Check Your LPG cylinder, it could be underweight

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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a gas mixture of Propane (C3H8) and Butane (C4H10) liquefied under pressure. The LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) cylinders delivered by Public sector companies are of two types - domestic and commercial. The Domestic LPG cylinders used for cooking are of 5 kg/14.2 kg Net weight - means the cylinder contain 5 kg/14.2 kg LPG. The Commercial cylinder is of 19 kg Net weight. The domestic LPG cylinder bottled by Public sector companies like BP, HP, IOC get subsidy and the current market rate is around Rs. 500 per 14.2 kg cylinder.

The price of LPG is fixed every month by the Gas companies depending on the International market crude oil rates. The dealers have to display the rate of various type of LPG cylinders in their office.

Private gas companies sell 12 kg domestic LPG cylinder and 17 kg commercial LPG.



The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 requires the LPG packer/importer/dealer/delivery boy to have a 50 kg weighing instrument of 10 g accuracy to check the LPG weight.

Next time you get an LPG cylinder, check the weight. Ask the delivery boy to weigh it. On weighment you will get the Gross weight (Tare weight printed on the cylinder + 14.2 kg). If the weight is less by more than 150 g (maximum permissible error for 14.2 kg LPG cylinder) refuse the LPG cylinder and file a complaint with the Legal Metrology Department in your area. Delivering an underweight cylinder is an offence punishable under Sec 30 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

Eg : If the Tare weight marked on the LPG cylinder is 16.2 kg and the Gross weight on weighment is 30.4 kg. Then the LPG weight is 14.2 kg and is correct.

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The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 explains the declarations required to be made on an LPG cylinder.

1. Name of the Commodity
2. Net weight of LPG
3. Manufacturer/Packer's Name & Address
4. Consumer care Name & Address and Phone number



Commercial cylinders (19 kg/17 kg) must bear additional declarations such as Date of Packing and Maximum Retail Price.

Packing/Importing/delivering/selling of cylinders without the mandatory declarations is punishable under Sec 36(1) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

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As per Liquefied Gas Order, 2000, an LPG cylinder carry the following mandatory declarations :

1. Net weight of LPG
2. Tare weight (empty) of the cylinder
3. Expiry date of the cylinder (A17 means March 2017)
4. Date of cylinder test & pressure
5. Serial Number