Balloon Grade Helium

[South Pacific Diver]

What are the legal aspects and should the LDS disclose what they are using?

Does anyone know of any specific requirement for the LDS to disclose information on the gases they are providing?

Maybe I should have asked only this question and left the paticulars out. The doubles were drained before I left the LDS. I didn't pay for the gas and I really don't care if a balloon with 20% O2 in it will float. Sorry folks but the above quotes was the only answer I was looking for...

 

[Don Burke]

What are the legal aspects and should the LDS disclose what they are using?

I would imagine that would fall under state law for most. How that would shake out in Guam is a mystery to me.

Does anyone know of any specific requirement for the LDS to disclose information on the gases they are providing?

I doubt there is one. It is not a food or a drug.

I really don't care if a balloon with 20% O2 in it will float.

Perhaps, but I would imagine you do care what is in the gas.

Any oxygen in the gas provided as helium would reduce the MOD of the final mix.

 

[padiscubapro]

I would imagine that would fall under state law for most. How that would shake out in Guam is a mystery to me.I doubt there is one. It is not a food or a drug.Perhaps, but I would imagine you do care what is in the gas.

Any oxygen in the gas provided as helium would reduce the MOD of the final mix.

Don,

Most times I have seen oxygen added to an inert gas, its usually around 10%. This will not sustain consciousness (on the surface), but it will prevent someone depleting oxygen entirely from their system.

Personally, I add 10% oxygen (and teach this to potential dealers), into my Argon storage bottle as soon as I get it.. This prevents some yahoo from inadvertently hooking a scuba reg on a drysuit bottle and killing himself..

 

[webediving]

It all depends in how much your life is worth to you! At increased partial pressures the mor junk ou have in the tank the more junk you put in your system. Is it worth it?

T

 

[Rick Murchison]

For those who are thinking "well, I'm gonna analyse it anyway, so if there's oxygen in there I'll catch it," please remember the only rule for "balloon grade" (it ain't really a grade, by the way, but sort of a generally accepted standard) is that it will float a balloon. That means that it is perfectly acceptable to have considerable loads of other gasses - methane, for example - in the tank. Partial pressure blenders take note...
I say again
Do not use "balloon grade" helium in diving mixes!
Rick