What is the purpose of hydrostatic testing on propane cylinders?

• A. To verify the cylinder can safely contain pressure and detect structural weaknesses.
• B. To measure the cylinder's weight capacity.
• C. To confirm the cylinder's leak rate under normal use.
• D. To test the color coding of the cylinder labeling.

Answer: (A)

Hydrostatic testing checks the cylinder’s ability to safely contain pressure and to reveal any structural weaknesses. By filling the cylinder with water and pressurizing it to a level well above normal use, any cracks, thinning walls, or other defects will show up as leaks or permanent deformation. This ensures the cylinder won’t fail catastrophically during regular use. It’s not about weighing the cylinder, measuring a leak rate during normal use, or checking labeling color; those are separate checks or tests.