If you have ever seen a medical oxygen cylinder, you may have noticed that it has a green shoulder spray. This is a band of paint around the top of the cylinder that covers about 10% of its surface area. The rest of the cylinder may be unpainted or have a different color depending on the manufacturer or supplier. But why is the shoulder spray green? And what does it mean for the gas inside?
The green shoulder spray is a standard color marking for medical oxygen cylinders in the United States. It follows the guidelines of the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Pamphlet C-9, which specifies the color codes for different gases intended for medical use. The color green indicates that the gas inside is oxygen, which is an oxidizer or fire hazard. Oxygen can make materials that are slow to ignite or that will not burn in air ignite and burn in an oxygen-rich environment. This environment is created by oxygen flowing during treatment and the inadvertent releases. Therefore, oxygen cylinders should not be exposed to ignition sources or flammable materials.
However, the color of the cylinder alone is not enough to identify the gas inside. There may be variations in color codes among different countries or suppliers. Also, some cylinders may have faded or damaged paint that makes the color unclear. Therefore, it is important to always check the label on the cylinder that shows the name, concentration, and purity of the gas. It is also a good practice to use an oxygen analyzer to verify the contents and concentration of the cylinder before use.
The DOT medical oxygen cylinder is a type of high-pressure gas cylinder that can store gaseous oxygen for patient care in various settings. It is marked to designate the type of cylinder, maximum fill pressure, hydrostatic test date, inspector, manufacturer, and serial number. The marking are normally stamped into the shoulder of the cylinder. The hydrostatic test date and inspector mark indicate when the cylinder was last tested and who tested the cylinder. Most oxygen cylinders are required to be tested every 5 years. This test ensures the cylinder can safety hold the maximum fill pressure.
Post time: Aug-02-2023