US Tank in Europe and Vice Versa

[arnoldchoi]

Hello, I am originally from Europe but I recently moved to the US for a three year work assignment. Naturally I brought my dive gear with me. My scuba tank is CE certified and understand that I cannot get fills without a DOT certification. Great.

I have a few options.

1) buy a new tank
2) try and get my CE tank DOT certified

I think getting my tank DOT certified may be a long shot, or be very expensive. Plus, I don't know how to go about getting that done. The DOT website is not very user friendly.

If I buy a new tank, I'm concerned that I will have the same problem when I move back to Europe.

I am open to buying a new tank, but I'd to know if anyone has had any experience on using US certified tanks in Europe?

Or am I just going to have to be the owner to two tanks?

Arnold

 

[Leadking]

You are going to own two tanks.

 

[akdeepdiver]

Here are two suggestions:

1. Buy a US tank and then resell it when you move. You might be able to find one cheap on Ebay or craigslist.

2. Depending on how much you dive, just rent the tank.

 

[captain]

There is no DOT regulation that prohibits a non DOT tank from being filled and transported provided it is not offered for transportation in interstate commerce.
So it is perfectly legal for anyone to fill it and for you to transport it as a private individual. I have non DOT tanks that I fill myself and I have a letter from DOT that backs up that it is legal to do so.
Most, if not all shops won't do it either from lack of knowledge of the regulations or fear. Best bet, make friends with a diver that has a compressor.
You can call or email DOT, explain your situation, and request a letter of clarafication on the subject and that might, and thats a big MIGHT, convince a shop to fill it. They have always been helpful when I have contacted them.

 

[ajduplessis]

Rent or buy second hand DOT and resell when you return.

 

[JB]

I have absolutely no knowledge of the US system, but we have similar issues in Australia. The dive stores are not experts on the science and specifications of various tanks, and so will refuse to fill the tank. If you can find a professional high pressure gas testing company, they will know the legal requirements and will in all likelihood pressure test and stamp your tank, and then any filling station will fill it. There are companies that fill and test gas cylinders for medical, emmergency services, industrial installations etc. containing various gasses and pressures, and they will advise you on the procedures necessary to certify your tank.

 

[Leadking]

It's kind of odd that many shops will violate DOT rules and regulations but want a current hydro & vis and will not fill a non DOT cylinder. Go figure

 

[arnoldchoi]

I just got two emails that have conflicting answers.

I got an email from Sherwood saying: "We have been shipping our tanks world wide and have not had a problem with tanks not being filled at a certified diving center."

I got an email from Faber saying: "Please be informed that the cylinders we sell in US are approved for use there according to DOT standard or DOT Special Permit (Exemption) but they are not approved for use in Europe. The manufacturing standard is not the same.Just to complete the information, please note that also our diving
cylinders manufactured for use in Europe ("CE" marked) cannot be used in the US because they do not comply with DOT standard."

I think the Faber reply is more in line with what the folks on this board has been saying. Also very clear and unambiguous. Don't know what's up with Sherwood, but seems like they are not able to answer directly and not answering the question.

Bad luck. I'll likely just rent while I'm here. Sucks that there are different standards between the US and the rest of the world. Isn't safe, safe???

 

[oxyhacker]

The Sherwood letter sounds like the typical letter you get from a customer service rep who is not a technical person, and is just winging a reply without understanding the issue. The Faber letter is correct except that it implies that only DOT-legal tanks can be used in the US. As Captain has pointed out, individuals are free to use non-DOT tanks in the US, and dive shops free to fill those tanks for them.

However trying to use those tank will be a steep uphill climb because most scuba shops either believe that it is illegal to fill non-DOT tanks, are are afraid of liability or insurance complication if they do. So your only chance at using them here would be to find a sympathetic dive shop, explain that the tanks are still in hydro and perfectly legal where you come from, and you are just here for a little while, and ask if they can fill them for you. If they agree they will almost certainly want to do a visual test on them.

Oh, about it sucking that there are different standards, the US is party to the new "UN" specification for high performance tanks. so eventually we might see some tanks that are good almost anywhere. But don't hold your breath!

I just got two emails that have conflicting answers.

I got an email from Sherwood saying: "We have been shipping our tanks world wide and have not had a problem with tanks not being filled at a certified diving center."

I got an email from Faber saying: "Please be informed that the cylinders we sell in US are approved for use there according to DOT standard or DOT Special Permit (Exemption) but they are not approved for use in Europe. The manufacturing standard is not the same.Just to complete the information, please note that also our diving
cylinders manufactured for use in Europe ("CE" marked) cannot be used in the US because they do not comply with DOT standard."

I think the Faber reply is more in line with what the folks on this board has been saying. Also very clear and unambiguous. Don't know what's up with Sherwood, but seems like they are not able to answer directly and not answering the question.

Bad luck. I'll likely just rent while I'm here. Sucks that there are different standards between the US and the rest of the world. Isn't safe, safe???

 

[cclendinen]

I have the same problem. I bought a tank without the DOT cert. It has the following markings:
'Faber 82/161/96 ARIA 200/300 Kg/cm2 15.0 Litri 16.4kg

I have taken it to two shops and they say they don't know how to hydro it without the DOT markings.

Is there anyway I can get this tank a hydro or is there a way to get it DOT certified?