot; cylinder section on right with permanent boot
(cutaway bottom view) ...................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 12—Inspection requirements for corrosion limits ..................................................................................... 17
Figure 13a—Evaluation of pit diameters for an isolated pit ................................................................................. 19
Figure 13b—Evaluation of pit diameters for isolated pits .................................................................................... 20
Figure 14a—Evaluation of cluster pitting that may be considered an isolated pit .............................................. 20
Figure 14b—Evaluation of cluster pitting that shall be considered an area of general corrosion ...................... 21
Figure 15—Bulged fire-damaged cylinder ........................................................................................................... 22
Figure 16—Example of an attachment ................................................................................................................ 24
Figure 17—Example of an attachment (cylinder with a removable boot) ............................................................ 24
Figure 18—Example of an attachment ................................................................................................................ 25
PAGE iv COMPRESSED GAS ASSOCIATION, INC. CGA C-6—2019

Tables
Table 1—DOT minimum allowable design thickness (td) for common sizes of low pressure cylinders ................ 8
Table 2—TC minimum allowable design thickness (td) for common sizes of low-pressure cylinders ................... 9
Table 3—Factors for calculation of minimum allowable design thickness (td) for DOT-3A and DOT-3AA high
pressure cylinders ................................................................................................................................ 18
Appendix
Appendix A—Sample visual inspection report form (which may be used for cylinder requalification)
(Informative)................................................................................................................................... 27
CGA C-6—2019 COMPRESSED GAS ASSOCIATION, INC. PAGE 1

1 Introduction
Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), Parts 100-180, Hazardous Materials Regulations of
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as the regulations of Transport Canada (TC) require that a
cylinder be condemned when it leaks, when there is internal or external corrosion, denting, bulging, or when
evidence of rough usage exists to the extent that the cylinder is likely to be weakened appreciably [1].1 Until 1970,
U.S. regulations applicable to compressed gas cylinders were under the authority of the Interstate Commerce
Commission (ICC). Older cylinders, therefore, can be identified by an ICC stamping. Such cylinders are now
regulated according to DOT requirements.

NOTE—Under prescribed conditions of use, a formal visual inspection has been authorized in lieu of the periodic pressure
retest for certain low pressure cylinders used for noncorrosive gas service. See 49 CFR 180.209 for DOT requirements or
Clause 24 of CSA B339, Cylinders, spheres, and tubes for the transportation of dangerous goods, for TC requirements [1, 2].
For further information on pressure retest methods, see CGA C-1, Methods for Pressure Testing Compressed Gas Cylinders
[3].

NOTE—Wherever reference is made to DOT regulations, similar requirements can be found in TC regulations. Older cylinders
can be marked CTC, BTC, or CRC.

2 Scope
This standard provides cylinder users (requalifiers, owners, fillers, operators, etc.) with criteria to accept, reject,
and condemn steel compressed gas cylinders. This standard does not cover all circumstances for each individual
cylinder type and condition of lading.

NOTE—Special permit cylinders may contain their own visual inspection criteria in the special permit.

In situations where a particular cylinder design type is not covered by this standard, users shall modify their
inspection procedures. If a particular compressed gas service has unique detrimental effects on a cylinder’s
internal or external condition, these shall also be considered by the user.

Experience in the inspection of cylinders is an important factor in determining the acceptability of a given cylinder
for continued service. Users lacking this experience who have questionable cylinders should return them to a
manufacturer of the same type of cylinders or to a competent requalification agency for re-inspection.

Suggestions contained in this standard do not apply to cylinders manufactured under specification DOT-3HT,
CTC-3HT, or TC-3HTM. Because of the special provisions of that specification, separate recommendations cov-
ering service life and standards for visual inspection of these cylinders are contained in CGA C-8, Standard for
Requalification of DOT-3HT, CTC-3HT, and TC-3HTM Seamless Steel Cylinders [4].

For cylinders manufactured under specification DOT-8, DOT-8AL, CTC-8, CTC-8AL, CTC-8WC, TC-8WM, or
TC-8WAM, see CGA C-13, Standard for Periodic Visual Inspection and Requalification of Acetylene Cylinders
[5].

For aluminum alloy cylinders, see CGA C-6.1, Standard for Visual Inspection of High Pressure Aluminum Alloy
Compressed Gas Cylinders; CGA C-6.2, Standard for Visual Inspection and Requalification of Fiber Reinforced
High Pressure Cylinders; and CGA C-6.3, Standard for Visual Inspection of Low Pressure Aluminum Alloy Com-
pressed Gas Cylinders [6, 7, 8].

Inspection procedures include preparation of cylinders for inspection, exterior inspection, interior inspection (if
required), nature and extent of damage to be looked for, and tests that indicate the conditions of the cylinder,
etc. A sample inspection report for low pressure cylinders exempt from pressure testing is shown in Appendix A.
This sample inspection report may be revised to suit user or regulatory requirements.

1
References are shown by bracketed numbers and are listed in order of appearance in the reference section.