Is your LPG cylinder within its test date?
Type the letter and two digits stamped on your cylinder. Free. The code you type is not sent to us or stored.
Most kitchens have a cylinder with a small code on its side, something like B-27, and hardly anyone knows what it says. It is not an expiry date. It tells you when that cylinder is due for its next statutory safety test.
This page reads the code for you and says what to do next. It takes a few seconds, and it is worth doing every time a new cylinder is delivered.
Check your cylinder code
Where to find the code
Look at the cylinder from the side. Three vertical metal strips, called stay plates, join the top ring to the foot ring. On the inside face of one of them you will find a letter and two digits, stamped or painted, for example B-27. Some companies call these strips the side collars. Do not mix it up with the other marks on the cylinder, such as the empty weight or the stamp of the testing station.
At delivery, check these four things
- The seal. It should be there and unbroken, and the delivery person opens it in front of you.
- The safety cap. It should have no cracks. Take it off and check that no gas is escaping from the valve.
- The hose. While the new cylinder is connected, look for cracks or damage. HP Gas calls the rubber hose the weakest link in an LPG connection and says a hose with visible cracks or damage should be changed at once.
- The connection. Have the new cylinder connected to the stove while the delivery person is there, and make sure no leakage is found. Read the code on the stay plate before they leave.
This follows what Indian Oil and HP Gas tell customers to check when a refill arrives (Indian Oil FAQ and the HP Gas LPG safety chapter, opened on 20 October 2026). HP Gas also asks you to get the cylinder weighed before you accept it. If anything looks wrong, do not accept the cylinder.
How to read the code
| Letter | Test falls due in | Due by | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | January to March | 31 March | A-27 means the next test is due by 31 March 2027 |
| B | April to June | 30 June | B-27 means the next test is due by 30 June 2027 |
| C | July to September | 30 September | C-26 means the next test is due by 30 September 2026 |
| D | October to December | 31 December | D-26 means the next test is due by 31 December 2026 |
The two digits are the year. This is the date by which the cylinder must be tested again. It is not an expiry date, and it does not say how much gas is left or whether the gas has gone bad.
Who to call about a cylinder
For a leak, call 1906 at any hour. For a cylinder with a wrong or missing date, speak to your distributor first. If nothing happens, use your oil company's customer care.
| Call for | Number |
|---|---|
| LPG leak, any oil company | 1906 |
| Indian Oil (Indane) and HP Gas customer care | 1800-2333-555 |
| Bharat Gas (BPCL SmartLine) | 1800 22 4344 |
| Fire brigade or any emergency | 101 or 112 |
These numbers were checked on the oil companies' own websites in October 2026. The number printed on your gas card or cash memo is always the safest one to use.
How we know
The letters and digits are read the way the oil companies and the Petroleum Ministry explain them, and the call numbers (including the Indian Oil numbers) were checked on the oil companies' own websites on 20 October 2026. Last checked 20 October 2026.
This tool only reads the code you type. It cannot see your cylinder or tell you whether it is in good condition. A cylinder that is within its date can still be dented, rusted or leaking, and one that has passed its date has not necessarily failed. It is an awareness tool. It does not replace your distributor, your oil company or the emergency services. In an emergency, call 112.
Read next
- Emergency Numbers in India: 112, 101, 108 and Which Number to Call
- Kitchen Gas Leak Accidents – Prevention Statistics (2019–2025)
- Festival-Season Home Fire Safety in India: Diyas, Lights, Electrical Load, LPG and Sweets-Making
- Seven kitchen fire rules for Indian homes
- Rapti Nagar, Gorakhpur LPG Fire: Elderly Couple Die After Gas Leak During Cylinder Repair
- Giridih Cylinder Blast, Dhanwar: Woman and Young Niece Die as Burning LPG Cylinder Bursts
Common questions
Is this the expiry date of my LPG cylinder?
No. Indian Oil says that an LPG cylinder has no expiry date, only a test due date. The letter and digits tell you when the next statutory test falls due. They say nothing about how long the gas or the cylinder can be used.
The date on my cylinder has passed. Will it burst?
A past date does not mean the cylinder is about to burst. It means the required safety test has not been recorded, so the cylinder should not be in circulation. Do not take that as permission to keep using it. Stop using it and ask your distributor to replace it.
What do the letters A, B, C and D mean?
They are the quarters of the year. A is the quarter ending in March, B ending in June, C ending in September and D ending in December. The digits are the year. So D-26 means the cylinder is to be taken for its next test by December 2026.
Where exactly is the code?
On the inside face of one of the three vertical metal strips, the stay plates, that join the top ring of the cylinder to its foot ring. It is painted or stamped, and only one of the three strips carries it.
How often is a cylinder tested?
Under the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016, every cylinder has to be retested to check it is fit for further use. The Petroleum Ministry told Parliament in December 2023 that the first retest comes 10 years after the cylinder is made, and then one every five years. You do not need to work this out yourself. The code on the stay plate already gives the next date.
Why would a distributor deliver a cylinder that is past its date?
It should not happen. Indian Oil and the Petroleum Ministry both say that cylinders due for testing are set aside at the filling plant and are not filled or sent out. If you receive one, refuse it politely and ask for another, then report it to the oil company if the distributor will not help.
Can I get the cylinder tested or repaired myself?
No. Testing is done only at stations approved by the Chief Controller of Explosives, through the oil company. Never repair a cylinder or its valve at home or at a roadside workshop, and never move gas from one cylinder into another. The Petroleum Ministry lists transfer of LPG from home cylinders to other cylinders among the causes of LPG accidents.
I can see more than one set of marks on the stay plate. Which one is the due date?
Testing stations also punch the date of the test they have just carried out, along with their own mark. The painted or stamped letter with two digits, like B-27, is the next due date, and that is the one this page reads. If you are not sure which mark is which, ask your distributor.
Does this work for commercial cylinders too?
The Gas Cylinders Rules ask for a quarter and year marking on LPG cylinders in general, and the same A to D scheme is the one the oil companies explain. We have not found a page that explains commercial cylinders separately, so if your commercial cylinder looks different, check with your supplier.
My cylinder has no code on the stay plate. What should I do?
Some cylinders, for example the newer composite ones, may be marked differently, and we have not found an official explanation of how. Do not guess. Ask your distributor to show you the date and to confirm it in writing if needed.
Do you keep the code I type?
No. The date is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved on the page. We count visits with Google Analytics, and the page translator is Google's.
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These tools are for awareness. They do not replace a fire audit, an electrician's visit, medical advice or a call to the emergency services. In an emergency, call 112.