Nitrox banding options?

[salty]

Get the big stickers but dont take the backing off to expose the adhesive. Befor going in to the LDS wrap the tanks and use some masking tape to hold the stickers on. when done just remove the stickers.

 

[Dryglove]

Ai yi yi- I hate this discussion. I got into this arguement with a shop in NC last summer. If you are interested I can enumerate for you the reasons I gave the shop owner detailing why those bands are not only stupid looking, but also useless.

Lets hear it. Luckily the shop I use doesnt require the big nitrox wrap but most others around the area do.

 

[simbrooks]

Get the big stickers but dont take the backing off to expose the adhesive. Befor going in to the LDS wrap the tanks and use some masking tape to hold the stickers on. when done just remove the stickers.

This might actually work! Of course they might ask why the stickers always look so new

Go ahead CD - give us your tale!!

 

[salty]

This might actually work! Of course they might ask why the stickers always look so new

And one set will work on all your tanks

 

[melfox26]

The only sticker you need on your tank is a current VIP stating that your tank is O2 clean. Any LDS that doesn't want to fill it without a Nitrox band probably just wants to sell you one for $10.


Mel

 

[simbrooks]

The only sticker you need on your tank is a current VIP stating that your tank is O2 clean. Any LDS that doesn't want to fill it without a Nitrox band probably just wants to sell you one for $10.

That is what i thought, the guy looked at me suspiciously when i said it was on the VIP, but had no glorified bands. So afterwards i went to another shop and got one for $4 - next time i will be prepared! He had better not give me grief next time with the tanks temporarily stuck with the bands else its new shop time

 

[BlueWaterDiving]

Simbrooks you mess them all up with a CUSTOM MIX sticker. And see want they think about that.

 

[fdog]

If the fact that it's clean and has the O2 % and MOD marked isn't enough for him then you need to find another shop, hell, I don't even mark the O2 % or MOD cause I only put one mix in mine.

You put those BA stickers on your doubles and I ain't diving with you.

Absolutely. Especially the find another shop part. If they don't understand what "O2 clean" means then I don't trust them to blend my mix.

All the best, James

 

[JS1scuba]

So what are my options? Big fat stickers, painting on green and yellow bands, just painting on certain areas - like the bands rather than the tanks? Anything else to consider? Besides not using these cowboy operations who just want to sell stickers.

Cylinder markings originate with NOAA. Those were adopted by the recreational scuba agencies and for the most part have a good reason for staying in place. Here is the text from the NOAA Diving Manual 4th Edition.

Identification Of Enriched Air Cylinders

One method of identification of nitrox cylinders is a yellow cylinder with the top painted green down 4 inches from the shoulder of the cylinder. On the body of the cylinder in two-inch high letters the words Nitrox or Enriched Air is to be stenciled.

Another acceptable method is to use a commercialy available label that surrounds the top of the tank. On yellow tanks a four-inch green band with the words “Nitrox” or “Enriched Air Nitrox” printed in yellow or white letters are placed just below the shoulder of the tank.

For cylinders that are not yellow the same green band will have a one inch yellow band on both top and bottom. A cylinder that does not have an enriched air cylinder label on it in the proper position should not be filled with oxygen enriched air.

Oxygen Service

This label is applied to the cylinder after it has been cleaned and placed into oxygen service. It indicates when the cylinder was cleaned and to what level of cleanliness. Some nitrox filling systems require a cylinder to be cleaned for oxygen service since high pressure oxygen is in contact with the valve and the tank when it is being filled. Other systems do not use oxygen for filling. The label distinguishes whether the tank has been cleaned for oxygen service or not. A cylinder that does not have an “oxygen service certification” should not be filled by partial pressure methods.

The label only certifies that the tank has been cleaned for the date indicated. If the tank has been contaminated anytime after the inspection date, it should be cleaned again and re-labeled. Contamination can occur by having the tank filled with air from an oil-lubricated compressor.

Cylinder Contents

Once an enriched air cylinder is filled, a content label or tag will be placed on it. This label or tag will show when the cylinder was filled, what mix is in it, and the maximum operating depth. The content label is the most critical label on the cylinder. The label should be filled out with a permanent marker so there is no possibility the information can change after it has been entered. The content label is the only way of knowing what is in a cylinder once it has left the analysis station.
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While there are other schemes for labeling cylinders these are the ones that are the most popular for the masses. You will find most dive centers will require the above scenarios for labeling. If they are high tech shops and deal with a lot of techies they may allow for the simple no-labeling system of just the MOD and a contents label (along with VIP/O2clean label) in our center all recreation level cylinders must abide by the standard NOAA method. dedicated stage bottles can use the MOD/Label method as long as stage straps are on the cylinders. Doubles can use the MOD system if they are used for Trimix or Nitrox -- ALL oxygen cylinders must be dedicated for oxygen with both an Oxygen label and MOD.

Regards,