ISO/TS 21985:2022

Light gauge metal containers - Non-refillable LPG cartridges - General requirements

This document specifies minimum requirements for the construction, design, material, performance, test methods and marking at manufacture of non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cartridges. This document is applicable to non-refillable LPG cartridges which: a) predominantly comprise butane fuel gas (iso/normal); b) have a total nominal capacity of up to 250 g net; c) are intended to deliver gas in the vapour state when either positioned upright or in a horizontal orientation; d) are used with certain types of gas appliances, e.g. portable gas cookers; e) are classified as UN 2037, RECEPTACLES, SMALL, CONTAINING GAS (GAS CARTRIDGES) without a release device, non-refillable for the transport of dangerous goods.

Récipients métalliques légers — Cartouches de GPL non rechargeables — Exigences générales

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Feb-2022
• ICS: 55.120 - Cans. Tins. Tubes
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 52 - Light gauge metal containers
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 52/WG 1 - Cartridges for flammable liquefied gas
• Current Stage: 9060 - Close of review
• Completion Date: 02-Sep-2028

Relations

• Consolidated By: ISO 1461:2022 - Hot dip galvanized coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles - Specifications and test methods
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Overview

ISO/TS 21985:2022 - Light gauge metal containers - Non‑refillable LPG cartridges - General requirements - defines minimum construction, design, material, performance, test methods and marking for non‑refillable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cartridges. It applies to small, single‑use cartridges (UN 2037) predominantly filled with butane (iso/normal), with a nominal capacity of up to 250 g, and designed to deliver LPG in the vapour state whether used upright or horizontally (e.g., with portable gas cookers).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Gas composition and capacity
  • Butane (C4H10) ≥ 95% mass fraction; other hydrocarbons ≤ 5%.
  • Nominal LPG capacity up to 250 g; odour detectable at 1/1 000 LPG:air by volume.
• Construction & design
  • Cartridges must remain gas‑tight and pressure‑resistant under reasonable transportation and service vibration/impact.
  • Must allow gaseous discharge in normal service, and include means to prevent discharge when removed and to protect the valve.
  • Defined cartridge and valve dimensions (examples): total height ~185.0 +1.5 mm, outer diameter 65.7 ±0.5 mm, boss diameter 10.65 ±0.1 mm; stem height 5.6 ±0.5 mm, stem diameter 4.0 +0.05 mm.
• Valve stroke
  • Compressive (stroke) dimension: 1.7 to 2.8 mm.
  • Initial injection stroke: 0.2 to 0.9 mm.
• Materials
  • Cartridge body materials referenced to ISO 11949 / ISO 11951 (tinplate/blackplate); alternative metals require salt‑spray corrosion testing (ISO 9227).
  • Stem material: melting point above 500 °C and corrosion‑resistant.
• Performance & test methods
  • Comprehensive test suite including vibration, drop, gas resistance, ozone resistance (ISO 1431‑1), gas tightness, pressure resistance, stem functioning load, repeated use, LPG composition, filled mass, valve flow rate, flange strength and more.
• Safety features
  • Accepts various burst prevention device types: countersink release (CRV), rim vent release (RVR), resealing valve, and temperature sensing valve.

Applications and who uses this standard

ISO/TS 21985:2022 is essential for:

• Manufacturers of non‑refillable LPG cartridges and cartridge valves to meet safety, dimensional and material requirements.
• Appliance designers (portable gas cookers, camping stoves) to ensure cartridge compatibility and safe interfacing.
• Testing laboratories and conformity assessors performing vibration, drop, pressure and gas composition tests.
• Regulators and transport authorities, since cartridges are classified as UN 2037 for dangerous goods transport.
• Quality and safety engineers addressing consumer safety, transport compliance and product marking.

