gjmmotors:
A big green sticker saying Nitrox Use only, only gives the information that what is in the tank could be nitrox. Which I dont think is very useful. Having a sticker that shows %, mod (I use duct tape) and date, and a vip sticker that shows when it was o2 cleaned is the most informative and in my eyes useful way of marking a tank.
If I had to paint a tank yellow and green to make a dive shop happy I would buy my own compressor, or simply walk out of the shop laughing.
In every dive shop I have gone to in NJ and Florida, I never once had to buy a nitrox sticker. They will gladly take my money for vip's and fills and never give me a hassle.
If it is the insurance agencys requirement to have tanks marked or yikes, even painted in green or yellow. Then I guess all these dive shops have a different insurance agency or something.
Someone correct me if im wrong, but dont shops connected to andi need to have the tanks marked in this way to satisfy ANDI standards (one by me used to teach the andi courses) Because I remember asking what the stupid dog tag things were hanging from the necks of some bottles.
-g mount
AT ANDI we follow NOAA standards plus we add a tank contents tag to show the actual mix during our classes.. My insurance doent require me t use the "dog tag" but I usually recommend it since it works out well because its reusable and gives room for all the important info, n2,he,o2 percentages, tank pressure, date and the analyzer's initials....
This tells me alot when I am going to do a fill... I analyze all tanks before filling...
If you read the standardsof PADI TDI,IANTD etc they all have standards quite similiar to NOAA..
If anyhing happens I know my butt is covered, any good lawyer will nail the shop that doesn't adhere to NOAA standards at a minimum..
I also do proper VIPS and REMOVE the big sticker (and all other stickers) on EVERY vip and replace them.. I basically give them away at cost.. Its more of a hassle to remove them than its worth, but I know I am doingin it the right way..
I dont know how many times I see tanks come in with multiple VIP stickers, (if they do I require a correct VIP or trhe person can get a fill somewhere else)..
(or the original manufacturer stcikers that have been there obvoiously for several years)
I carefully explain the reasoning and educate my customers, I have many people who will only get gas/vips from me even though there are many people cheaper and closer to them..
I have found pitting/scaling under otehr stores VIP stickers that were never removed...
Hiw much attention a store pay to detail can tell you alot about the operation.. I know many stores that are willing to do trmix blending using industrial or HP grade helium, I personally use UHP which is considerably more expensive,but I fell breathing gas should be treated with the highest respect..
I also bank all my own oxygen from LOX so I know at all times the gas is pure and the cylinders (bank) don;t have any hidden problems, Plus the oxygen is drier than gas usually received when in gas form..
I don't have much respectfor a shop that disregards standards to make a buck (or has no standards)
As to "different insurance policies"
Unfortunately many shops are ignorant about the requirements imposed on them by their insurance or don't care.. I have gotten thsi attitude when doing xovers and the owners on several cases were very surprised when they actually read their entire policy and realized how exposed they were for their policies (or lack of them).