Can you use a rusty gas cylinder or a dented one? How to recognise and deal with damage

Gas cylinders circulate for many years and pass through many hands, so scratches and faded paint are normal. But on seeing a rusty gas cylinder with patchy corrosion, dents or bulges, many people wonder whether to keep using it. This article helps you tell normal signs of wear from dangerous damage, and explains what to do.

Why do gas cylinders get rusty or dented?

• The paint gets scratched when cylinders are rolled, stacked and handled; exposed steel rusts when it meets moisture.
• Cylinders are left on damp floors, near washing areas or outdoors in the rain for long periods.
• Hard knocks during transport, or being dropped from a vehicle.
• Cylinders kept near a heat source, where flames scorch the paint.

Which signs are acceptable and which are dangerous?

Usually acceptable

• Light scratches, faded paint.
• Specks of surface rust in a small area; when wiped away the steel is still smooth, with no deep pitting.

Stop using it and tell your dealer

• Deep rust, pitting or flaking over a wide area, especially on the base, the foot ring and around the welds.
• Deep dents, sharp-edged dents or dents on a weld.
• Bulging or deformation of the cylinder body.
• Scorching, paint burnt from contact with flames.
• A damaged valve or cylinder neck, a broken handle (shroud) or a crushed foot ring that stops the cylinder standing steadily.
• Past the inspection date marked on the cylinder.

Whether a cylinder is still fit for use or must be withdrawn is assessed by the inspection body according to the applicable standards and regulations — users should not decide this themselves.

What should users do?

1. Do not accept a cylinder showing signs of serious damage when the dealer delivers it; ask for a different one.
2. If you find damage on a cylinder in use: close the valve, move the cylinder to a well-ventilated place and call the dealer to replace it.
3. If you smell gas: follow the guidance in how to check for gas leaks at home.
4. Do not paint over rusty spots yourself, and do not try to hammer out dents.

How do dealers handle damaged cylinders?

• Set damaged cylinders aside; do not send them for filling or deliver them to customers.
• Pass them to the inspection body for assessment; cylinders that fail are withdrawn and destroyed in accordance with regulations.
• Record the serial numbers of withdrawn cylinders to update the management records — see LPG cylinder management for dealers.
• Add new cylinders when the withdrawal rate rises.

Preventing rust and dents

• Choose cylinders with a powder coating applied to a properly cleaned surface.
• Store cylinders upright, in a dry place, raised off the floor — see storing LPG cylinders in a dealer’s warehouse.
• Handle cylinders gently and do not drop them from vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

Written by the VietnhatGas technical and sales team — a batch manufacturer of LPG cylinders. This content is for reference; regulations and standards may change, so please check the current texts.