The mandatory standard applies to non-refillable helium cylinders supplied in Australia.
The mandatory standard does not apply to refillable helium cylinders.
Mandatory standard
The Consumer Goods (Non-refillable Helium Cylinders) Safety Standard 2022 sets out the mandatory requirements for non-refillable helium cylinders. These requirements seek to reduce the number of suicides occurring by asphyxiation from helium inhalation.
Key requirements
This information aims to give suppliers a general idea of what is required by the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance, and should refer to the Consumer Goods (Non-refillable Helium Cylinders) Safety Standard 2022 for the full requirements.
Design and construction
A non-refillable helium cylinder must comply with the following requirement:
- the oxygen composition of the gas within the non-refillable helium cylinder must be 21% +/ - 1.0% of total gas composition by volume.
Labelling and warning requirements
The following must be clearly marked on the non-refillable helium cylinder and on the packaging:
- the composition of the gas within the cylinder, expressed as percentages of the total gas composition by volume.
- the following statement (or words to that effect): WARNING: Do not inhale. May cause suffocation.
The words of the warning must be:
- in English
- clearly legible
- clearly visible
- indelible.