Help with Tank ID

[Scared Silly]

Here is the official advisory:

http://www.ctcseminars.com/Files/Te...fety Advisory_ High Pressure Aluminum~950.htm

 

[Wormzer]

Link above does not work.

The Luxfer cylinder does not have the 'VE' stamp. I'll contact my dive shop.

The Luxfer is a US Divers brand. I read somewhere that since these tanks originally had lifetime warranties, US Divers will replace it if I can prove I am the original owner. Any truth to this?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Eddy current/visual plus testing has been required by Luxfer on all 6351-T6 tanks on an 18 month basis since 2000 (effectively meaning scuba tanks got visual plus inspections annually.) However the DOT recently ruled that based on data collected since 2000, that the visual eddy testing is only required as part of the normal requalification process (ie: with the hydro test done every 5years) as propogation of sustained load cracks was found to be very slow from detection to ultimate failure.

Given that the final rule was adopted only in 2006 and implemented in 2007, it would not be uncommon for a tank hydro tested prior to the implementation of this rule to not have the VE stamp. But a 6351-T6 tank tested in october 2008 should have had the visual eddy test and a VE stamp.

The final rule along with public comments and responses:

FR Doc E6-14255

The reg itself. The VE provisions for 6351-T6 tanks are about 3/4 of the way down the document at 49 CFR 180.209(m).

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:

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A report detailing why a combination of visual and eddy current inspection was adopted. It is a pretty interesting read:

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/3al_mainreport.pdf

An interpretation letter explaining that a VE stamp and the required resting for the VE stamp can be made on other than 6351-T6 tanks but is not required on tanks not made from 6351-T6 alloy.

PHMSA - Interpretations by Date - Interpretation #07-0117

 

[SparticleBrane]

All this talk about old tanks that might have issues. Just go buy a new one and turn the old one into a planter or windchime...

 

[Scared Silly]

I have to agree ... I had mixed feeling about scrapping 6351 cylinders until Phil Ellis' incident. I have lot of respect for Phil and when he noted his "little" incident I decided it was time to change my feelings. That said I have a CO2 cylinder that is made from 6351 and though not part of the advisory I did have an eddy current test perform.

 

[Gilldiver]

I have decided not to fight the alloy fight anymore, so I am replacing all my "Bad" alloy tanks with nice safe steel 72's from the 60's and 70's.

As for the Catalina tanks, any shop that refuses to fill them because they were made before 1989/90, even though they are 6061 alloy, deserves to go out of business as they cannot read, understand, and or train their tank inspectors correctly.

And the shops that will not fill any tank before 1989/90 steel or aluminum should have gone out of business a long time ago. They can't read or tell aluminum from steel.