Related standards

• ISO 9227 - Salt spray corrosion testing
• ISO 1431‑1:2012 - Ozone resistance testing (rubber)
• ISO 11949 / ISO 11951 - Cold‑reduced tinmill products (tinplate, blackplate)

Keywords: ISO/TS 21985:2022, non‑refillable LPG cartridges, butane cartridges, cartridge valve, test methods, UN 2037, portable gas cooker safety, light gauge metal containers.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 21985
First edition
2022-02
Light gauge metal containers —
Non-refillable LPG cartridges —
General requirements
Récipients métalliques légers — Cartouches de GPL non rechargeables
— Exigences générales
Reference number
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Gas filled in cartridge . 2
4.1 Composition . 2
4.2 Nominal LPG capacity . 3
4.3 Odour . . . 3
5 Construction and design . .3
5.1 Construction . 3
5.2 Design . 3
5.2.1 Dimensions of cartridge and cartridge valve . 3
5.2.2 Compressive (stroke) dimension and initial injection stroke of cartridge
valve . 5
6 Material. 6
6.1 Material of cartridge body . 6
6.2 Material of cartridge stem . 6
7 Performance . 6
8 Test methods . 7
8.1 Test condition . 7
8.2 Test instruments and apparatus . 7
8.3 Tests for construction, design, material and performance . 7
8.3.1 General . 7
8.3.2 Vibration test . 7
8.3.3 Drop test . 7
8.3.4 Gas resistance test . 8
8.3.5 Ozone resistance test . 8
8.3.6 Gas tightness test . 8
8.3.7 Pressure resistance test . 8
8.3.8 Stem functioning load test . 9
8.3.9 Repeated use test . 9
8.3.10 LPG composition test . 9
8.3.11 Filled LPG mass test . 9
8.3.12 Test of compressive (stroke) dimension and initial injection stroke
dimension of cartridge valve . 10
8.3.13 Initial partial air pressure test . 10
8.3.14 Valve flow rate test . 10
8.3.15 Flange strength test . 11
9 Marking . .12
Annex A (normative) Specific regional requirements .13
Annex B (informative) Burst prevention device for non-refillable LPG cartridges .15
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 52, Light gauge metal containers.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 21985:2022(E)
Light gauge metal containers — Non-refillable LPG
cartridges — General requirements
1 Scope
This document specifies minimum requirements for the construction, design, material, performance,
test methods and marking at manufacture of non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cartridges.
This document is applicable to non-refillable LPG cartridges which:
a) predominantly comprise butane fuel gas (iso/normal);
b) have a total nominal capacity of up to 250 g net;
c) are intended to deliver gas in the vapour state when either positioned upright or in a horizontal
orientation;
d) are used with certain types of gas appliances, e.g. portable gas cookers;
e) are classified as UN 2037, RECEPTACLES, SMALL, CONTAINING GAS (GAS CARTRIDGES) without a
release device, non-refillable for the transport of dangerous goods.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9227, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
ISO 1431-1:2012, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Resistance to ozone cracking — Part 1: Static and
dynamic strain testing
ISO 11949, Cold-reduced tinmill products — Electrolytic tinplate
ISO 11951, Cold-reduced tinmill products — Blackplate
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas cartridge
non-refillable LPG cartridge
cartridge only filled up once with LPG
3.2
flange
guide for setting the non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas cartridges (3.1) in the gas appliances in the
appropriate direction
3.3
boss
protruding part at the centre of the non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas cartridges (3.1) that houses the
stem (3.5) or another valve part
3.4
cartridge cap
cap for protecting the gas outlet of the non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas cartridges (3.1) for the gas
appliances
3.5
stem
part for vapour withdrawal which is fitted to a gas appliance
3.6
burst prevention device
part of the non-refillable liquefied petroleum gas cartridges (3.1) which releases pressure or closes the
gas flow inside the cartridges when the pressure or the temperature reaches a pre-set value
3.7
countersink release vent type
CRV type
burst prevention device (3.6) that, when the internal pressure of the cartridge rises and the cartridge is
deformed, the explosion-proof part ruptures installed on the upper body in a state where the body and
the upper body are not separated from each other to discharge the LPG and prevent the explosion
3.8
