Industrial and medical-grade nitrous oxide is governed by a framework of international and regional standards that define purity requirements, testing methods, container specifications, and safety procedures.
Key Standards
ISO 14175 covers gases and gas mixtures used in welding and allied processes. For medical N₂O, the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) set monograph specifications including identity tests, purity assays (minimum 98.0–99.0%), and limits for specific impurities including CO, CO₂, NO, NO₂, water, and halogenated compounds.
Container Markings
Per EN ISO 7225 and regional regulations, N₂O cylinders must be color-coded (blue shoulder in Europe, blue body in North America), labeled with proper shipping name, UN number (UN1070 non-refrigerated, UN2201 refrigerated liquid), hazard class, and cylinder test date.