EN ISO 10961:2019

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2020
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 10961:2012
Plinske jeklenke - Snopi jeklenk - Konstruiranje, proizvodnja, preskušanje in
kontrola (ISO 10961:2019)
Gas cylinders - Cylinder bundles - Design, manufacture, testing and inspection (ISO
10961:2019)
Gasflaschen - Flaschenbündel - Auslegung, Herstellung, Prüfung und Inspektion (ISO
10961:2019)
Bouteilles à gaz - Cadres de bouteilles - Conception, fabrication, essais et inspection
(ISO 10961:2019)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 10961:2019
ICS:
23.020.35 Plinske jeklenke Gas cylinders
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 10961
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2019
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 23.020.35 Supersedes EN ISO 10961:2012
English Version
Gas cylinders - Cylinder bundles - Design, manufacture,
testing and inspection (ISO 10961:2019)
Bouteilles à gaz - Cadres de bouteilles - Conception, Gasflaschen - Flaschenbündel - Auslegung, Herstellung,
fabrication, essais et inspection (ISO 10961:2019) Prüfung und Inspektion (ISO 10961:2019)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 12 November 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 10961:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 10961:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 58 "Gas
cylinders" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 23 “Transportable gas cylinders” the
secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2020, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2020.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 10961:2012.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 10961:2019 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 10961:2019 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 10961
Third edition
2019-11
Gas cylinders — Cylinder bundles
— Design, manufacture, testing and
inspection
Bouteilles à gaz — Cadres de bouteilles — Conception, fabrication,
essais et inspection
Reference number
ISO 10961:2019(E)
©
ISO 2019
ISO 10961:2019(E)
© ISO 2019
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: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Design . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Materials . 5
4.3 Frame . 5
4.4 Cylinders . 7
4.5 Cylinder valves and cylinder fittings . 7
4.6 Manifold . 7
4.7 Main connection(s) and main valve(s) . 8
4.8 Assembled bundle . 8
5 Manufacturing . 8
6 Identification . 9
6.1 General . 9
6.2 Product and hazard identification. 9
6.2.1 Precautionary labels . 9
6.2.2 Colour coding . 9
6.3 Bundle identification for filling . 9
6.4 Other useful information . 9
7 Type approval procedure . 9
7.1 General . 9
7.2 Type testing .10
7.2.1 Frame .10
7.2.2 Manifold .10
7.2.3 Bundle .10
7.2.4 Drop tests .10
7.3 Testing and inspection at time of manufacture .13
7.3.1 Frame .13
7.3.2 Manifold .13
7.3.3 Bundle .13
8 Documentation .14
Annex A (normative) Special requirements for design, manufacture and testing of bundles
when cylinders are removed from the frame at the time of filling, including
acetylene cylinders .15
Annex B (normative) Additional requirements for acetylene cylinder bundles .16
Annex C (informative) Example of bundle identification for filling in accordance with UN
[1]
Model Regulations .21
Bibliography .24
ISO 10961:2019(E)
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 58, Gas cylinders, Subcommittee SC 4,
Operational requirements of gas cylinders.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 10961:2010), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— the terminology was brought in line with ISO 10286, as far as possible,
— storage was added throughout the document as a possible use case,
— the descriptions of the drop tests were clarified,
— the descriptions of the leak tests were clarified,
— a new figure was added showing the angle for the vertical drop test,
— the rotating drop test has been differentiated by whether the bundle is fitted with cylinders
vertically or horizontally,
— the additional requirements for acetylene cylinder bundles were clarified,
— the information for the bundle identification for filling was moved to Annex C.
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 https:// www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
Introduction
For some applications, the contents of an individual gas cylinder might not satisfy the gas demand, in
which case assemblies of cylinders can be used to supply larger volumes of gas in a single unit. The
single unit, which contains a number of cylinders, is known as a cylinder bundle.
Such a cylinder bundle is a portable assembly, designed to be routinely lifted, that consists of a frame
and two or more cylinders connected to a manifold by cylinder valves or fittings so that the cylinders
can be filled, transported and emptied without disassembly.
A cylinder bundle can be subjected to rough handling in the course of normal operations.
