EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 1089-3

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM July 2011

ICS 01.070; 23.020.30 Supersedes EN 1089-3:2004

English Version

Transportable gas cylinders - Gas cylinder identification

(excluding LPG) - Part 3: Colour coding

Bouteilles à gaz transportables - Identification de la Ortsbewegliche Gasflaschen - Gasflaschen-Kennzeichnung

bouteille à gaz (GPL exclu) - Partie 3: Code couleur (ausgenommen Flüssiggas (LPG)) - Teil 3: Farbcodierung

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 4 May 2011.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1089-3:2011: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Contents Page

Foreword ..............................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................4
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................5
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................5
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................5
4 Symbols and abbreviations ..................................................................................................................6
5 Principle ..................................................................................................................................................6
6 Colour coding system ...........................................................................................................................6
6.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................6
6.2 Shoulder .................................................................................................................................................6
6.2.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................6
6.2.2 Gas properties........................................................................................................................................6
6.2.3 Specific single gases ............................................................................................................................7
6.2.4 Mixtures of inert gases ..........................................................................................................................8
6.2.5 Oxygen mixtures and air for medical use and breathing application ..............................................8
6.2.6 Specific medical gas mixtures .............................................................................................................8
6.3 Body ........................................................................................................................................................8
7 Implementation ......................................................................................................................................8
Annex A (normative) Colour references ...........................................................................................................9
Annex B (informative) Colour location ........................................................................................................... 10
Annex C (normative) Letter " N " .................................................................................................................... 12
Annex D (informative) Guidance for the selection of shoulder colours ..................................................... 13
D.1 General ................................................................................................................................................. 13
D.2 Typical examples ................................................................................................................................ 13
Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................................... 15

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Foreword
This document (EN 1089-3:2011) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 23 “Transportable gas
cylinders”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2012, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by January 2012.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 1089-3:2004.

This document has been technically revised by the following:

a) the white colouration of gas cylinder body dedicated for medical use;

b) the new specific colour dedicated to nitric oxide/ nitrogen for medical use;

c) the introduction of definitions (gas for medical use, breathing gas, industrial gas);

d) the application of bright green colouration for inert gas mixtures N2 or He with O2 less than 20 %
(exception for the two specific colours);

e) the restriction of configuration of two colours on shoulder as quadrants to air (medical use or for breathing
use);

f) a guidance for the selection of shoulder with typical examples of assignment of colour.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

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EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Introduction
The labelling of gas cylinders as required by the RID/ADR- Regulations is the primary method of indicating
dangers of cylinder contents. However, colour coding is used to identify the contents of gas cylinders from a
distance, e.g. in case of a fire. It is recognized that other systems are in use and may be used in conjunction
with the requirements of this European Standard.

This European standard, along with EN ISO 13769, EN ISO 21007-1 and EN ISO 21007-2 belongs to a series
of European Standards specifying gas cylinder identification requirements.

NOTE Labelling and marking of gas cylinders is subject to provisions of RID/ADR which take precedence over
marking clauses in this standard.

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

1 Scope
This European Standard specifies a colour coding system for the secondary method of identification of the
contents of gas cylinders for industrial gases, breathing gas application and gases for medical use with
particular reference to the properties of the gas or gas mixture.

This European Standard does not apply to cylinders containing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to refrigerant
gases, to portable fire extinguishers or stationary cylinder extinguishing. Bundle colour coding is not
addressed by this or other standards.

NOTE LPG includes substances carried under the UN number 1965 "Hydrocarbon gas mixture, liquefied, N.O.S."

