Double manifold

[treasureman]

Of interst is the older double tank manifold made by USD in three quarter inch size. The blow out plugs on them usually had a disc with a screw that set flush with the outside of the manifold body. Can this be brought up to new spec with the bolt that has the three bleed holes in it

I dont know if it is me or just a LDS that is a bit anal. It seems whenever i bring some kit in for inspection, tumbling, hydro, there is always a reason why they cant touch it.

Their most notorious one was "Vinyl covered tanks cant be VIP because we have no way of knowing whats under the vinyl. The other favourite one is The inside of the tank has an epoxy coating, so we cant pass it because there may be a small pinhole where the eopxy didnt cover the steel and may result in rust and a catastrophic failure of the tank.

[mossback]

The manifolds can be retro fitted with the new burst disks.........I've the 3/4 and the 1/2 inch and both have been so modified...........

Vinyl and epoxie will bubble up like any paint if there is rust..........and it tumbles right out if done so......have them call Don Reese at Fort Worth Skindivers for instructions...and proper chastizment.....he's been diving about two hundred years and has forgotten more than anyone I know of who thinks they know everything.

[Ron Hearn]

Hi

The problem is that new standards regarding hydrostatic testing of cylinders states that if a surface area of a tank being tested can not be visually seen and examined clearly it is not be past. The visual examination of a cylinder is more important than the hydro test as the hydro test does not always indicate a crack in a tank. This is done for your own safety.

Ron

[mossback]

Ok, I wonder how the tanks that are painted with expoxie, such as the Fabers and most aluminum tanks with other types of paint, examined?

Are you quoting from the Federal requirements or PADI and such others? If Federal, please guide me to the correct Federial directory, clause number etc. I'd like to review that statute.

[nemrod]

Your never going to get satisfaction with a LDS. They are all about selling new plastic coated tanks and not at all about inspecting your old plastic coated tanks. To these ignorant clerks old is bad and new is good and that is that. They learned that in their PadI super inclusive know all one afternoon dive course and now they are experts. Your not going to get that stuff filled or inspected most likely. I have several perfectly good epoxy lined tanks and I am afraid to put them in their hands for fear they will destroy them out of stupidity.
Luis posted the links for all that stuff and if I understood what I read they are mistaken in their belief system. Much of this hype comes from urban legend and PadI which is essentially all based in urban legend.
Nemrod

[mossback]

Nemrod,

I know......but if someone has a link to a US commerce law or other federal law,regarding compressed air tank inspections, I'd like to see it. If not.....PADI can go pound sand....my LDS, will inspect and hydro coated tanks both inside and out.

The major fire/welding testing facillity here in FT Wth, which is certified......passes these type cylinders....

so, I wonder where all this stuff about not passing is coming from?...... PADI?

[luis]

mossback said:

Nemrod,

I know......but if someone has a link to a US commerce law or other federal law,regarding compressed air tank inspections, I'd like to see it. If not.....PADI can go pound sand....my LDS, will inspect and hydro coated tanks both inside and out.

The major fire/welding testing facillity here in FT Wth, which is certified......passes these type cylinders....

so, I wonder where all this stuff about not passing is coming from?...... PADI?

Hi mossback

The “stuff” is coming from ignorance and being over cautious. High pressure cylinders do contain a lot of stored energy, so if I was ignorant maybe I would be that cautious also. But, IMHO, if an individual is that ignorant, he or she should not be working with pressure cylinders anyway (as in doing VIP’s, hydro testing, or even filling).


I think that I can provide you with the information you need.

For starters here are some links to CFR49

www.myregs.com/dotrspa/goto.asp?ref=CFR49_I_C_180&print=yes

www.myregs.com/dotrspa/goto.asp?ref=CFR49_I_C&print=yes

The Code of Federal Regulation 49 (CFR49) is the government document governing the design and qualification (testing) of DOT pressure cylinders. It is by no means comprehensive. It refers you to Compress Gas Association (CGA) documents and for visual inspection it is best to refer to Professional Scuba Inspectors (PSI) for information. As far as I know PSI is the only organization (it is a private company) that provides education and certificates for VIP inspectors that is recognized by the DOT.

To perform a hydro test you need a license, but to perform a VIP there is no real regulations that require any license or certification.

Having a hydro test license (or any kind of certification for that mater) doesn’t guaranty that the individual knows what he is doing, but that is a story for another day.


If you would like I can email you the appropriate copies of the DOT codes for pressure cylinders and tank re-qualification (hydro testing), the Code of Federal Regulations 49 (CFR49) sections as Word files.

I can also email you a copy of a page from a book from PSI on how to inspect coated cylinders.

Internal linings is no reason to put a tank out of service.

The linings turned out not to be very effective in controlling corrosion and they make it more difficult to inspect for rust, but they are still perfectly good tanks.

There is a section on “Internal Linings” from the PSI book: Inspecting Cylinders by William L. High, which describes how to deal with the linings.

I own two lined tanks that were hydro and VIP this summer. I will probably have one of the tanks tumbled next year just to remove some rust. The tumbling should remove the loose paint covering any rust relatively easily.

Send me an email or PM with your email address and sometime next week I should be able to send you some information.

[luis]

Ron said:

Hi

The problem is that new standards regarding hydrostatic testing of cylinders states that if a surface area of a tank being tested can not be visually seen and examined clearly it is not be past. The visual examination of a cylinder is more important than the hydro test as the hydro test does not always indicate a crack in a tank. This is done for your own safety.

Ron

Visual inspections are very important (for steel and aluminum tanks) in my opinion, but the statement “hydro test does not always indicate a crack in a tank” would only apply to aluminum tanks.

[treasureman]

Hi Luis.. if you could and have the time, could you fire off a copy of the PSI book section as well, to

[e-mail]

[mossback]

Luis

Thank you for the sensibilities in this string......I restate that my LDS owner, also knows that linings are not verboten........ie: quote"if there's rust, the lining will bubble up, tumbling with remove the damaged lining and the rust, tank will pass inspection and hydro if the damage is not too deep! Having a lining does not preclude scraping the cylinder." unquote.

I'd like that info....please send to [e-mail]

Thanks Luis..........

[william]

Hey Luis Sounds like very good information to have. Just getting started on tumbling and Hydroes on many tanks and I will run into these problems too,sooner or later, I am sure. It sure would be good to have some knowledge about the tank inspections and all. If you would sir, please email me a copy too, [e-mail] I sure would appreciate it. Thanks Luis. William