VIP on AL cylinders = stupid $$$ game

[Crazy Fingers]

Actually as a visual inspector you do not even have the authority to obliterate the tank markings or stamp the tank condemned, unless you have specifically been given permission to do so by the tank owner.

So only the hydrostater has the authority to strike the marks without permission from the owner? I guess that is the case since the DOT regs are written with the hydro and visual being done by the same entity.

 

[Don Burke]

Annual visual inspection is not a government agency requirement. All you have to do is find a source of fills that does not insist on such an inspection being conducted.

The visual performed in conjuction with the hydro is required by CFR.

 

[captain]

Annual visual inspection is not a government agency requirement. All you have to do is find a source of fills that does not insist on such an inspection being conducted.

The visual performed in conjuction with the hydro is required by CFR.

Key word "annual". DOT CFR does not require annual visuals or hydros. DOT requires visual with hydro every 5 years. Scuba industry not government wants annual visual or when tank has zero pressure, a bit of over kill in my opinion

 

[sandersondiver]

If you had any idea of what I find in AL tanks every year, you woud have your tanks inspected twice a year and gladly pay for it. On second thought, it is just life support equipment. Continue to use it without getting these inspections, and fill it with a compressor at home. That will teach your local dive shop.

 

[sandersondiver]

If you knew what I find in AL cylinders every year, you would have your inspected twice a year and gladly pay for it.
On second thought, it is just life support equipment. Continue to not have these inspections done, and fill them on your own compressor at home. That will teach your local dive shop.

 

[fire_diver]

If you knew what I find in AL cylinders every year, you would have your inspected twice a year and gladly pay for it.
On second thought, it is just life support equipment. Continue to not have these inspections done, and fill them on your own compressor at home. That will teach your local dive shop.

That's quite alright. I know the history of my tanks, and where they have been filled. I have no fear of anything being in them other than the labelled gasses.

FD

 

[jbd]

I read CGA C-6.1, and even understand what it says. I know there's a lot more than looking for residue. That's not the statement. The statement is that CGA recommendations for a VIP and hydro every 5 years is sufficient. Yearly VIP is overkill.

Doesn't make any difference what CGA says. When it comes to scuba, the standard of care that has evolved is that tanks be visually inspected annually. If a person owns their own tanks and a compressor they can do whatever they want with them. If Joe Dive Shop owner or Billy Bob scuba instructor owns tanks and a compressor and does not follow the annual visual inspection protocol and something happens to an individual using one of those tanks, then Joe Dive Shop or Billy Bob instructor will not have a snowballs chance in hell in the event of a lawsuit.

 

[in_cavediver]

If you knew what I find in AL cylinders every year, you would have your inspected twice a year and gladly pay for it.

Well, since I own my tanks (yes 12 of them), I exercise a different level of care with them than your average rental tank. Something about ownership changes how you treat things. That said, in the time I have been inspecting my tanks, I have found nothing I didn't expect. (had a loose dip tube once). So tell me why I would want to pay $120-$300 every six months ($10-$25 per tank)?

On second thought, it is just life support equipment. Continue to not have these inspections done, and fill them on your own compressor at home. That will teach your local dive shop.

Your right, it is life support equipment so why shoud I trust it to someone I don't know? Visual's aren't rocket science and interestingly enough, you don't have to have any special training to do it. With that, how do I even know if I would receive quality service?

As for the compressor, as soon as need one, I'll buy one. I can almost justify it now but not quite. When I get one, I will likely do continous blending (in banks) and PP mixing (trimix) in tanks I inspected myself and cleaned to standards myself. I fail to see the downside here.

As for a LDS, I don't have one. (within 40 miles at least). I don't really need one either so I have no stake in thier future.

 

[knotical]

Not long ago, several regulator manufacturers reduced the period of regulator servicing from annual to every two years. Presumably this was based in part on more modern materials.

The scuba industry convention for cylinders is annual visual inspection on all cylinders, (more frequently with cause). Analogous to regulators, perhaps the cylinder convention could be relaxed to every two years on modern aluminum cylinders only.

 

[in_cavediver]

Not long ago, several regulator manufacturers reduced the period of regulator servicing from annual to every two years. Presumably this was based in part on more modern materials.

The scuba industry convention for cylinders is annual visual inspection on all cylinders, (more frequently with cause). Analogous to regulators, perhaps the cylinder convention could be relaxed to every two years on modern aluminum cylinders only.

To be fair, there are different standards to be met:

First, the DOT stipulates hydro/visual every 5 years. Few would say this is a bad thing or overreaching even when applied to personal tanks they may be exempt.

Second - dive shops renting tanks. Here you have different people using tanks in ways that may or may not be 'best practices'. You also have potential liability issues. Given that, and how trivial Visual's are to do, its not a bad idea to do them every year or whenever you think something might be amiss.

Lastly - Personal tanks. here, you are charging real money to divers to do a trivial inspection. Ultimately, its up to whoever is filling the tank what they want to trust and do.

For those truly against it, you could make your own sticker that says this tank is inspected to CGA 6.x standards (which is every 5 years) and most shops wouldn't be the wiser and you wouldn't be lying.

Now, for the real fun - add O2 cleaning standards. (running away now )