There are types of gas cylinder assemblies that use cylinder bundle components but are designed to be
disassembled at each filling to enable the cylinders to be filled individually. Although these assemblies
do not conform to the basic definition of a cylinder bundle, they are commonly referred to as bundles.
Their special requirements are provided in Annex A.
Acetylene cylinder bundles are often filled without disassembly. The confirmation of solvent content
can be achieved with or without disassembling the bundle. Replenishing of solvent is usually done after
a defined number of fillings. Their special requirements are provided in Annex B.
In International Standards, weight is equivalent to a force, expressed in Newton. However, in common
parlance (as used in terms defined in this document), the word “weight” continues to be used to mean
“mass”, but this practice is deprecated (see ISO 80000-4).
[1]
This document has been written so that it is suitable to be referenced in the UN Model Regulations .
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 10961:2019(E)
Gas cylinders — Cylinder bundles — Design, manufacture,
testing and inspection
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements for the design, construction, testing and initial inspection of
a transportable cylinder bundle.
It is applicable to cylinder bundles containing cylinders containing compressed gas, liquefied gas and
mixtures thereof. It is also applicable to cylinder bundles for acetylene. Additional requirements for
acetylene cylinder bundles containing acetylene in a solvent are provided in Annex B. This document
does not, however, cover acetylene cylinder bundles with solvent-free acetylene cylinders.
This document specifies the additional requirements that apply when individual cylinders are
assembled into a bundle. Unless otherwise stated, individual cylinders within a cylinder bundle
conform to applicable standards for single cylinders.
This document is intended primarily for industrial gases other than liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), but
it can also be used for LPG.
This document does not apply to packages in which cylinders are manifolded together in a frame
that is designed to be fixed permanently to a road vehicle, to a railway wagon or to the ground
as a customer storage vessel. It also does not apply to cylinder bundles that are designed for use in
extreme environmental or operational conditions (e.g. offshore cylinder bundles) when additional and
extraordinary requirements are imposed to maintain safety standards, reliability and performance.
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 3807, Gas cylinders — Acetylene cylinders — Basic requirements and type testing
ISO 9606-1, Qualification testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 1: Steels
ISO 10297, Gas cylinders — Cylinder valves — Specification and type testing
ISO 10286:2015, Gas cylinders — Terminology
ISO 11114-1, Gas cylinders — Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas contents — Part 1:
Metallic materials
ISO 11114-2, Gas cylinders — Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas contents — Part 2:
Non-metallic materials
ISO 13585, Brazing — Qualification test of brazers and brazing operators
ISO 14113, Gas welding equipment — Rubber and plastics hose and hose assemblies for use with industrial
gases up to 450 bar (45 MPa)
ISO 15607, Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials — General rules
ISO 15615:2013, Gas welding equipment — Acetylene manifold systems for welding, cutting and allied
processes — Safety requirements in high-pressure devices
ISO 10961:2019(E)
ISO 16964, Gas cylinders — Flexible hoses assemblies — Specification and testing
EN 13134, Brazing — Procedure approval
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in ISO 10286 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
3.1
cylinder bundle
bundle of cylinders
assembly of cylinders that are fastened together and interconnected by a manifold and transported as a
unit having a total water capacity not exceeding 3 000 l
Note 1 to entry: In ISO/TC 58 documents the term “bundle” is frequently used for simplification.
Note 2 to entry: Bundles intended for the transport of toxic gases shall be limited to 1 000 l total water capacity.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 204, modified — preferred term and admitted term reversed, "which are"
deleted and requirement for toxic gases moved into Note 2 to entry]
3.2
frame
structural and non-structural members of a bundle that combine all other components together, whilst
providing protection for the bundle's cylinders, valves (3.3) and manifold (3.5) and which enable the
bundle to be transported
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 264]
3.3
cylinder valve
valve that is fitted into a cylinder and to which a manifold (3.5) is connected in a bundle (3.1)
3.4
cylinder fitting
component with no gas shut-off capability that serves as a method for connecting a bundle's manifold
(3.5) to its individual cylinders when cylinder valves (3.3) are not fitted to the cylinders
3.5
manifold
piping system for connecting pressure receptacle(s) valves or fittings (3.4) to the main valve(s) (3.6) or
the main connection(s) (3.7)
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 265]
3.6
main valve
valve which is fitted to the manifold (3.5) of a bundle (3.1), isolating it from the main connection(s) (3.7)
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 267, modified — battery vehicle/battery wagon/MEGC deleted]
3.7
main connection
means of making a gas connection to a bundle (3.1)
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 266, modified — battery vehicle/MEGC deleted]
2 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
3.8
tare
weight of the pressure receptacle when empty, including accessories fitted as presented for filling
Note 1 to entry: Additional information regarding tare for acetylene cylinder bundles is provided in B.2.
