Hydro test of a 3 cubic foot Spare Air?

[designbysue]

Has anyone ever run into a dive operation being upset about a 3 cubic foot Spare Air bottle being out of hydro or not having a current visual sticker on it? Are these required for a Spare Air bottles?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Normally dive ops don't fill them. You fill em yourself before you take off in your helicopter. Then when you have to ditch it's full.

 

[knotical]

The owner’s manual says hydro required every 5 years and visual annually (page 9)
http://www.spareair.com/custserv/cs_downloads/SA_Owners_Manual_2013.pdf

The service manual does say the older, lower pressure (1800 psi) cylinders are exempt from hydro (page 4) but the 3 cu ft model is 3000 psi.
http://www.aberdeenwatersports.com/FileLibrary/Knowledge/Regulators/Spare%20Air%20Service%20Manual%202003.pdf

 

[designbysue]

Thank you, knotical. You are 100% correct. I do not have one but overheard an conversation between the manager of a dive operation and another diver. I had never heard of the requirements before.

 

[knotical]

The shop where I used to work sold these. I was surprised that any were exempt from hydro, but we checked the CGA-type regs and confirmed. I think the older ones were probably sometimes sold with the incentive: "never needs hydro". So if someone had heard this and later bought a 3000 psi one, they might be understandably confused.

 

[redacted]

You will probably be fine as long as you don't want to go to the Flower Gardens. The op there requires current hydro and VIS.

 

[NAM001]

there is someting about cylendar diameter that determines testing requirements.

 

[redacted]

there is someting about cylendar diameter that determines testing requirements.

I don't remember the number, but I think it is about 1.5 inches. That is why CO2 cartridges do not have a born on hydro but spare airs do.

 

[Festus]

My ignorance out ways my knowledge on such things. DOT is about commercial commerce and not adding air to a limited accepted beer can.

 

[knotical]

there is someting about cylendar diameter that determines testing requirements.

That rings a bell.

---------- Post added January 30th, 2015 at 08:58 PM ----------

this site: 49 CFR 180.209 - Requirements for requalification of specification cylinders. | LII / Legal Information Institute
says:

Any cylinder not exceeding 2 inches outside diameter and less than 2 feet in length is excepted from volumetric expansion test.