This is correct.@tursiops,
I read (somewhere) that an emergency O2 bottle is NOT required to be VIP'd annually (since it nevisver goes in the water, never gets submerged)--which is one of the reasons I am considering a CGA870 (or CGA540) valve. Only needs to be hydro'd every five years. Have you, too, heard this?
rx7diver
It would get visualled before hydro every 5 years by whomever is requalifying it. Depending on who's refilling it, they may expect a typical VIP sticker or maybe not. If there's a scuba valve in it the gas or welding store won't refill that and you'll have to take it to a scuba shop and they'll want a slice of the $$ pie and likely demand it be VIPed, or worse that they have to O2 clean it all, even if neither are legally required.