Which Chinese Standard Governs Which Step: Cylinder Filling, Marking, Storage and Road Transport (2026)
· QUZHOU HUAFU NEW REFRIGERATION MATERIAL CO., LTD.
The short answer: a refrigerant cylinder in China sits under six different standards at six different moments: filling, the cylinder itself, the markings, the classification, the warehouse and the truck. They are not interchangeable, and three of them changed recently enough that a document written from memory will get the number or the edition wrong.
1. Filling: the standard changed in 2025
| Standard | What it governs | Status | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB/T 14193.1-2025 | Filling of industrial gas cylinders | In force, effective 2026-03-01; replaces GB/T 14193-2009 | Filling ratio is taken at a 55 °C reference temperature |
| GB/T 14193-2009 | The previous filling rule | Withdrawn — must not be cited | Anything still quoting it is out of date |
| GB/T 34526-2017 | Filling of mixed-gas cylinders | In force, effective 2018-05-01 | The one that matters for R410A and R407C — blends, not single substances |
| GB/T 27550-2011 | Safety technical conditions for a filling station | In force, effective 2012-03-01 | Note the /T: it is GB/T 27550, not GB 27550 |
| TSG 23-2021 | Cylinder safety regulation across the whole life cycle | In force, effective 2021-06-01 | Scope: −40 °C to 60 °C, 0.4 L to 3,000 L, 0.2 MPa to 70 MPa |
Why the 2025 edition matters commercially: a specification or a certificate that cites GB/T 14193-2009 is citing a withdrawn standard. If a supplier’s document set still does that, it tells you the document was not refreshed — and the filling-ratio basis is exactly the number a buyer uses to reconcile net weight.
2. The cylinder itself
| Standard | What it governs | Status | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB/T 5100-2020 | Welded steel cylinders (the common refrigerant cylinder) | In force, effective 2021-07-01; non-equivalent adoption of ISO 4706:2008 | Test pressure not above 12 MPa; water capacity 0.5–1,000 L |
| GB/T 5099.1-2017 | Seamless steel cylinders, part 1 | In force, effective 2019-01-01; under revision | Ask which edition the test certificate is issued to |
| ISO 4706 | Refillable welded steel cylinders, test pressure ≤ 60 bar | In force | The international comparator for GB/T 5100-2020 |
| ISO 9809-1 | Refillable seamless steel cylinders — design, manufacture, test | In force | The international comparator for GB/T 5099.1-2017 |
3. Markings and labels
| Standard | What it governs | Status | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB/T 7144-2016 | Colour marking of gas cylinders — body colour, lettering, colour ring, inspection colour code | In force, effective 2016-09-01; replaced GB 7144-1999 | The colour ring and the inspection colour code, not just the body colour |
| GB/T 16804-2011 | Warning labels on gas cylinders | In force, effective 2012-12-01; technical content is mandatory throughout | Chapter 5 covers the face label and the base label |
| GB 190-2009 | Transport package markings for dangerous goods | In force, effective 2010-05-01; under revision | 21 pictorial markings covering 9 classes |
4. Classification and proper shipping name
| Standard | What it governs | Status | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB 6944-2025 | Classification and numbering of dangerous goods | In force, effective 2025-10-01; replaced GB 6944-2012 | The class assigned to the product |
| GB 12268-2025 | List of dangerous goods names | In force, effective 2025-10-01; replaced GB 12268-2012 | The proper shipping name that matches the UN number |
These two are mandatory standards, not recommendations. The name on the transport document, the SDS section 14 and the label have to agree with them.
5. Warehousing
| Standard | What it governs | Status | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB 15603-2022 | General rules for the storage of hazardous chemicals | In force, effective 2023-07-01 | §6.2.5 separation distances: main aisle ≥ 200 cm, from wall ≥ 50 cm, from column ≥ 30 cm, between stacks ≥ 100 cm (each stack ≤ 150 ㎡), from lighting ≥ 50 cm |
| GB 15603-1995 | The previous storage rule | Withdrawn — must not be cited | Superseded twice over |
Chapter 7 covers goods-in checks, chapter 8 in-store management and chapter 9 out-bound checks — the three places an inspector looks first.