3.9
maximum gross weight
sum of the tare of the bundle (3.1) and the maximum permissible filling weight
Note 1 to entry: Maximum gross weight is to be understood as "maximum gross mass" as per regional transport
regulations.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 743, amended — Note 1 to entry added]
3.10
compressed gas
gas, which, when packaged under pressure for transport, is entirely gaseous at –50 °C
Note 1 to entry: This category includes all gases with a critical temperature less than or equal to −50 °C.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 705]
3.11
liquefied gas
gas, which, when packaged for transport, is partially liquid (or solid) at temperatures above –50 °C
Note 1 to entry: A distinction is made between
— high pressure liquefied gas, which is a gas with a critical temperature between –50 °C and +65 °C; and
— low pressure liquefied gas, which is a gas with a critical temperature above +65 °C.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 706, modified — Note 1 to entry added to incorporate definitions in
ISO 10286:2015, 707 and 708]
3.12
test pressure
required pressure applied during a pressure test
Note 1 to entry: In some cases, the test pressure of the bundle can be different from the test pressure of the
cylinders in the bundle.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 729, modified — Note 1 to entry added]
3.13
burst pressure
highest pressure reached in a cylinder during a burst test
Note 1 to entry: The burst pressure also applies to hoses and manifolds.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 732, modified — Note 1 to entry added]
3.14
working pressure
settled pressure of a compressed gas at a uniform reference temperature of 15 °C in
a full cylinder bundle
Note 1 to entry: In North America service pressure is often used to indicate a similar condition, usually at
21,1 °C (70 F).
Note 2 to entry: In East Asia service pressure is often used to indicate a similar condition, usually at 35 °C.
ISO 10961:2019(E)
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 736, modified — “in a full gas cylinder” substituted with “in a full cylinder
bundle”]
3.15
maximum filling weight
product of the minimum guaranteed water capacity of the pressure receptacle and the filling ratio of
the gas contained
Note 1 to entry: For liquefied gas.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 740]
3.16
toxic gas
gas which is known to be so toxic or corrosive to humans to pose a health hazard or which is presumed
to be toxic or corrosive to humans because it has a LC value for acute toxicity equal to or less than
5 000 ml/m (ppm)
Note 1 to entry: Other risks such as tissue corrosiveness are sometimes associated.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 716]
3.17
filling pressure
pressure to which a cylinder bundle is filled at the time of filling
Note 1 to entry: It varies according to the gas temperature in the cylinder, which is dependent on the charging
parameters and the ambient conditions. It is normally higher than the working pressure (because of the heat of
compression) and always less than the test pressure.
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 734, modified — “cylinder” substituted with “cylinder bundle”]
3.18
bundle manufacturer
entity that assembles the various components of the bundle into its final configuration
3.19
inspection body
body that performs inspection
Note 1 to entry: An inspection body can be an organization, or part of an organization.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 17020:2012, 3.5]
3.20
competent authority
any body or authority designated or otherwise recognized as such for any purpose in each country by
its government
[1]
Note 1 to entry: “Competent body” is not to be used; UN Model Regulations only use “competent authority” and
“inspection body."
[SOURCE: ISO 10286:2015, 620]
3.21
saturation gas
amount of acetylene needed to saturate the solvent at atmospheric pressure and a
temperature of 15 °C
4 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
4 Design
4.1 General
The design of the bundle shall allow for the:
— inspection of all parts of the manifold for leaks during filling without obstructions;
— operation of all valves without requiring removal of any items such as shielding or a grill for the
protection of the manifold.
All pressurized components shall, as a minimum requirement, be designed to operate safely (e.g.
impact transition temperature for steels) in the temperature range of −20 °C to +65 °C. Operating at
temperatures outside this range can require that cylinders, valves and fittings be designed for the
appropriate temperature range.
