Safe air sampling intervals

[2airishuman]

I asked my LDS how often they send an air sample to the lab after noticing that the test report they have posted on the wall is almost a year old.

LDS said that they send a sample every 100 hours of operation regardless of the number of weeks/months that have gone by. As they are a small operation this ends up being almost a year between samples.

Is this an appropriate level of care regarding air quality?

 

[BoltSnap]

I asked my LDS how often they send an air sample to the lab after noticing that the test report they have posted on the wall is almost a year old.

LDS said that they send a sample every 100 hours of operation regardless of the number of weeks/months that have gone by. As they are a small operation this ends up being almost a year between samples.

Is this an appropriate level of care regarding air quality?

I used to do it quarterly irrespective of number of hours of operation. The testing company, United Divers in Boston, sent us the testing bottle automatically when it was time to do it. I think that there was a time when we did it more frequently when we moved and got a new compressor.

 

[nadwidny]

In my area are 10 shops. 2 test yearly, 2 test every 6 months, the rest don't test at all. The standard in Canada is every 6 months. I generally test my own compressors at filter changes (~50-60 hrs) so about twice a year for one and once a year for the other. Personally I think 100 hours is too long but that's just me.

Once I tested every 10 hours on my main compressor but I work at the lab that does this sort of thing and can do crazy stuff like that just to see what's going on.

 

[macado]

I have no other references for you but the shop I work at gets a sample tested every 3 months. Some local shops don't do any testing or if they do.. they don't post it on wall or advertise it so I could be wrong.

In the past PADI required all of its dive shops to test their compressor air quality quarterly. I forget exactly when they discontinued this requirement but we still test anyway. I believe NAUI affiliated shops used to have a similar requirement but I have no idea if they still do.

 

[WarrenZ]

My local LDS has one posted on the wall from 2013!!!!! Do I win something?



I need to ask if they have a more recent one I kinda doubt it but maybe they will surprise me. The next closest shop is an hour away.

 

[Brandon]

OSHA mandates air sample testing every 6 months if the compressor is used in commercial diving operations. This includes businesses with employees that provide "scuba instruction and guide services" (so most all dive shops). PADI used to require quarterly testing for their "5-star/golden banana" shops, but yielded to the dive shop owners who complained that was too often.

That said, regular testing by itself is no guarentee that everything is A-Ok. It's just a capture at a specific point in time. The very next day, the compressor could overheat, start burning oil, and jack the CO through the roof. Amongst any number of other possible failures.

I have a small compressor that gets about 50 hours of use each year. I do an OCA test every 6 months. I do regular maintenance (oil and filters) at about 80% of when it should be done. I have inline moisture and CO monitoring, and keep great maintenance records. I don't fill commercially, but the buddies I fill for are welcome to inspect any or all of my fill station at any time. Questions are encouraged.

You should expect at least the same from your local dive shop. If they aren't at least that rigorous, toss the whole silly "life support" argument back in their face.

Filters are $50-75, air tests are $75-100, and compressor oil is about $100 a gallon. All said, maintenance makes up a couple dollars of your fill cost. Make sure they're actually doing it.

Remember: The shops are going to harp on you for regular maintenance, including: vis inspections, hydros, reg service and possibly oxygen cleaning. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

 

[Shotmaster]

They can test it themselves with this.

Dräger Aerotest® Simultan HP

 

[Shotmaster]

This is a good layout for air quality standards spelled out by different agencies. It is an eye opener if you actually read it as there are no enforceable requirements for testing. Not listed is the Navy Which specifies quarterly testing by regulation. The Navy also uses the Grade D air spec for their air instead of Grade E. If you want to open a can of worms, look at the Nitrox air quality requirements as they are the most stringent. I doubt few, if any LDS meet these requirements.

http://www.airsystems.com/Reference/CGA Air Grade Specifications.pdf

 

[nadwidny]

If you want to open a can of worms, look at the Nitrox air quality requirements as they are the most stringent. I doubt few, if any LDS meet these requirements.

Actually pretty much all compressors we test meet these requirements. Fire departments, oil field safety guys, both of my compressors... they all meet those requirements without any extra filtration other than what comes standard with the compressor.