That steel cylinder in your kitchen isn't forever — it has a certification life, and the date is stamped right on it. Here's how to read it.

Finding the Date Stamp

Look at the collar (the ring around the valve) or the foot ring: you'll see a stamped year — sometimes with a month, like 2019 or 03-2021. That's the manufacture or last-requalification date.

How Long Cylinders Are Certified

LPG cylinders are certified for roughly 8–10 years from manufacture, then must be requalified — inspected, pressure-tested and re-stamped — or retired. The brand's filling plant handles this; you never requalify a cylinder yourself.

Check Your Cylinder in 60 Seconds

  1. Find the year stamp on the collar.
  2. Count forward ~8–10 years — that's roughly its certification horizon.
  3. Check for visual red flags: deep rust, dents, a bulging body, a valve that looks tampered.
  4. If it's old or suspect — exchange it. The refill system exists precisely so cylinders cycle back to plants for inspection.

Why This Matters

  • Steel fatigues — corrosion and repeated pressurisation weaken walls over years.
  • Valves wear — an old valve leaks slowly and invisibly.
  • The exchange system protects you — factory refilling routes old cylinders out of circulation automatically. It's a strong reason to exchange rather than decant (why decanting is dangerous).

What To Do With an Expired Cylinder

  • Exchange it — hand it to a licensed dealer; it goes back to the plant for requalification or scrapping.
  • Don't dump it — cylinders hold residual gas; never cut, weld or scrap one informally.
  • Don't pay for "repair" — requalification is a plant process, not a fundi job.

Frequently Asked Questions

My cylinder is 12 years old — is it dangerous?

Potentially overdue for requalification — exchange it at your next refill; it's free to swap.

Does the cylinder's paint condition tell its age?

Not reliably — plants repaint cylinders during inspection. Trust the stamp, not the shine.

Who pays for requalification?

The brand that owns the cylinder — it's built into the refill economics. You just exchange.

Fresh, certified cylinders: every exchange cycles inspected steel to your door. Order a refill →