Bundles that are filled by weight shall use component parts that are removable only with the use of
tools, with the exception of the main valve outlet protection cap.
If the bundle is intended for acetylene or toxic liquefied gas service, it shall be designed to allow
individual cylinders to be removed from the frame for filling in accordance with Annex A to ensure that
these cylinders are not overfilled.
4.2 Materials
Materials for cylinders, valves and all parts that are in contact with the intended gas shall be selected
in accordance with ISO 11114-1 or ISO 11114-2. Specific requirements for materials for dissolved
acetylene are given in B.3.7.
The materials of construction of the frame shall be verified to be in accordance with the approved
drawings.
4.3 Frame
4.3.1 The frame shall securely retain all components of the bundle, protect them from damage that
can cause leaks, and minimize corrosion on all external surfaces of the cylinder. Such damage can be
caused by environment, vibration, impact loads, storage loads or handling loads that can be expected in
normal operation. The method of cylinder restraint shall minimize any vertical or horizontal movement
or rotation of the cylinder. Any cylinder displacement that would impose undue strain on the manifold
shall be prevented (see 7.2.2). The total assembly shall fulfil the requirements given in 7.2.
Additionally, lifting of the bundle shall cause no leakage of gas (see 4.3.2).
4.3.2 The frame shall include features designed for the handling, storage and transportation of the
bundle. Bundles can typically be lifted by forklift, lift-jack trolley or overhead crane. If the bundle is
designed to be lifted by an overhead crane, lifting eyes shall be provided on the frame. Different designs
with one or more lifting eyes are permitted.
NOTE National regulations can be applicable when lifting eyes are used.
In all cases, lifting eyes shall be designed to withstand a design load of 2 times the maximum gross
weight of the bundle. Bundles with more than one lifting eye shall be designed so a minimum sling leg
angle α of 45° to the horizontal can be achieved during lifting using the lifting eyes (see Figure 1).
ISO 10961:2019(E)
Key
1 lifting eye
2 gas cylinder bundle
α sling leg angle
Figure 1 — Minimum sling leg angle
When four lifting eyes are used, their design shall be so that they are strong enough to allow the bundle
to be lifted by only two lifting eyes.
When two or four lifting eyes are used, diametrically opposite lifting eyes shall be aligned with each
other to allow correct lifting using shackle pins.
Lifting equipment shall be designed so that it does not interfere with any pressurized component (e.g.
the manifold).
When a bundle is designed to be moved by a forklift truck, it shall feature two fork apertures, one on
each side, that are to be used to lift the bundle. The fork apertures shall be positioned symmetrically
about the centre of gravity and their size shall be appropriate to the forks used to move the bundle. The
fork apertures shall be designed so that the bundle cannot accidentally disengage from the forks.
4.3.3 Frame structural members shall be designed for a vertical load of 2 times the maximum gross
weight of the bundle. Design stress levels shall not exceed 0,9 times the yield strength of the material of
the frame. Stacking of bundles is not addressed in this document; however, when it is foreseen that the
bundle will be stacked for storage or transportation, the resulting forces shall be considered.
4.3.4 The frame design shall ensure that there are no protrusions from the exterior frame structure
that could cause hazards.
4.3.5 Care shall be taken to minimize corrosion on all external surfaces of the cylinders. There shall be
no features where water and debris can collect that would increase the tare of bundles filled by weight or
cause corrosion.
4.3.6 The floor of the frame shall not buckle under normal operational and storage conditions and
shall facilitate the drainage of water and debris from around the base of the cylinders.
6 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
4.3.7 The design shall ensure stability under normal operating and storage conditions. The centre of
gravity shall stay within the footprint of the bundle when rotated to an angle of not more than 12° along
each edge of the base.
4.3.8 If the frame design includes movable doors or covers, they shall be capable of being secured in
position with latches that shall not be capable of being dislodged by operational impact loads.
4.3.9 Access shall be maintained to all valves that need to be operated in normal service or in an
emergency.
4.4 Cylinders
All cylinders within a bundle shall be suitable for the intended gas service. They shall all have the same
test pressure, be of similar size and conform to the standards recognized by the competent authority in
the country of use.
4.5 Cylinder valves and cylinder fittings
4.5.1 Either cylinder valves or cylinder fittings shall be fitted into the inlet threads of the cylinders
within the bundle. The items selected will depend on the gas service within the bundle and the
operational requirements (e.g. for gases not covered under 4.5.4, cylinder valves are not required).
