Marking and Colour Coding of Gas
Cylinders, Quads and Banks for Diving
Applications
IMCA D 043
November 2007
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IMCA D 043
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IMCA D 043 – Version History
Date Reason Revision
November 2007 Initial publication
Marking and Colour Coding of Gas Cylinders,
Quads and Banks for Diving Applications
IMCA D 043 – November 2007
1 Scope....................................................................................................................... 1
2 Objective ................................................................................................................ 1
3 Application ............................................................................................................. 1
4 Comment ............................................................................................................... 1
5 Marking, Labelling and Colour Coding................................................................ 1
5.1 Individual Cylinders ........................................................................................................................................... 2
5.2 Portable Quads .................................................................................................................................................. 2
5.3 Large Gas Storage Banks.................................................................................................................................. 2
6 Gas Suppliers Quads ............................................................................................. 2
7 Gas Sampling.......................................................................................................... 2
Appendices
1 Diving Industry Commonly Accepted Colour Coding ...................................... 3
2 Gas Mixtures for Medical or Inhalation Purposes.............................................. 4
3 Some Typical Examples of Quads and Banks..................................................... 5
4 A Typical Example of a Cylinder Labelling System ........................................... 6
1 Scope
This guidance addresses the marking and colour coding of diving gas cylinders, quads and banks containing gases
which:
i) may be supplied direct to the diver;
ii) may not be supplied direct to the diver but are manufactured to diving quality standards for incorporation
into breathing mixtures.
It does not apply to pipework.
2 Objective
Colour coding is used primarily to identify the hazard associated with the contents of a cylinder. Individual
cylinder labelling is the primary means of identifying the contents of the cylinder. The objective of this guidance
is to enable anyone working with gas cylinders to be able to clearly identify the nature of the contents by
means of the relevant markings on the cylinder or quad and/or from the connection point of large banks where
the contents are not visible to the operator.
3 Application
This guidance is applicable internationally, but national regulations/standards will normally prevail.
4 Comment
There are many national standards, codes, guidance and information sheets pertaining to the marking and
colour coding of gas cylinders which may be used in diving operations. Some examples are BS EN 1089-3:2004,
IMO Code of Safety for Diving Systems, British Compressed Gases Association TIS 6, HSE Diving Information
Sheet No. 3 but many more national standards are in existence i.e. USA, Russia, China, Japan etc. It would be
impossible for any standard or guidance to be exhaustive and cover all gases and gas combinations. This
guidance attempts to summarise, at Appendix 1, the requirements of the relevant standards and in addition
provides some practical advice on their interpretation and application. Whilst no chemical symbols exist for
gas mixtures (as opposed to compounds), those used in Appendix 1 are accepted throughout the industry.
Some typical examples of quad and bank configurations are shown at Appendix 3.
5 Marking, Labelling and Colour Coding
The guidance given in this section should be applied in line with Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.
Identification colours should be marked on the cylinder shoulders where possible. The cylinder body may be
colour coded for other purposes, e.g. high visibility. However, the use of a colour on the cylinder which allows
misinterpretation of the hazard should be avoided.
Individual cylinders should be appropriately labelled to identify the contents (see Appendix 4).
Cylinders, quads and banks should be:
i) marked with the chemical symbol of the gas they contain and, where the gas is a mixture, the percentage
by volume, quoting percentage of oxygen first;
ii) marked with the words “DIVING QUALITY” in the case of gases for incorporation into breathing mixtures.
This is to differentiate them from gases for other uses;
iii) colour coded as appropriate to their method of use as defined in sub-sections 5.1-5.3.
Where two-colour and three-colour combinations are used on quads and banks, it is important that all the
colours are incorporated as compactly as possible as personnel operating valves are of necessity in very close
IMCA D 043 1
proximity to the unit and therefore have a limited field of vision. Colours should, therefore, be applied to the
frames in short (8in/20cm maximum) alternating bands (see Appendix 3 Figure 1B).
5.1 Individual Cylinders
Gas cylinders to be used individually must be marked and colour coded as appropriate. The latest test
date stamped on the cylinders should be highlighted with a small patch of distinctive colour.
5.2 Portable Quads
Units which are formed of a number of cylinders securely packaged together are commonly called
‘quads’ (see Appendix 3 Figure 1). In general, quads are made up of cylinders containing the same gas
in which case only the outer layer of cylinders need be fully colour coded. Where colour coding
involves two or more colours, these may be marked on the quad frame instead of the cylinder
shoulder. Where quads comprise cylinders containing different gases such as for therapeutic use, each
cylinder must be marked and colour coded as appropriate.
In order to differentiate between air and nitrox quads, which have the same colour coding, the outer
layer of cylinders should be marked with “AIR DIVING QUALITY” or “% OXYGEN and % NITROGEN DIVING
QUALITY”, as appropriate.
