Recent LPG cylinder blasts in parts of the country have raised public concern, making many users wary about the safety of domestic gas cylinders. Amid this anxiety, a claim has once again gone viral on social media, further fueling confusion among consumers.
The circulating post alleges that markings such as “A-26” or “D-26” printed on LPG cylinders indicate an expiry date of 2026, warning that such cylinders are unsafe to use and may explode. However, this claim is misleading.
LPG cylinders do not carry an expiry date for the gas itself. Instead, they feature a mandatory safety inspection marking that indicates when the cylinder must undergo structural testing.
This code consists of a letter (A, B, C, or D) and a two-digit year. The letter represents the quarter of the year:
A for January–March
B for April–June
C for July–September
D for October–December
While the numbers indicate the year of the scheduled inspection. For example, “B-28” means the cylinder must be tested by June 2028.
Do cylinders in Pakistan use D-26-type safety code?
In Pakistan, codes such as A-26 or D-26 are not used on LPG cylinders, according to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). Instead, cylinders display manufacturing details, batch numbers, weight, and next test dates.
What’s the lifespan of an LPG cylinder?
Most steel LPG cylinders have a total operational lifespan of 15 years, during which they undergo multiple internal hydrostatic and pneumatic test cycles.
