About Propane

Manufacture Date

The manufacture date will show the month and year of manufacture, sometimes separated by an inspector’s symbol. Ten years after the date of manufacture, the cylinder will need to be re-qualified or replaced. 

Example: 04 10 or 04Δ10 

How to read this manufacture stamp: 

04 – Month of manufacture (i.e. April) 

05 – Year of manufacture (i.e. 2010)

Re-qualification (Re-test) Stamp 

As propane cylinders need to be re-qualified or replaced every ten years, this mark will show when that re-qualification happened. The easiest way to locate the re-qualification date on a cylinder is to find a sequence of numbers and letters that end in ‘E’. 

Example: 05 PD3 13 E H

How to read this re-qualification stamp: 

05 – Month of requalification (i.e. May) 

PD3 – Re-qualifiers registered mark (this is an identifier that Transport Canada assigns all re-qualifiers) 

13 – Year of re-qualification (i.e. 2013) 

E – Procedure Symbol E (stands for External Visual Inspection) Re-qualification may occur multiple times over the life of the cylinder, so there may be more than one re-qualification date stamped on the collar. 

Transport Canada Design Specification 

This shows that the cylinder has been designed to Transport Canada specifications and can be used and filled in Canada. Will include the letters TC.

Manufacturer’s Name, Symbol or Serial Number 

Shows who manufactured the cylinder. 

Water Capacity 

The total water capacity of the cylinder in litres. 

Tare Weight 

The weight of the empty cylinder in kilograms.

How long does a forklift propane cylinder last?

A propane cylinder for a forklift lasts between 6 and 8 hours, depending on the usage of the machine.

Do forklift propane tanks expire?

Yes, but aluminum propane cylinders can last for up to 50 years of use—three times longer than the average forklift battery.

Do forklift propane tanks need to be re-certified?

Yes. A brand-new propane cylinder will last for 10 years before it needs to be re-certified. To find out when a cylinder will expire, look on the tank collar for the manufacturer’s date and add 10 years. If the cylinder has already been re-certified, there will be a code stamped into the collar; that date is the a new 10 year to expiry date.

What size cylinder do I need for my forklift?

Most often, propane-powered forklifts need 33.5-pound tanks, but sometimes they use 43.5-pound tanks for larger forklifts.

Why are propane cylinders only filled up to 80%?

You can only fill a propane cylinder to 80% because the propane expands and contracts at different temperatures. It’s a safety measure. The extra space acts as a buffer for pressure build-up on hot days. A 33.5lb forklift tank holds 29.7 litres.

How do I know if my propane gauge is reading correctly?

The collar of your propane tank has a notch that lines up with a peg sticking out from the forklift. When the tank is lying sideways, and the notch and peg are aligned, the gauge should be reading properly. Some gauges show ‘full’ to ‘empty’ and others count down by numbers.

How do I properly store forklift propane tanks?

Propane cylinders must be stored in an upright position, in a locked cage, outside. They cannot be stored near any sources of ignition. The only propane cylinders that can be indoors are the ones in use.