Requirements for the design of valves and fittings used on acetylene cylinder bundles containing
acetylene in a solvent shall be as specified in Annex B.
4.5.2 Cylinder valves and cylinder fittings shall be compatible with the gas (see 4.2) and pressure for
which the bundle is intended.
4.5.3 Cylinder valves and cylinder fittings shall be compatible with the inlet threads of the cylinders.
4.5.4 Each cylinder within the bundle shall be fitted with a valve when the bundle contains a toxic
gas or toxic gas mixture, a pyrophoric gas or a flammable mixture with more than 1 % of pyrophoric
components.
NOTE Some national regulations require each cylinder within the bundle to be fitted with a valve when
containing flammable gases or flammable gas mixtures.
4.5.5 Cylinders within the bundle for non-toxic liquefied gases (e.g. carbon dioxide) shall not be fitted
with a valve.
4.5.6 When each cylinder within the bundle is fitted with a valve, its outlet connection shall be of a form
appropriate to the product within the bundle, or of a form that cannot lead to an incorrect connection to
equipment designed for other products.
4.5.7 For non-toxic, non-flammable gases (e.g. carbon dioxide), when the use of a safety relief device is
required by regulation, the safety relief device shall be designed to avoid cylinder burst.
4.6 Manifold
4.6.1 The manifold and its material shall be compatible with the gas (see 4.2) and the pressure for
which the bundle is intended.
Additional requirements for the design of manifolds used on acetylene cylinder bundles containing
acetylene in a solvent are provided in Annex B.
ISO 10961:2019(E)
4.6.2 For compressed and liquefied gases, the manifold shall be designed so that its burst pressure is
greater than or equal to 1,5 times the test pressure of the cylinders in the bundle.
4.6.3 The test pressure of the manifold shall not be less than the test pressures of the cylinders in
the bundle.
With approval by a competent authority, the hydraulic pressure test may be replaced by a pneumatic
pressure test, provided such an operation does not entail any danger.
4.6.4 No part of the manifold shall bear against other components in the bundle except at cylinder
valve/fitting interfaces or at defined attachment points to the frame. Contact between dissimilar metals
that could result in damage by galvanic corrosion shall be avoided.
4.6.5 Piping shall be designed, constructed and installed to avoid damage due to expansion and
contraction, corrosion, mechanical shock and vibration. When the manifold is made of metal, the
necessary flexibility shall be achieved by the use of bends or coils. Flexible hoses or non-metallic
pipework should only be used as part of the manifold’s pipework on the bundle after trials have proved
their acceptability. The length of such hoses and pipework shall be kept to a minimum.
4.7 Main connection(s) and main valve(s)
The main connection(s) and main valve(s) shall be compatible with the gas (see 4.2) and the pressure
for which the bundle is intended and be protected by the frame (e.g. the main connection and main
valve shall not protrude).
All main valves shall be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with ISO 10297.
4.8 Assembled bundle
The assembled bundle shall be designed so that it withstands the following statically applied loads:
— 2 times the maximum gross weight in all horizontal directions and vertically downwards; and
— 1 times the maximum gross weight in the vertical direction upwards.
This is confirmed by carrying out the drop tests described in 7.2.4.
Special care shall be taken concerning protection of the exterior of the assembled bundle.
5 Manufacturing
A bundle shall be manufactured in accordance with the design criteria listed in Clause 4.
For this condition to be satisfied, the bundle manufacturer shall
— use welding procedures in accordance with ISO 15607 or equivalent standards,
— use approved welders in accordance with ISO 9606-1 or equivalent standards,
— use brazing procedures in accordance with EN 13134 or equivalent standards, and
— use approved brazers in accordance with ISO 13585 or equivalent standards.
NOTE The bundle manufacturer is not necessarily the same as the manufacturer(s) of the components.
8 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
6 Identification
6.1 General
The requirements for labelling and colour coding for gas cylinders as defined in ISO documents do not
apply to the cylinders of a bundle.
