Overview
ISO 3807:2013 - "Gas cylinders - Acetylene cylinders - Basic requirements and type testing" specifies the core safety, testing and production requirements for acetylene cylinders (with and without fusible plugs) up to a maximum nominal water capacity of 150 L. The standard focuses on the porous material, solvent and acetylene content, type approval and production/batch test procedures for cylinders containing porous fill. It does not cover detailed cylinder shell design (see ISO 9809‑1, ISO 9809‑3, ISO 4706, ISO 7866).
Keywords: ISO 3807:2013, acetylene cylinders, gas cylinders standard, porous material, fusible plug, type testing, working pressure.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & applicability: Requirements for acetylene cylinders intended for transport and storage, compatible with national regulations and suitable for application with UN Model Regulations.
- Cylinder shell: Shells must conform to relevant cylinder design standards; minimum hydraulic test pressures are specified (e.g., ≥60 bar for cylinders without fusible plugs and ≥52 bar for those with fusible plugs).
- Porous material: Material must be compatible with solvent/acetylene and the shell; porosity control and manufacturing inspection procedures are required. The standard limits porosity variation (maximum − minimum ≤ 3%) and requires a minimum compressive strength (annexes define test methods; example: ≥2 MPa (20 bar)).
- Solvent and acetylene content: Specified solvent content (commonly acetone or DMF) and maximum acetylene charge are established during prototype testing to ensure safety and compliance with test procedures (e.g., prevention of hydraulic pressure development, backfire and fire tests).
- Fusible plugs & accessories: Requirements and test procedures for non-reclosing fusible pressure-relief devices and other fitted accessories.
- Type approval & testing: Procedures for requesting approval, cylinder type tests and required information in type-approval documentation.
- Annexed test methods: Normative annexes cover porosity determination, compressive strength, working-pressure calculation, prevention of hydraulic pressure, backfire test, fire test, joggle-weld integrity, fusible-plug testing and production inspection.
Practical applications and users
ISO 3807:2013 is used by:
- Cylinder manufacturers and porous material producers (for design, production and batch testing)
- Gas suppliers and filling stations (safe filling limits, tare definitions and solvent specifications)
- Testing laboratories and certification bodies (type approval and test execution)
- Regulators and safety engineers (transport and storage compliance, emergency relief device requirements)
Related standards
Using ISO 3807 helps ensure acetylene cylinder safety, consistent manufacturing controls and regulatory compliance across transport and industrial applications.