rim vent release type
RVR type
burst prevention device (3.6) that, when the internal pressure of the cartridge rises and the cartridge
is deformed, the explosion-proof part ruptures installed on the rim in a state where the body and the
upper body are not separated from each other to discharge the LPG and prevent the explosion
3.9
resealing valve type
burst prevention device (3.6) that, when the internal pressure of the cartridge rises, the resealing valve
is opened to discharge the LPG and prevent the explosion, and after decreasing the internal pressure of
the cartridge, the resealing valve is closed and used again
3.10
temperature sensing valve type
burst prevention device (3.6) that, when the internal heat of cartridge rises, while the surface of the pin
inside the cartridge melts, the temperature sensing valve inside the cartridge closes the gas flow
4 Gas filled in cartridge
4.1 Composition
The composition of LPG, when tested by the method described in 8.3.10, shall conform to the
requirements given in Table 1.
Table 1 — Composition
Composition Distribution ratio
C H (butane) ≥ 95 % mass fraction
4 10
Other hydrocarbons ≤ 5 % mass fraction
4.2 Nominal LPG capacity
The nominal LPG capacity, when tested by the method described in 8.3.11, shall be up to 250 g.
4.3 Odour
The odour of LPG shall be detectable when LPG mixing ratio to air is 1/1 000 in volume.
5 Construction and design
5.1 Construction
When the test described in 8.3 is carried out for testing the construction of each composition of the
cartridges, each composition shall be proven to have been manufactured with safety and durability
considerations and shall be free from any leakage of LPG, burst or deformation that can be detrimental
to use when used under normal service and transportation conditions.
The pressing jointed part shall be effective in pressing, and the edges likely to be touched by hands
during use shall be smooth.
Exposure to such vibrations and impacts as can occur during transportation or service shall not reduce
the gas tightness and pressure resistance of the cartridges.
The cartridges shall be constructed in such a way that allows the LPG to be discharged in a gaseous
state when it is under normal service conditions.
NOTE Normal service conditions refers to conditions where the cartridge is installed in a gas appliance.
The cartridges shall be provided with a means to prevent LPG from being discharged when it is taken
off from the gas appliances.
The cartridges shall be provided with a means to protect the protruding cartridge valve.
5.2 Design
5.2.1 Dimensions of cartridge and cartridge valve
The dimensions of cartridge and cartridge valve, when tested by the method described in 8.3, shall
conform to the requirements given in Table 2 corresponding to respective parts indicated in Figures 1
and 2.
Key
A total height E flange diameter
B outer diameter of can-shell F stem height
C lower can diameter J flange cut-away width
D upper can diameter K flange thickness
Figure 1 — Cartridge
Key
G stem diameter
H stem length
I boss diameter
Figure 2 — Cartridge valve
Table 2 — Dimensions of cartridge and cartridge valve
Key item Name Dimensions
b
A Total height (185,0 + 1,5) mm
B Outer diameter of can-shell (65,7 ± 0,5) mm
C Lower can diameter (68,2 ± 0,4) mm
D Upper can diameter (68,5 ± 0,4) mm
E Flange diameter (44,5 ± 0,6) mm
F Stem height (5,6 ± 0,5) mm
G Stem diameter (4,0 + 0,05) mm
H Stem length (7,3 ± 0,5) mm
a b
I Boss diameter (10,65 ± 0,1) mm
J Flange cut-away width (10,3 ± 0,3) mm
K Flange thickness (3,15 ± 0,25) mm
a
Boss diameter shall be an outside diameter measured at a position 1,5 mm below the upper end of the boss.
b
In China and Japan, the dimensions of cartridge and cartridge valve for total height and boss diameter shall conform to
the requirements specified in A.2.
5.2.2 Compressive (stroke) dimension and initial injection stroke of cartridge valve
The compressive (stroke) dimension and the initial injection stroke of cartridge valve, when tested by
the methods described in 8.3.12, shall conform to the requirements given in Table 3.
Table 3 — Stroke dimensions of cartridge valve
Item Dimension
mm
Cartridge valve compressive (stroke) dimension 1,7 to 2,8
Initial injection stroke dimension 0,2 to 0,9
6 Material
6.1 Material of cartridge body
The material used for cartridge body shall be as follows:
a) The material shall be that specified in ISO 11949 or ISO 11951.
b) If the material used is a steel or lightweight metal other than specified in ISO 11949 or ISO 11951, it
shall be subjected to the c
...