After all, why is only 14.2 KG written on the domestic LPG cylinder? Know the real reason behind this

digital desk- These days, the discussion regarding the availability and supply of gas cylinders is intense across the world. The demand for LPG cylinders, from domestic to commercial, has increased, due to which shortage is also being seen at many places. In such an environment, many questions related to gas cylinders are arising in the minds of people. One of these common questions is why only 14.2 kg is written on the domestic gas cylinder? Why not 13 or 15 kg? Actually, the standard weight of LPG cylinder used in homes has been fixed at 14.2 kg, and there are many important reasons behind this. First of all let’s talk about security. LPG i.e. Liquefied Petroleum Gas is filled in the cylinder under high pressure. In such a situation, if the weight of the cylinder is kept more like 20 or 25 kg, then it can be difficult to handle and lift it. This may also increase the risk in case of an accident or leakage.

The weight has been determined for the convenience of the people.

The 14.2 kg cylinder was chosen because it could be easily lifted by one or two people. Women or elderly people also use it at home, hence its weight has been kept such that it is safe as well as convenient. This is why this weight has remained the standard for years. The second big reason is logistics i.e. convenience of transportation and distribution. Gas companies have to deliver lakhs of cylinders to different places every day. If the weight of the cylinder is high, then problems in both transport and delivery will increase. The 14.2 kg cylinder can be easily loaded in the truck and the delivery boy can also easily deliver it to the home.

The weight of the cylinder is decided by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Apart from this, legal and normative reasons are also very important. The weight of domestic LPG cylinders in India is decided by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and petroleum companies. It is ensured that every cylinder is of uniform size, capacity and conforms to safety standards. This maintains consumer confidence and reduces the possibility of any irregularities. It is also worth noting that 14.2 kg cylinder means only the weight of the gas. Apart from this, the own weight of the cylinder (called tare weight) is different, which is usually between 15 to 17 kg. That means when you lift the entire cylinder, the total weight is much more.