Cylinders, spheres and tubes

Information on the requirements for cylinders, spheres, and tubes, including registration for manufacturers, inspectors, and requalifiers, and on the selection and use of cylinders, spheres and tubes for transporting Class 2 dangerous goods.

General

Cylinders, spheres and tubes that can be used in Canada

In Canada, cylinders, spheres and tubes used for transporting dangerous goods must comply with section 5.10 of the TDG Regulations, referencing CSA B340 and CSA B342 for safety standards. These standards outline requirements for cylinders and tubes used to transport Class 2 (Gases) dangerous goods.

CSA B342 sets out the requirements for selecting and using UN cylinders and tubes in Canada. These are collectively called UN pressure receptacles, and Clause 4.1.7 lists which ones are authorized.

CSA B340 (Clause 4.1.1.1) specifies the requirements for selecting and using cylinder and tube specifications that are authorized for use in Canada, including TC cylinders. These cylinders and tubes fall into the following groups of specifications:

TC cylinders and tubes – manufactured according to CSA B339 (marked “TC”)
Department of Transportation (DOT) cylinders and tubes – manufactured according to U.S. rules in 49 CFR (marked “DOT”)
older Canadian specifications – marked CTC, CRC, or BTC
older U.S. specifications – marked ICC
older Canadian special permits – marked CTC and manufactured before 1 January 1993 under CTC permits (markings vary)
older American exemptions – marked ICC or DOT and made before 1 January 1993 under 49 CFR

Canada and the U.S. recognize each other’s approved UN pressure receptacles, allowing those marked "CAN" or "USA" to be used interchangeably in both countries (under Clause 5.1.3 of CSA B342 and paragraph 171.12(a)(4) of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials Regulations in Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations).

Identifying a TC specification cylinder, sphere or tube

A TC specification cylinder, sphere or tube will have permanent marks that follows the requirements set out in clause 4.19 of CSA B339. The marks will look like the example below. Certain marks are not required for all cylinder, sphere or tube specifications, as noted by 'where applicable'. Please consult the standard for full details on the marking requirements.

Visual example

TC 4BAM 17 SPUN XYZ 12345 ST 100°C 08 ⎔ 04

100L
T10 kg
M100 kg
REE 5 ml
.09 M³
DT 50 mm
12N

Horizontal marks from left to right

Marking requirements	Example
Transport Canada mark	TC
Specification designation	4BAM
Service presure (in bar)	17
The word "SPUN" where an end closure in the finished container has been welded by the spinning process, or the word "PLUG" where an end closure in the finished container has been effected by plugging	SPUN or PLUG
Manufacturers registered mark	XYZ
Manufacturer's serial number (numbers, letters)	12345
The letters "ST" followed by service temperature in degrees Celsius (where applicable)	ST 100°C
Test month (two digits)	08
Independent inspector's registered mark (between month and year of test date)	⬡
Test year (last two digits)	04

Vertical marks from top to bottom

Marking requirements	Example
Water capacity (in litres) and the unit symbol "L" (where applicable)	100L
The letter "T" followed by the tare (in kg) and the unit symbol "kg" (where applicable)	T10 kg
The letter "M" followed by the mass (in kg) and the unit symbol "kg"(where applicable)	M100 kg
The letters "REE" followed by the rejection elastic expansion (in millilitres) and the unit symbol "mL"	REE 5 mL
The manufacturer's maximum rated capacity in cubic metres (acetylene cylinders only)	.09 M³
The letters "DT" followed by the length of the dip (in mm) and followed by the unit symbol "mm" (where applicable)	DT 50 mm
Thread designation (where applicable)	12N

Obtaining a TC specification cylinder, sphere or tube

TC cylinders, spheres and tubes may be purchased from manufacturers registered with Transport Canada pursuant to CSA B339.

Search the TDG database for manufacturers of TC cylinder, spheres and tubes registered with Transport Canada.

Design and manufacture

TC specification cylinders and tubes must be designed, manufactured, initially tested, initially inspected and marked in conformance with the requirements set out in the CSA B339 standard. DOT specification cylinders and tubes must comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations entitled Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR).

TC cylinder, sphere and tube designs must be registered as per section 25 of CSA B339.

A gas container manufactured to another specification cannot be converted to meet the requirements of a TC or DOT cylinder, sphere or tube.

Selection and use

CSA B340 sets out the requirements for selecting cylinders, spheres, tubes, and other containers for transporting Class 2 dangerous goods in Canada. It also covers the requirements for their use, handling, and filling. The person filling the container is responsible for choosing the correct cylinder, sphere or tube for the dangerous goods.

The TDG Regulations allow cylinder and tubes not in compliance with CSA B340 and CSA B342 to be used under certain conditions. The following are some common exemptions that provide relief from Subsection 5.10(1) of the TDG Regulations:

Some cylinders, spheres and tubes may also be used under an Equivalency Certificate. These cylinders are marked with the certificate number (for example, TC-SU ####). These cylinders, spheres and tubes must be used and requalified in accordance with the conditions of the Equivalency Certificate.