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

EN ISO 10156, Gases and gas mixtures — Determination of fire potential and oxidizing ability for the selection
of cylinder valve outlets (ISO 10156:2010)

ISO 5145, Cylinder valve outlets for gases and gas mixtures — Selection and dimensioning

ISO 10298, Determination of toxicity of a gas or gas mixture

ISO 13338, Determination of tissue corrosiveness of a gas or gas mixture

European pharmacopoeia, monograph 1684

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1
gas for medical use
any gas or mixture of gases intended to be administered to patients for therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic
purposes, with or without pharmacological action, or to be used for surgical tools, and it covers both medicinal
and medical gases (see ISO 5145)

3.2
inert gas
non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-oxidizing gas or gas mixture

3.3
synthetic air
for medical use to refer to pharmacopoeia, monograph 1684, and for other use mixtures containing 20 % to
23,5 % oxygen in nitrogen to be considered

3.4
industrial gas
gas or gas mixtures not covered by 3.1 and not used for breathing gas use

3.5
breathing gas
gas filled in cylinders for breathing and diving application, excluding gas for medical use

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EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

3.6
body
cylindrical part of a gas cylinder

4 Symbols and abbreviations

For the purposes of this document, the following symbols apply.

4.1
N.O.S.
not otherwise specified

5 Principle
Colour coding is used to give information about the contents of gas cylinders from a distance e.g. in case of
emergency and to distinguish between cylinders used for industrial and medical uses.

For all applications, hazard/identification colours shall be applied to cylinder shoulders.

For gases for medical use, the body of the cylinder shall also be colour coded (see 6.3).

For applications other than medical, the cylinder body may be coloured. The use of a colour for the cylinder
body that allows misinterpretation of the hazard of the gas is not allowed.

Colours used shall be in accordance with RAL register 840HR given in Annex A or equivalent.

6 Colour coding system

6.1 General

The following colour coding requirements are applicable to the shoulder and the body of the cylinder.

6.2 Shoulder

6.2.1 General

Gas cylinders are assigned colours using three methods. Colours are chosen based on the properties of the
contents in accordance with the hazard of the gas filled in the cylinder (6.2.2). Some specific gases and gas
mixtures are assigned colours relevant to that gas or gas mixture as noted in 6.2.3 and 6.2.6. Instead of the
hazard colour, other colour(s) may be assigned based on the components of a gas mixture (6.2.3 or 6.2.4 or
6.2.5).

Annex D gives guidance for the selection of shoulder colours.

6.2.2 Gas properties

6.2.2.1 Unless specifically identified in 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.5 or 6.2.6, all gases and gas mixtures shall be
identified by a colour coding indicating the properties of the contents in accordance with the colour of the
danger labels as specified in RID/ADR.

When two colours are applied to the cylinder shoulder, they should be in one of the formats (bands or
quadrants) identified in Annex B.

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

The property shall be classified in a descending order of hazard as follows:

6.2.2.2 For gases with a single danger:

a) toxic and/or corrosive (in accordance with ISO 10298 and ISO 13338) — yellow;

b) flammable (in accordance with EN ISO 10156) — red;

c) oxidizing (in accordance with EN ISO 10156) — light blue;

d) inert1) — bright green.

The colour BRIGHT GREEN shall not be used for air for medical use or breathing application (see 6.2.5).

6.2.2.3 For gases with more than one danger:

When a gas or mixture has two hazard properties, then the cylinder shoulder shall be coloured in accordance
with the primary hazard. The colour of the secondary hazard (flammable or oxidizing) may also be applied to
the cylinder shoulder:

a) toxic (and/or corrosive) and flammable — yellow plus red;

b) toxic (and/or corrosive) and oxidizing — yellow plus light blue.

6.2.3 Specific single gases

6.2.3.1 The following gases shall be identified by specific colours rather than the colour system defined in
6.2.2.

a) Flammable gases:

Acetylene — Maroon.

b) Oxidizing gases:

Oxygen — White;

Nitrous oxide — Blue.

6.2.3.2 Inert gases for medical application shall be further differentiated by use of the following colours:

a) Argon — Dark green;

b) Nitrogen — Black;

c) Carbon dioxide — Grey;

d) Helium — Brown.

Specific colours of single gases described above are identical to ISO 32.

These colours may also be used for applications other than medical instead of the bright green colour (inert)
as indicated in 6.2.2.

