UAE’s Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (Esma) will start to monitor the weight and safety of gas cylinders traded in the country by the end of this year or early 2012, a senior official said.

Every day, about 1.5 million gas cylinders are being refilled in the UAE. As the number is expected to grow in line with the growth in economy, Esma aims to ensure that all gas cylinders – from manufacturing and transportation to installation and removal – duly verified.

Esma is currently in discussion with manufacturers and traders on best practices and is soon to implement a labeling system where every gas cylinder must have an Esma Mark of Conformity.

Esma, in coordination with the UAE Civil Defense and UAE Municipalities plans to introduce an identification/tracking system or color-coding scheme, which will enable them to easily remove doubtful cylinders in the market place.

Mohammad Saleh Badri, acting director general, Esma, said: “If you buy a 20-litre cylinder then it should contain 20 litres. Since you cannot see it, you have to verify the standard and that is what we are doing now.”

“We have to approve the manufacturers of gas cylinders as well as the whole process – from filling/refilling the cylinders to selling them. All of these must be approved by us to ensure that everything is done properly,” he added.

Esma will verify the manufacturing of the cylinders and will monitor the personnel involved in the transportation, installation and removal of the gas cylinders.  In addition, every five years, all existing cylinders will be verified and will be given a “re-birth certificate”, a statement said.

“Each cylinder should have a birth number or an identification number. Once the cylinder goes to the re-fillers, we will have to verify and see that the amount of gas is accurate,” Badri explained.

“Currently, there is a safety declaration from manufacturers but by the time the system is launched, we will be monitoring the safety aspect, too. Because gas cylinders are hazardous in nature, we will have to verify and approve the transportation systems used by the manufacturers and suppliers.”

“We are in discussions with the UAE Civil Defense and UAE Municipalities, who will help in terms of monitoring. If there is a doubt then the cylinder will be cancelled and will be removed from the system,” he added.

“The system is expected to be finalized by the end of this year or early next year. Once the system is in place, we encourage every consumer to look for the Mark of Conformity. They should not accept any gas cylinder without this mark,” Badri concluded. – TradeArabia News Service