Nitrox Tank Marking

[In2theabyss]

I trust my dive shop with my life, in most cases such gear repair....and even my tank filling but if it something I can persoanlly verify then why not, and I do when it comes to nitrox blends. And overseas without a doubt to the point now its a very good habit

 

[gcarter]

Nothing wrong with trust, so long as it is not only trust.

It needs to be "Trust But Verify".

 

[tbone1004]

the amount of deaths due to CO recently should be enough for everyone to be sufficiently spooked to be analyzing everything. May as well do O2 and CO at the same time, having the correct analysis never killed anyone, having the wrong one has killed many

 

[PfcAJ]

I trust my dive shop with my life, in most cases such gear repair....and even my tank filling but if it something I can persoanlly verify then why not, and I do when it comes to nitrox blends. And overseas without a doubt to the point now its a very good habit

I highly recommend that you change your outlook on that.

 

[In2theabyss]

I highly recommend that you change your outlook on that.

May of needed to word it differently.... agree

 

[In2theabyss]

Nothing wrong with trust, so long as it is not only trust.

It needs to be "Trust But Verify".

Exactly....

 

[Tacoma Lighthouse]

I will refer you to 49CFR171.2 which defines the requirements for markings on hazardous materials (Yes, scuba cylinders are hazardous materials) and OSHA guidelines that define air as 19.5% to 23.5% oxygen. As such, Nitrox cylinders must be marked as such and Compressed Gas Association guidelines do not accept an evidence of inspection decal as proper marking for the cylinder contents. These rules apply to anyone in “commerce”, e.g. your LDC, who packages hazardous materials (fills your cylinder) for transportation on public roads (in your car). If an inspector from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or OSHA were to observe your LDC violating these requirements the LDC can be cited and face significant civil penalties.


Therefore, yes, your cylinder does need to have a “NITROX” banner on it and when so marked, must contain a Nitrox mixture in excess of 23.5% oxygen. It is illegal to fill a cylinder with less than 23.5% oxygen in a cylinder marked for Nitrox, just as it is illegal to put greater than 23.5% oxygen in cylinders not appropriately marked. All of this is “clear as mud”, except to the inspectors and bureaucrats.

 

[BRT]

I will refer you to 49CFR171.2 which defines the requirements for markings on hazardous materials (Yes, scuba cylinders are hazardous materials) and OSHA guidelines that define air as 19.5% to 23.5% oxygen. As such, Nitrox cylinders must be marked as such and Compressed Gas Association guidelines do not accept an evidence of inspection decal as proper marking for the cylinder contents. These rules apply to anyone in “commerce”, e.g. your LDC, who packages hazardous materials (fills your cylinder) for transportation on public roads (in your car). If an inspector from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or OSHA were to observe your LDC violating these requirements the LDC can be cited and face significant civil penalties.


Therefore, yes, your cylinder does need to have a “NITROX” banner on it and when so marked, must contain a Nitrox mixture in excess of 23.5% oxygen. It is illegal to fill a cylinder with less than 23.5% oxygen in a cylinder marked for Nitrox, just as it is illegal to put greater than 23.5% oxygen in cylinders not appropriately marked. All of this is “clear as mud”, except to the inspectors and bureaucrats.

Lots of citations been written for violating those rules? I would think they would be down at Alki with their O2 analyzers writing people up. Being as this is Federal law would it be FBI doing the investigations or Federal DOT?

 

[Tacoma Lighthouse]

The operative word here is "IF". U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or OSHA inspectors normally only get involved when they are reacting to an issue or incident.

 

[BRT]

The operative word here is "IF". U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or OSHA inspectors normally only get involved when they are reacting to an issue or incident.

Can you tell me about some of the citations they have written for not having correct markings on a scuba tank after an accident?