NITROX ready or not.....that is the question....

[Icarusflies]

I just bought two new Faber 100' hp. The LDS tells me they are NITROX ready (they have not sticker tho) but some people tell me that they need to be O2 cleaned (the same people that would be cashing the $50 for the cleaning....) if the tanks do not have the sticker...how to know the truth...

 

[PhilEllis]

I just bought two new Faber 100' hp. The LDS tells me they are NITROX ready (they have not sticker tho) but some people tell me that they need to be O2 cleaned (the same people that would be cashing the $50 for the cleaning....) if the tanks do not have the sticker...how to know the truth...

Hi Icarus. There is considerable confusion on this issue. Both Faber and Worthington state that their cylinders are "nitrox ready". On inspection, I have seen considerable degrees of contaminants in both of these brands. When they say they are "nitrox ready", they are not necessarily saying they are "oxygen clean". If you use a shop that does partial pressure fills (fills that begin with pure oxygen), I would strongly suggest cleaning them prior to putting them in service. If you intend to you continuous blended nitrox or banked nitrox, they are probably safe as they are.

Another Note: Regardless of the status of the cylinders, when shipped from the factory, they lack the inspection sticker the certifies them as "nitrox ready" or "oxygen clean". No matter what the actual state of cleanliness, few fill shops will fill them without the familiar yellow inspection sticker. Fewer yet would be willing to simply put that inspection sticker on the cylinder simply on your word or the word of the manufacturer. Determining cleanliness for partial pressure filling in most LDS is more about the cleaning process than about an actual inspection to determine the state of cleanliness. Dive shops don't possess the equipment for milipore or other types of inspection. So, you may be in for a cleaning regardless of what happens.

Thanks.

Phil Ellis

 

[jerryn]

Nitrox ready and O2 clean are two different things. Nitrox ready should mean that nitrox blends up to 40% can be added to the tank without any additional changes (although you should verify this with the manufacturer). O2 clean means that you can add pure O2 to the tank.

If there is no sticker on the tank saying it is O2 clean, then it is assumed it is not O2 clean. That means that any blender using partial pressure blending of Nitrox would (should) reject your tank as suitable for filling with Nitrox.

The first thing to do is to find out where you would get your Nitrox to see if it matters. If your blender is a partial pressure blender (and due to the cost of continuous blending and membrane most are) then you are going to have to get the tank O2 cleaned, and once cleaned you can only fill with hydrocarbon free air or nitrox to keep it that way.

Jerry

Jerry

 

[dl348]

I would recommend getting your tanks oxygen cleaned. As someone else has already posted, there is a big difference between nitrox ready (up to 40%) and oxygen clean (up to 100%). Even though your LDS may utilize a membrane system or the continuous flow method, you may find yourself in a situation if you need to get your tanks filled at another LDS that uses partial pressue blending. Good luck.

 

[Icarusflies]

Very good info, I didn't know it (yes, new diver here)...Thank you

 

[BarryNL]

A word of caution: as you don't know about the nitrox tank rules, I'm assuming you're not nitrox certified. It's not rocket science but there are dangers and procedures for diving nitrox you need to know. I'd seriously consider doing the course before diving nitrox.

 

[Icarusflies]

I am NITROX certified but the class did not explain the difference beteween NITROX ready and O2 clean. Anyway, I just came back from Fill Express and had my 2 tanks visually inspected and filled with EANx 32. The tanks were O2 cleaned already.

 

[BarryNL]

I am NITROX certified but the class did not explain the difference beteween NITROX ready and O2 clean.

That's strange. Is this the PADI course or another? The PADI nitrox manual certainly covers this information.

 

[Icarusflies]

Is PADI. My main concern was that I did not know if my tanks were o2 cleanes and I only had the word of the dealer as far as if they were NITROX ready. No sticker in the tank

 

[rawls]

The PADI Nitrox text does include this info. Why the instructor didn't cover it...Who knows...He or she should have.
As far as O2 clean...I would just call Faber and ask them. Alot of equipment manufacturers now deliver systems that are cleaned for nitrox or oxygen service so you can start diving them right away without having to wait for them to get serviced. If you are in doubt then I would simply suggest you call Faber and they can tell you.