bdshort
Contributor
I am starting to consider taking a Nitrox class. I've seen several people here say that it's worth it just for the knowledge, even if you never dive with nitrox. I've held off to this point because as a firefighter, I'm able to fill my tanks (Steel HP100s from Worthington) for free with the stations SCBA air compressor, and have been hesitant to take nitrox because I was under the impression, from reading material that came with the tanks (valves actually), that once you used air in a tank, you couldn't use nitrox mixes unless you had the tank O2 cleaned first, or you'd blow up! I know I dont want to dive solely nitrox, because after all, air for me is free, and nitrox would be $8 a fill. And sometimes I want to go on a dive when the shop is closed, and need gas!
I have read a few threads here on the issue, and from what I gather, there is no problem with using nitrox on some dives, and then using air on other dives, from the same taink, as long as the air you use meets specific quality levels, and the LDS doesn't do partial pressure fills. I talked with my LDS, and learned that they do bank their nitrox, and dont partial pressure fill, and that I could use air as well as long as it meet quality standards (E1 or something like that?). The only time a tank truly needs to be O2 cleaned is if you use EANx greater than 40%, or if your shop only does partial pressure fills?
The compressor we use at the station has to be tested quarterly, and I was looking at the results from the last test, which was sometime over the summer. It didn't say anything like E1, but basically gave percentages and ppm measurements of various gases and particulates, and since it passed, and is used for breathing air for firefighters, I would imagine that it should meet or exceed standards for scuba diving. Yes? No?
So, to make a long question short, if I sometimes fill my tanks with air from the station, and occasionally have the LDS fill them with nitrox for dives where it would be useful to have, will my tanks be safe, or explode and kill people?
The LDS also added that the other thing you have to be aware of, is if you don't drain your tank after using nitrox, and fill with air from the station, that I need to make sure I analyze it before I take it diving, which makes sense.
Brian
I have read a few threads here on the issue, and from what I gather, there is no problem with using nitrox on some dives, and then using air on other dives, from the same taink, as long as the air you use meets specific quality levels, and the LDS doesn't do partial pressure fills. I talked with my LDS, and learned that they do bank their nitrox, and dont partial pressure fill, and that I could use air as well as long as it meet quality standards (E1 or something like that?). The only time a tank truly needs to be O2 cleaned is if you use EANx greater than 40%, or if your shop only does partial pressure fills?
The compressor we use at the station has to be tested quarterly, and I was looking at the results from the last test, which was sometime over the summer. It didn't say anything like E1, but basically gave percentages and ppm measurements of various gases and particulates, and since it passed, and is used for breathing air for firefighters, I would imagine that it should meet or exceed standards for scuba diving. Yes? No?
So, to make a long question short, if I sometimes fill my tanks with air from the station, and occasionally have the LDS fill them with nitrox for dives where it would be useful to have, will my tanks be safe, or explode and kill people?
The LDS also added that the other thing you have to be aware of, is if you don't drain your tank after using nitrox, and fill with air from the station, that I need to make sure I analyze it before I take it diving, which makes sense.
Brian