5.3 Large Gas Storage Banks
The two typical types of large storage banks in common use are indicated below together with the
method of marking which should be applied.
5.3.1 Where the cylinder shoulder is visible but the body is not (see Appendix 3 Figure 2):
Each cylinder shoulder must be marked and colour coded as appropriate. Where a large
bank is used to house cylinders containing the same gas, it may be appropriate to mark and
colour code the frame instead of the cylinder shoulders.
5.3.2 Where cylinders are completely encapsulated within the framework and only the
valves/connection points protrude through the ‘face’ of the bank (see Appendix 3
Figure 3):
There should be a round ‘flag’ of at least 8in/20cm diameter painted in quarters or thirds with
the appropriate colour coding, immediately adjacent to the valve/connection point of each
cylinder.
6 Gas Suppliers Quads
It is appreciated that shoulder and body painting, even of outer layers, may not be practical due to the need for
rapid turnaround. As an alternative, therefore, the marking and colour coding may be applied to the quad
frame in line with this guidance.
7 Gas Sampling
Sampling of all gases must be carried out prior to the commencement of, and during, diving operations.
Gas cylinders and quads as received from the supplier should have a label attached and a purity certificate
stating the composition of the gas they contain. However, it is stressed that analysis of gas as received from a
supplier to a diving installation or site is the responsibility of a nominated and competent individual, and that
the ultimate authority for establishing the exact contents of any gas cylinder, bank or unit before use rests with
the relevant supervisor.
2 IMCA D 043
Appendix 1
Diving Industry Commonly Accepted Colour Coding
Typical shoulder Quad upper frame/
Gas Symbol Cylinder shoulder
colours frame valve end
Helium He Brown Brown
Medical oxygen O2 White White
Brown and white
Oxygen and helium Brown and white
O2/He short (8in/20cm)
mixtures quarters or bands
alternating bands
Nitrogen N2 Black Black
Black, white and
Black, white and
Oxygen/helium/ brown short
O2/He/N2 brown quarters or
nitrogen mixtures (8in/20cm) alternating
bands
bands
Air (breathing) Black and white short
Air Black and white
Oxygen/nitrogen (8in/20cm) alternating
N2/O2 quarters or bands
mixtures bands
Carbon dioxide CO2 Grey Grey
As
Calibration gases 1 Pink Pink
appropriate
Notes:
1 The colour coding of cylinders containing calibration gases may vary from the above. In addition, some are
marked with yellow shoulders for toxic contents and red shoulders for flammable contents. Labels and
marking should be carefully checked before use.
IMCA D 043 3
Appendix 2
Gas Mixtures for Medical or Inhalation Purposes
Gas type Example cylinder shoulder colours
White RAL 9010
Air or synthetic air 20%≤O2≤23%
Black RAL 9005
White RAL 9010
Helium/oxygen He/O2
Brown RAL 8008
White RAL 9010
Oxygen/carbon dioxide O2/Co2
Grey RAL 7037
White RAL 9010
Oxygen/nitrous oxide O2/N2O
Blue RAL 5010
Notes:
The above table taken from the British Compressed Gases Association TIS 6 shows example cylinder shoulders
colour coded with concentric bands but this may alternatively be painted in quarters around the shoulder.
The colour codes shown in this table are generally for medical use and although they all may be seen on
cylinders from gas suppliers, some are unlikely to be in general use in an offshore diving environment.
The colour codes in this table indicate the general nature of the gas and not necessarily the specific gas
contained within. For example bright green indicates an inert gas and light blue indicates an oxidising gas.
4 IMCA D 043
Appendix 3
Some Typical Examples of Quads and Banks
Short (8in/20cm)
alternating colour
Shoulder colour(s)
bands
Body colour
Type A Type B
Figure 1 – Typical quads where body and shoulder are visible to operator
Coloured frame edges
(where appropriate)
Shoulder colour
Figure 2 – Large bank where shoulder is visible to operator at valve position but body may not be visible
Coloured frame edges
(where appropriate)
Specific marking flags
Figure 3 – Containerised or built-in banks where cylinder is not visible to operator (i.e. body or shoulder)
IMCA D 043 5
Appendix 4
A Typical Example of a Cylinder Labelling System
A
H I E G
K
F
D J
A Company name
B Address of the company
C Risk and safety phrases relating to the product
D Hazard symbols
E EC label (for pure substances only)
F Revision number (gas company use to identify label revision)
G EC number, if applicable
H Product name
I UN identification number and proper shipping name (given by product name)
J Any additional company information
K Emergency contact telephone number
The above label example is based on the British Compressed Gases Association TIS 6 – Cylinder Identification
Colour Coding and Labelling Requirements.
Labelling systems and requirements may vary depending upon the region of operation.
6 IMCA D 043
