I finally found the reference from the CGA regarding my earlier query.What I have found is a quote: SAFETY BULLETIN Compressed Gas Association, Inc. 1725 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Arlington, VA 22202-4100 SB-7--1992 RUPTURE OF OXYGON CYLINDERS IN THE DIVING INDUSTRY There have been a number of incidents wherein oxygen cylinders have failed violently after having been used in offshore diving operations. Member compaines of the Compressed Gas Association have studied this hazardas problem and have determined that the cause of the cylinder ruptures has been the mishandling of the oxygen cylinders by the users, in that they have allowed sea water to flow back into the cylinders after the oxygen in the cylinders has been depleted. The metallurgical test portion of these studies shows that sea water in a standard DOT/CTC/TC 3A or 3AA oxygen cylinder will cause exttremely rapid corrosion to the extent that THE CYLINDER WILL FAIL VIOLENTLY WITHIN 30 TO 60 DAYS (depending on the oxygen pressure in the cylinder) Industrial gas companies have attempted to provide additional operating procedures in their fillin operations so as to ascertain the presence of sea water in returned cylinders, since the hazard is not only associated with the user but also with the producer who transports, handles, and refills the cylinders. These special additional procedures have included weighing the cylinders individually against their tare weights, analyzing the residual contents of the cylinders for the presence of water, and inverting each cylinder before discharging the residual product. It has further been recognized by these industrial gas companies that if the users would follow a few simple procedures whil using oxygen cylinders, it would be of tremendous assistance in solving this hazardous problem. The following therefore are recomendations to the offshore diving industry which will assist the industrial gas industry in ascertaining the potential of hazardous corrosion in oxygen cylinders: (1) If at all possible do not attach an oxygen cylinder to a submersible, or allow an oxygen cylinder to be submerged. If the user(s) operations do not allow This recomendation to be followed, and when the submerged cylinder has been emptied, paint SUBMERGED in large letters down the side of the cylinder. (2) If a cylinder or bank of cylinders are kept on the surface and are used to supply oxygen to an underwater operation, do not allow the residual pressure in the cylinders or the bank of cylinders as they are emptied to fall below two times the equivalent sea water pressure at the depth where oxygen is used. (3) Never transfill oxygen(or any other compressed gas) from one cylinder or bank of cylinders to another cylinder or bank of cylinders without permission of the owner of the cylinder(s). US and Canadian regulations (49CFR, Par. 173.301 (b) in the United States and equivalent Transport Canada regulaions) prohibit the shipment of comprressed gases if the cylindr(s) has(have) been filled without the owners consent. **CGA GRANTS PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN** I've personally seen a fairly highly thought of tech shop poor water out of aluminum bottles used for O2 deco and nitrox.....hopefully from compressor condensate as the water dove in was salt. Lets be careful out there. Have a pleasant.... Bill Pilicer PS the bulletin is current and has not been updated according to the CGA.
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