For most divers,
the visual inspection of a tank is not given a lot of thought. It's
just something that you need to have done to your tank if you want
to get it filled, right? Well, in a way, that is correct, but why
do dive stores require a current "evidence of inspection" sticker
on your tank?
Visual inspections
of high pressure gas cylinders are required in many industries. But
for scuba, the visual inspection process plays a more prominent role
than for the gas industry because these cylinders are used in ways
never imagined by those who first developed cylinder safety related-guidelines.
Divers submerge
cylinders in both fresh and salt water. Water may enter the cylinder
during air filling as well as back flow through the regulator when
the cylinder is nearly empty. Too little thought is given to a regular
program of care. Because cylinders appear to be hardy, which they
are, owners tend to view them as indestructible, which they are
not! Cylinders are dropped, banged against one another and struck
against a wide variety of other hard objects.
Divers' care
can contribute to a cylinders long life. Very poor care may reduce
the cylinder's service life to a few months or cause it to rupture
explosively, endangering both lives and property.
Dive professionals
who inspect and service cylinders play a vital role in ensuring that
cylinders have a maximum useful life, because while a few cylinders
do explode each year, many hundreds are removed from service by visual
inspectors and hydrostatic facilities before people are killed and
businesses are destroyed.
In the U.S.,
Federal regulations address aspects of cylinders handling and safety.
Title 29CFR 1910.101 states each employer shall determine that
the cylinders under his control are in a safe condition to the extent
that this can be determined by visual inspection. This regulation
supports the dive industry in requiring that all cylinders have a
current "evidence of inspection" sticker in order to be filled. No
exceptions!!
| HOW OFTEN TO VISUALLY INSPECT?? |
|
|
The frequency of inspection is dependent upon usage.
Experience shows us that cylinders used by average scuba divers
providing average care under average conditions must be visually
inspected at least annually and hydrostatically re-tested every
five years. Since conditions and people are seldom "average",
a visual inspection is appropriate whenever a problem is suspected.
An alert service technician should consider an immediate visual
inspection when any of the following occur:
1. damaged cylinder exterior
2. internal noise
3. increased weight
4. evidence of corrosion product on regulator filter
5. cylinder completely emptied or burst disc fails
6. air compressor defective unusual air smells
7. unknown previous history
8. a removed valve
9. after hydrostatic retest
10. after long-term storage |
|
| Pacific Scuba Center
uses VISUAL PLUS!
Visual Plus uses eddy currents to thoroughly
inspect the neck region of aluminum cylinders. Visual Plus
measures tiny fluctuations in the electrical current and
can detect the smallest imperfections. By using visual plus,
we are able to detect cylinder flaws that other inspectors,
who rely only on the naked eye, might miss or wrongly diagnose.
Your scuba cylinder will receive the most thorough,
superior visual inspection possible! |
|
| |
|
|
Pacific Scuba
Center, Inc. has technicians who have received appropriate training
and are fully qualified to provide proper care and service for your
scuba cylinders. We follow the guidelines provided by the Compressed
Gas Association, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) and the American
National Standards Institute. The guidelines are strictly followed
for one primary reason: THE SAFETY OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES!
If the dive industry can maintain the established safety standards,
it can continue to self-regulate rather than government regulation,
which will alleviate escalating costs!
Isn't It Time to Have Your Cylinder Inspected
with VISUAL PLUS?
