Hydrostatic Test Label – UV-Resistant Foil/Vinyl (Self-Adhesive)

The hydrostatic test label is the permanent on-cylinder record that proves an extinguisher has successfully passed its mandatory pressure test. Every portable fire extinguisher must undergo hydrostatic testing at intervals specified by IS 2190 and the cylinder manufacturer—typically every 5 years for stored-pressure types and every 10 years for CO₂ cylinders. The test subjects the empty cylinder to 1.5× its working pressure (or higher, per the standard) for a defined hold period to verify structural integrity. The label records the critical data from this test: date, test pressure, tester identity, and pass/fail result.

This self-adhesive label is manufactured from UV-resistant foil or vinyl stock specifically chosen to survive the harsh environments where extinguishers live: industrial floors, outdoor wall brackets, vehicle engine bays, and rooftop equipment rooms. The label must remain legible for the full inter-test interval (5–10 years) under exposure to sunlight, rain, oil, cleaning chemicals, and physical abrasion. Cheap paper labels fade, peel, and become illegible within months—defeating the entire purpose of the record.

The label format includes fields for: test date, next test due date, test pressure applied (bar/psi), cylinder serial number, tester name/company, tester licence number (where applicable), and a pass/fail indication. Some versions include a colour-coded border (year-coded) for quick visual identification during walk-through inspections. The label is applied to the cylinder shoulder or body, adjacent to the IS rating plate, where it is visible without removing the extinguisher from its bracket.

Filling methodology matters: use a ballpoint pen with permanent ink, an embossing stamp, or a pre-printed thermal label. Felt-tip markers fade under UV. Pencil is unacceptable (erasable, implies alterable records). For high-volume operations, pre-printed thermal labels with variable data fields (date, serial number) produced on a portable label printer provide the neatest and most durable result.

Regulatory context: while IS 2190 does not prescribe a specific label format, fire inspectors and insurance auditors universally expect to see a legible hydro-test record on every cylinder that has reached its test-due age. A missing or illegible label triggers an automatic "remove from service" order until the test status can be verified from workshop records. Keeping digital backup records (photographs, database entries) is strongly recommended as a secondary audit trail.

Order labels in rolls of 100–500 for workshop use. Store in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight to preserve adhesive integrity. Shelf life of unused labels is typically 3–5 years.