Orientation requirements for containers during transportation

According to Clause 4.2.3 of CSA B340, containers filled with refrigerated liquefied gas (e.g. UN1963 – helium, refrigerated liquid) or a liquefied flammable gas (e.g. UN1978 – propane) must be transported in an upright position unless the container is designed for horizontal service. Additional requirements apply to manifolded containers.

Cylinders, spheres and tubes used in stationary applications

Some cylinders, spheres and tubes are also used in stationary systems and non-transportation applications.

Examples include:

cylinders installed as part of fire suppression systems
breathing air cascade systems
propane cylinders providing fuel to buildings

Cylinders manufactured and marked as prescribed in the TDG Regulations remain standardized means of containment under the TDG Act, however, other regulations must also be complied with, when these cylinders are used in non-transportation applications.

For example:

when cylinders are installed as part of a compressed air cascade system, the entire system, including the fittings, piping, and relief devices, must comply with the applicable boiler, pressure vessel and pressure piping legislation
when cylinders are part of a fire suppression system, the entire system must comply with the applicable fire codes

In most cases, these other regulations require that the stationary cylinders be filled and requalified in accordance with the TDG Regulations.

Requalification, reheat treatment, repair and rebuilding of cylinders, spheres and tubes

The frequency of requalification depends on the cylinder/sphere/tube specification and the gas it is being used to transport. The requalification requirements are found in CSA B339.

Only cylinders, spheres and tubes that are within their requalification period and service life can be filled.

Before anyone can requalify, reheat treat, repair or rebuild a cylinder, sphere and tube, they must:

if they are located in Canada, be registered with Transport Canada and follow CSA B339 (Clause 24)
if they are located in the U.S., be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (PHMSA) and U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR), or
if they are located outside Canada and the U.S., be either:
- registered with Transport Canada and follow CSA B339 (Clause 24), or
- approved by PHMSA and follow 49 CFR

Search the TDG database for TC cylinder, sphere and tube requalifiers registered with Transport Canada.

Identifying a requalified cylinder, sphere or tube

A requalification facility registered with Transport Canada must requalify and mark the cylinder, sphere or tube in accordance with CSA B339. Clause 24 of CSA B339 specifies the marking requirements for cylinders, spheres and tubes that have been requalified. The marking arrangement is as follows:

A B C D E

A = month requalification performed (two digits), followed by a space
B = requalifier's registered mark issued by Transport Canada, followed by a space
C = year requalification performed (last two digits only)
D = procedure symbol, followed by a space, where applicable
E = repairer's, rebuilder's, or reheat treater's registered mark, if applicable

A TC specification cylinder requalified by a requalification facility approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will follow the same marking arrangement except that the requalifier's registered mark will be replaced by the facility's requalifier identification number (RIN) issued by PHMSA.

A requalification facility approved by PHMSA must requalify and mark DOT, ICC, CTC, CRC, and BTC specification cylinders and tubes in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations entitled Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). The marking arrangement is as follows:

F G

A = month requalification performed (one digit)
B = first character of the facility's requalification identification number (RIN) issued by PHMSA
C = second character of the facility's requalification identification number (RIN) issued by PHMSA
D = third character of the facility's requalification identification number (RIN) issued by PHMSA
E = fourth character of the facility's requalification identification number (RIN) issued by PHMSA
F = year requalification performed (last two digits)
G = symbol described in paragraphs (f)(2) through (f)(8) of 180.213 of 49 CFR

It should be noted that PHMSA may issue a visual identification number (VIN) instead of a requalification identification number (RIN) for facilities that requalify cylinders by external visual inspection. The VIN is typically represented by the letter "V" followed by a sequence of numbers.

Registration

Registering as:

manufacturer (including designs)
requalifier and repair facility (pressure test and visual inspection – pressure testing training required; acetylene cylinder requalification and external visual inspection – external visual training required)
independent inspectors

To register, the applicant must submit a completed application form. The Certificate of Registration is valid for five years, after which the facility must apply for renewal.

Note: A registration to periodically inspect and test UN pressure receptacles pursuant to CSA B341 does not automatically allow a facility to requalify gas containers pursuant to CSA B339; registration to CSA B339 is required.

Amending, renewing or cancelling my registration

A registration can be amended, renewed or cancelled by completing the application form.

Certificate of registration and Mark

When approved, applicants receive a Certificate of Registration that includes their registered mark and a list of their authorized activities:

manufacturers – authorized to manufacture specific TC container designs. Only manufacturers registered with Transport Canada may display the “TC” specification mark.
independent inspectors – authorized to inspect specific TC container designs during qualification and manufacture. Their registered mark must be applied to each gas container at the time of manufacture.
requalifiers and repair facilities – authorized to carry out requalification or repair of specific container specifications.

Contact us

Inquiries pertaining to applications for registration

Telephone: 1-855-298-1520
After choosing the language (1 for English, 2 for French), press option 1.

Email: MOCregister-Registrecontenant@tc.gc.ca

Technical inquiries

Email: tdgcontainers-tmdcontenants@tc.gc.ca
Please include the text "Cylinders" in the subject line.

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Cylinders, spheres and tubes – Requirements

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