However, markings on the individual cylinders can be obscured. Therefore, certain information which
must be checked at the time of filling shall be duplicated on the outside of the bundle (see 6.3). It is
not required that the tare be marked on cylinders in accordance with ISO 13769 for bundles filled by
weight unless the cylinders are removed from the frame for filling. See 4.1 and Annex A.
6.2 Product and hazard identification
6.2.1 Precautionary labels
Individual cylinders in bundles are not required to have labels. Precautionary labels with a minimum
size of 100 mm × 100 mm shall be attached to the bundle adjacent to the main connection in order to
[1]
meet the UN Model Regulations .
6.2.2 Colour coding
The use of the cylinder colours defined in applicable standards, e.g. ISO 32, is not mandatory for
cylinders assembled into a bundle or for the frame itself, with an exception for dissolved acetylene, as
given in B.4.2.
A colour code on the frame may be used to identify the contents of the bundle.
6.3 Bundle identification for filling
[1]
The requirements for bundle identification for filling are given in the UN Model Regulations. Examples
of bundle identification are given in Annex C.
6.4 Other useful information
The following information is useful in practice and may be marked on the bundle in addition to the
information required in 6.3:
— The maximum gross weight of the bundle in kilograms, which should be visible from all directions
from which lifting can be performed. The minimum height of the lettering should be 30 mm.
— Other critical operating instructions, e.g. closure of individual cylinder valves in transit when this
is required.
— The name or identification of the owner.
7 Type approval procedure
7.1 General
Tests and examinations performed to demonstrate compliance with this document shall be conducted
using instruments calibrated before being put into service and thereafter according to an established
programme.
Bundle testing and inspection shall be considered in two distinct phases:
— prototype testing of the frame, the manifold and the fully assembled bundle (see 7.2); and
ISO 10961:2019(E)
— initial inspection/production testing of the frame, the manifold and the fully assembled bundle
(see 7.3).
Additional requirements for the testing and inspection of acetylene cylinder bundles containing
acetylene in a solvent are provided in Annex B.
Either tests or design calculations are necessary for the type approval of a bundle. In both cases, all
documentation being used (e.g. design calculations, drawings and specifications of the frame and the
manifold, or test reports) shall be part of the type approval.
Bundle assembly drawings and build specifications shall also be part of the type approval.
7.2 Type testing
7.2.1 Frame
A prototype frame shall be constructed and checked for conformance to 7.3.1. If the frame includes
lifting eyes, it shall be proof load tested to 2 times the maximum gross weight of the bundle. All primary
structural joints shall be subjected to crack detection in accordance with standards recognized in the
country of manufacture (e.g. ISO 17638, ISO 23278 or ASTM standards) prior to coating of the frame.
7.2.2 Manifold
A prototype manifold shall be constructed to drawings and specifications which are part of the type
approval and checked for conformance to 4.6. The manifold shall be subjected to a hydraulic pressure
test with a pressure as specified in 4.6.3.
7.2.3 Bundle
7.2.3.1 A fully assembled bundle shall be checked for ease of access to valves, free routing of the
manifold and operation of doors and covers, when applicable.
7.2.3.2 The identification markings/plates/labels/tags shall be checked for conformance to Clause 6.
7.2.3.3 The stability of the bundle at a minimum angle of 12° shall be demonstrated by calculation or
physical test.
7.2.4 Drop tests
7.2.4.1 General
Bundles shall be tested both with a vertical and a rotating drop test, as described in 7.2.4.2 and 7.2.4.3,
which shall be performed onto a concrete surface of sufficient thickness to withstand the impact of
the bundle without breaking up. One bundle may be used for both tests. The bundle shall contain an
inert gas at a nominal pressure of at least 5 bar and the cylinders shall be ballasted (e.g. with water) to
represent its maximum gross weight. The bundle shall be in the same condition as it would be during
transport (e.g. with the cylinder valves either open or closed).
7.2.4.2 Vertical drop test
The bundle shall be dropped vertically onto a corner of the frame from a height of 100 mm. The angle
between the frame base members and the ground shall be a minimum of 5°, which represents normal
rough operation (see Figure 2). The pass/fail criteria for the vertical drop test are:
— the primary frame structure shall remain capable of subsequent movement by a forklift or sling;
10 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 10961:2019(E)
— the cylinders and manifolds shall remain constrained in the frame, though deformation of
components is acceptable;
— no part of the bundle shall leak (to be checked
...