Using Regulators with Nitrox and Grade E Air

[Dan Watkins]

I am getting Nitrox certified this month, all I have ever use in the past is air. I also just so happened to purchase a new Apeks regulator. In reading my instruction manual it states:

"Standard compressed breathing air, often referred to as Grade E in the United States, does not necessarily meet this criterion. Grade E breathing air may contain a certain level of hydrocarbons, including traces of compressor oils that while not considered harmful to breathe, can pose a risk in the presence of elevated oxygen content. Passing hydrocarbons through a valve and regulator creates a cumulative effect where the hydrocarbons build up over time along the internal passageways of the equipment. When these hydrocarbons come in contact with high-pressure oxygen enriched air, they can pose a very real hazard that can lead to combustion.
Therefore, if a regulator has had use with Grade E breathing air, it should be returned to an authorized Apeks dealer for overhaul service including hydrocarbon cleaning, prior to being put back into nitrox service."

Once or twice a year there is a place where I go on vacation where a guy uses his own air compressor to fill his scuba tanks. I am pretty sure it is not hyperfiltered air. If I use my regs with these tanks (2 to 4 dives a year or so), will I really have to go get my regs serviced and cleaned? Or is this more of a "Cover your *** clause" in the instructions?

I am not talking about using my O2 cleaned tanks with Grade E air, I am just talking about using my regs occasionally with Grade E air filled tanks.

Since the Apeks lifetime parts program requires an inspection every year and service every two years, that is the maintenance interval I was planning on using.

Is it likely my regs will be fine considering my grade E air use with them will be very minimal?

 

[rongoodman]

Regs aren't usually kept oxygen clean unless you'll be using them for greater than 40% Nitrox blends, usually for accelerated decompression. The only time tanks need to be oxygen clean is for situations in which Nitrox is produced by partial pressure blending, in which pure O2 is introduced into the tank, and then topped off with air.

 

[Dan Watkins]

My LDS uses partial blending so my tanks will be O2 cleaned.

My concern is that my Regulator operating manual has that statement that I copied above. I wasn't sure if that was just a "CYA" paragraph or just using my regs with non hyperfiltered air tanks a few times is going to need me to have my regs overhauled and cleaned prior to my regular service interval (as the operating manual states).

 

[CWMurf]

Regs usually are not o2 cleaned like tanks and valves. The % of o2 passing through your regs will not be a problem after breathing filtered clean air through them. I use the same regs for plain shop 21% and EANx regularly. Unless you are planning on using it on a deco stage don't worry about it. It sounds to me more like a "I see an opportunity to make an extra buck off an uneducated consumer" than a "cover my assets" clause. The only concern I would have is, "is this guy really maintaining his fill station to acceptable standards?" The regulating agencies have acceptable exposure levels that must be met. That filtering is the only reason we don't fill our tanks down at the gas station