6. Road transport
| Standard | What it governs | Status | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB 13392-2023 | Vehicle marking for the road transport of dangerous goods | In force, effective 2025-04-01 | The triangular warning lamp has been replaced by a rectangular plate, aligned with ADR |
| JT/T 617-2018 | Road transport rules for dangerous goods, parts 1–7 | In force | Part 5 consignment, part 6 loading, part 7 carriage conditions |
| Electronic consignment note, standard plan 20253260-T-348 | Electronic consignment note requirements | Under development | Some provinces already require it; check the province of loading |
7. The international layer, for comparison
| Rule | What it governs | The one field to check |
|---|---|---|
| IMDG Code (two-year amendment cycle) | Sea transport: declaration, packing instruction, segregation | State the amendment edition used, not just “IMDG” |
| ADR 4.1.4.1 P200 | European road: packing instruction | The packing instruction number, not the product |
| 49 CFR 173.301 / 173.304a | US filling and filling density | 173.304a is the filling-density clause for liquefied gases |
| DOT-4BA / DOT-4BW | US cylinder specifications | The pressure figure on the mark is service pressure in psig — published values run 260–400 psig; it is not a test pressure in bar |
FAQ
Which standard governs cylinder filling in China? GB/T 14193.1-2025 (in force from 2026-03-01, replacing the withdrawn GB/T 14193-2009); GB/T 34526-2017 for mixed gases such as R410A and R407C.
Which standard governs the cylinder itself? GB/T 5100-2020 for welded steel cylinders and GB/T 5099.1-2017 for seamless — the latter is under revision.
What governs the markings? GB/T 7144-2016 (colour marking), GB/T 16804-2011 (warning label, chapter 5 for face and base labels) and GB 190-2009 (transport package markings).
How must full cylinders be stored? GB 15603-2022: §6.2.5 sets the separation distances, chapters 7–9 the goods-in, in-store and out-bound checks.
Which rules apply on the truck? GB 13392-2023 (vehicle marking, rectangular plate aligned with ADR), JT/T 617-2018 (consignment, loading, carriage), GB 6944-2025 and GB 12268-2025 (classification and shipping name).
What we can provide
For a shipment of refrigerant cylinders, the group’s operating companies quote with the certificate of the filling operation, the cylinder test certificate with the edition it was issued to, the label set in the language required at the destination, and the transport document carrying the UN number, class and packing group per line — with the standards above named on the specification rather than assumed.
Who contracts and ships: every shipment is contracted, invoiced and shipped by the group operating company named on the quotation and on the documents for that shipment. This page is the group’s technical reference material.
Related
- Reading the retest date on a refrigerant cylinder — the inspection interval behind the mark.
- Cylinder storage, segregation and temperature — GB 15603-2022 applied to a cylinder warehouse.
- Cylinder valve outlet standards: CGA, DIN and BS — the connection side of the same problem.
Sources
- National Public Service Platform for Standards Information (全国标准信息公共服务平台) — the official register used for the status and effective dates above: https://std.samr.gov.cn/
- SAMR — mandatory national standards (GB): https://www.samr.gov.cn/
- ISO 4706 / ISO 9809-1 catalogue entries — for the international comparators: https://www.iso.org/
- IMDG Code / ADR — IMO and UNECE official publications: https://www.imo.org/ ; https://unece.org/transport/dangerous-goods
- 49 CFR 173.301 / 173.304a — US Government Publishing Office, eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/
Standards are cited by number, clause and paraphrase only; the text of each standard remains with its publisher. Prepared by Hangrui Holdings Limited (Hong Kong) — the group holding company. Shipments are contracted, invoiced and shipped by the group’s operating companies: HARMONY TECHNOLOGY (ZHEJIANG) CO., LTD., QUZHOU HUAFU NEW REFRIGERATION MATERIAL CO., LTD. and RIBOLUO CHEMICALS (ZHEJIANG) CO., LTD.
Need current specs, quota status, or a mixed-load quote for Cylinder Filling, Marking, Storage and Road Transport (2026)? Contact tom@hufluor.com with your spec & destination port.