1) in accordance with 3.2

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EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

NOTE Inert gases for medical use are also differentiated from industrial use by the colouration of the gas cylinder
body, white for medical use (see 6.3).

6.2.4 Mixtures of inert gases

Instead of the hazard colour as indicated in 6.2.2, combinations of colours (maximum two, see Annex D) of
the specific component gases listed in 6.2.3.2 may be used to identify the cylinder contents.

6.2.5 Oxygen mixtures and air for medical use and breathing application

For medical use, the following gas mixtures containing at least 20 % oxygen shall be identified using the
colour of the components listed in 6.2.3. These colours may also be used for breathing applications other than
medical.

a) Air or synthetic air — white plus black;

b) Oxygen/helium — white plus brown;

c) Oxygen/carbon dioxide — white plus grey;

d) Oxygen/nitrous oxide — white plus blue.

If the gas mixture contains more than one other gas than oxygen, then 6.2.2 shall be applied.

All the above gas mixtures containing less than 20 % oxygen shall be coloured bright green.

NOTE A deviation from this requirement is possible for specific mixture use for deep diving, e.g. helium with minor
percentage of oxygen.

These colours shall neither be used for industrial gas mixtures containing these components, nor also for
breathing gases with less than 20 % oxygen which are life threatening to breathe.

6.2.6 Specific medical gas mixtures

In case of medical gas mixture for inhalation containing less 1 000 ppm(V/V) of NO (nitric oxide) in nitrogen a
specific colour on the shoulder, Turkish blue, shall be used.

6.3 Body

All cylinders for gas for medical use shall be coloured white along the body of the cylinder. White colouration
of the body shall not be used for any other applications.

7 Implementation
Cylinders colour coded in accordance with this European Standard shall have the letter “N” marked twice on
the shoulder of the cylinder except if there is no risk of mis-interpretation. When “N” is used, these markings
shall be positioned diametrically opposed and displayed in a colour distinct from the colours of the cylinder
shoulder. The size and shape of “N” shall be as indicated in Annex C.

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Annex A
(normative)

Colour references

Table A.1 — Colours

a
Colour RAL number RAL designation

Yellow 1018 Zinc yellow

Red 3000 Flame red

Light blue 5012 Light blue

Bright green 6018 Yellow green

Maroon 3009 Oxide red

White 9010 Pure white

Blue 5010 Gentian blue

Dark green 6001 Emerald green

Black 9005 Jet black

Grey 7037 Dusty grey

Brown 8008 Olive brown

Turkish blue 5018 Turkish blue

a
The colours specified are in accordance with the register RAL 840 HR, RAL German Institute for Quality
Assurance and Certification, Siegburger Strasse 39, D-53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany www.ral.de

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EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Annex B
(informative)

Colour location

Key

1 colour

h cylinder shoulder height

Figure B.1 — Colour coding with one colour

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Plan view

Key
0 body colour
1 colour 1
2 colour 2
Colour 2, in configuration a), shall not be the same as the body colour of the cylinder. It is acceptable to
transpose colour 1 and colour 2 to avoid this situation. Configurations b) or c) may also be used.

NOTE The size of the band does not indicate the quantity of the gas.

Quadrants (configuration c) should only be used for breathing air.

Figure B.2 — Choice of schemes for colour coding with two colours

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EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Annex C
(normative)

Letter " N "

Figure C.1 — Letter "N" - Approximate shape

Figure C.2 — Letter "N" - Height relative to shoulder

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Annex D
(informative)

Guidance for the selection of shoulder colours

D.1 General
This annex is intended to assist the user to find the appropriate colour(s) for the shoulder for gases and gases
mixtures as described in Clause 5.

D.2 Typical examples

The following table gives typical examples of assignment of colour(s) in accordance with the requirement of
the standard. For gases and gas mixtures not given in this table the rules of the main text are to be followed.

