Using UK cyinders in USA ???

curator

Hi to our American Friends across the pond from the UK.

If I'm correct, your cylinders are DOT marked. Can someone tell me if there are any problems in getting a UK spec cylinder filled in the US?

The qestion applies to both non O2 cleaned Air (Dil) and 100% O2 (in a UK O2 cleaned cylinder).

Also, can anyone tell me availability and rough cost of 02 around Key Largo?

Cheers

Curator

aknelson

You are correct The cylinders are DOT. The cylinders will not be filled since it is a liability issue.
I would suggest to rent the cylinders. This is anyway a bit more easy compared to bring those cylinders in your luggage.

Andreas

jradomski

Legally they can't be filled, however SOME Rebreather dealers who initially imported Inspiratons will fill non DOT cylinders.. What most people do that have non DOT cylinders is to get a large primary cylinder like an AL 80 and get it filled with the gas they need (o2, trimix, air), then they transfill to the non DOT cylinder as needed..

Some Diveboats with onboard compressors/fill stations WILL fill them since they operate outside of US waters.. Check with the specific Boat for their policy..

If you cant rent the Rebreather cylinders you should be ably to rent larger cylinders and transfill.. I dont know about KL but if you rent 80s you can get them filled around miami before you drive to KL.. It might be even cheaper to BUY al 80s then just give them away...

__________________
Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

curator

Thanks for the replies.

Am now looking at various options, including buying some second hand DOT cylinders in advance. (anyone in the UK got some)?

Whilst looking, I'm starting to realise that US cylinder testing is different to UK (UK - Hydro or visual every 2.5 years alternating). Can someone tell me the american standard, so if I do buy 2nd hand cylinders I'll know they're in test at the end of the year when I'm over there ?

Please include details of 02 cleaning periods as well (UK is once a year).

And as the cherry on the cake, can anyone tell me if I had a USA DOT cylinder cleaned and tested in the UK would it be able to be filled in the US?

Thanks in advance.

Curator

JCdesign97

US standard is visual inspection every year and hydro (5/3 working pressure) every five years. O2 cleaning is typically controlled by the visual inspection labelling, in other words the visual inspection sticker should indicate that tank's O2 clean status - usually either none, 40% or less (premix nitrox) or fully clean for 100% O2. I am not familiar with a separate O2 cleaning period, other than that which is determined when the visual inspection takes place ... oxidation or rust noted, etc. Some LDS are more stringent than others and various situations other than an expired VIP can trigger a new visual or cleaning requirement - tanks asked to be filled from dead empty, other evidence of water or contamination, etc.

As far as having a DOT cylinder cleaned and inspected in the UK and then brought to the US to be filled, I'm not an expert on the difference in the standards; but unless the stickers come from an international body that has uniform standards for cleaning and inspection that the LDS recognizes, I could see you having problems and them nailing you for a visual inspection at the least. Anyone feel free to correct if I'm wrong here ...

__________________
Cheers,

John Cogan

Skipbreather

To expand on John’s basics:

1. Hydrotest interval in the USA is every 5 years for all metal cylinders. It is 3 years for most composite wrapped cylinders, but 5 years for a few types of late model carbon fiber wrapped cylinders. It is Federal law.

2. Annual visual inspection in the USA is VOLUNTARY- technically- in all but the case of the rare 300 bar Luxfer hoop wrap scuba cylinders (a recent DOT change makes annual visual inspection of them to PSI standards mandatory by law). All other visual inspections, including O2 cleaning, are carried out due to a combination of industry convention, insurance carrier demands, and profit motive. The effect is such that you will be hard pressed to find a scuba shop that will do a commercial fill of any gas w/o a current (w/in last year) visual inspection.

It is worthwhile to note that the quality of visual inspections varies- widely. Most folks tend to do a good job but proper training (and recurrent training, as well) is needed. Sadly, a few shops view it solely as a profit generator instead of as the vital safety function it is. I’ve heard stories of a shop in Florida several years ago that was refusing to fill steel customer cylinders w/o an annual sticker verifying an eddy current neck crack inspection (a test only useful on aluminum tanks) which they would gladly perform on the spot.

3. Although I’ve not seen it in writing, I’ve been told that a recent DOT change now requires eddy current inspection for neck cracks in aluminum cylinders at the time of their 5 year hydrotest.

4. There are zero DOT regulations re O2 cleaning of scuba cylinders. Whether or not a given shop chooses to fill an O2 cylinder that is unknown to them is very much up to their discretion. They may or may not accept (scuba) industry standard EOI (evidence of inspection) stickers that certify the cylinder was O2 clean on a given date. We once had a shop near me that was so anal that they refused to fill any tank w/ O2, even pre banked Nitrox, unless they themselves did the O2 cleaning. As stated above, O2 cleaning of a cylinder is usually documented by a different style of visual inspection EOI sticker.

Hope this helps.

__________________
"Entropy RULES! Enjoy the interim."

Captain Randy

Visual inspection will probably be required since you have to fly with valves off of the tanks.

To be valid in the US the hydro would have to be done by an authorized hydro facility. If its less than 5 years old it will have a makers mark inbetween the month and year, if its older than 5 years old the new hydro will have a four digit mark between month and year identifing the hydro facility.

Randy

fredrik

1. Why try to get DOT cylinders in UK and then transport them to the "Land of DOT" where they sell them everywhere?
2. Why bother to buy DOT 80´s for transfilling when you can buy DOT cylinders that suit your CCR instead?

This way you don´t need to transpot any cylinders at all to US and only 2 new suitible cylinders for you CCR on your way back home.
KISS!

__________________
Fredrik
Rekodeko, Sweden
http://www.rekodeko.se

jradomski

as to #2..

If he is travelling to an area where o2 is not readily available and needs long drives.. and 2nd it will cost alot less.. AL 80s are very cheap.. 2 al 80s will still be cheaper than getting a set of INSP cylinders by far (about 50% cheaper)

__________________
Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

bletso

Appendix C to CFR 49 part 180 effective 1 Jan 2007
You can download a copy from this page. It is the last link on the bottom.
http://www.engineeredinspection.com/links.html

Good reading. As usual it really doesn't solve the problem. They (older cylinders) should probably have been removed from service as originally
recommended.

As far as O2 cleaning, well there is anal and there is standard practices. Even NASA thought they had it right. With O2 you do your best and toss the dice.

As far as O2, you can rent cyls from most any supplier here in the US. To avoid hassles ask for ABO (Aviators breathing oxygen). Rental is usually about $5.00/month. (251cf @ 2265 service pressure)

Dale