Table D.1 — Specific colours for some gases and gas mixtures

Name of gas Formula Industrial gas Gas for medical use Non medical
breathing gas

Oxygen O2 White

Oxygen + Nitrous oxide O2 + N2O Light blue White + Blue Not applicable

Nitrous oxide N2O Blue

Carbon dioxide CO2 Grey or bright Grey Not applicable

greena

Helium He Brown or bright Brown Not applicable

green a

Nitrogen N2 Black or bright Black Not applicable

green a

Acetylene C2H2 Maroon Not applicable Not applicable

Argon Ar Dark green or Dark green Not applicable

bright green a

Flammable gases (e.g. hydrogen, H2, CH4 Red Red (if applicable) Not applicable
methane)

f
Toxic and/or corrosive gases (e.g. AsH3, CO, Yellow Yellow (if applicable) Not applicable
arsine, carbon monoxide, ammonia) NH3

nitrogen + nitric oxide N2 + NO Bright green (If Turkish blue Not applicable
(NO < 1000 ppm (V/V)) applicable)

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EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Table D.1 (continued)

Non medical
Name of gas Formula Industrial gas Gas for medical use
breathing gas

e
Oxygen + Carbon dioxide O2 + CO2 Light blue White + Grey (White +
(> 23,5 % O2) Grey) or light
blue a

Oxygen + Carbon dioxide O2 + CO2 Bright green Not applicable Not applicable
(<= 23,5 % O2)

Oxygen + Helium (> 23,5 % O2) O2 + He Light blue White + Brown (White +
Brown ) or
Light blue a

Oxygen + Helium O2 + He Bright green White + Brown (White +

(20 % ≤ O2 ≤ 23,5 %) Brown ) or
Bright green

Oxygen + Helium (< 20 % O2) O2 + He Bright green Bright green (White +

Brown ) or
c
Bright green

Compressed air - Bright green White + Black White + Black

Oxygen + Nitrogen O2 + N2 Bright green White + Black White + Black

d
(20 % ≤ O2 ≤ 23,5 %)

b
Oxygen + Nitrogen (< 20 % O2) O2 + N2 Bright green Bright green Not applicable

Oxygen + Nitrogen (> 23,5 % O2) O2 + N2 Light blue Light blue Light blue
NOTE The expression "medical gas" does not necessarily mean that the gas is only used for breathing purposes, e.g.
gas intended to be injected into a cavity (abdominal for coelioscopy).

a This standard allows the use of one of the two mentioned colour codes above. Inert gases for medical use and other use differ also by
the colour by the gas cylinder body (white for medical use).
b Precautionary label shall indicate the percentage of both components and a mention for restriction on the duration of breathing because
mixtures that contain less than 20 % of oxygen are life threatening if they are breathed continuously at atmospheric pressure.
c See 6.2.5.

d “synthetic air” is a generic term used by the industrial and medical gases, and is also used in the Pharmacopoeia for medical purposes
only in the range: 20 % ≤ O2 ≤ 23,5 %
e Mixtures that contain more than 7 % of carbon dioxide are life threatening if they are breathed continuously. Their valve outlet is
therefore dedicated (see ISO 5145 Table 2 and 3).
f Instead of yellow, yellow + the secondary hazard colour (in this case “red”) can be used.

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 EN 1089-3:2011 (E)

Bibliography

[1] ISO 13769, Gas cylinders — Stamp marking

[2] ISO 7225, Gas cylinders — Precautionary labels

[3] RAL 840 HR, RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification, Siegburger Strasse 39, D-
53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany, www.ral.de

[4] ISO 21007-1, Gas cylinders — Identification and marking using radio frequency identification
technology — Part 1: Reference architecture and terminology

[5] ISO 21007-2, Gas cylinders — Identification and marking using radio frequency identification
technology — Part 2: Numbering schemes for radio frequency identification

[6] ADR, International Carriage Of Dangerous Goods By Road

[7] RID, International Carriage Of Dangerous Goods By Rail

[8] ISO 32, Gas cylinders for medical use — Marking for identification of content

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