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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 I know I'm about to step into one of the biggest piles of dung I've stepped in in a long time. so please Keep the flames to a minimum. Or to put it another way, don't bother, I DON'T CARE!!!! I was thumbing through the November/December issue of Alert Diver (I'm behind on my reading) when I saw this "URGENT DEVICE RECALL" which I include here for your reading enjoyment. >>>> URGENT DEVICE RECALL Important Safety Information Life Support Products, a brand of Allied Healthcare Products Inc., oxygen regulator model L270-020 has been associated with fires in six incidents reported over the past three years. Divers Alert Network distributes this regulator in the Standard, Dual, Mini, and Training Oxygen Units. Investigative reports to date indicate that the regulator fires reported were the result of communication <<<<<<<< (Ed. Note: I belive the word should have been contamination not "communication") >>>> (grease, oil, or a substance containing hydrocarbons) introduced into the regulators during maintenance or use. Immediately inspect your oxygen regulators carefully for visible contamination and general condition. Any regulator not in good condition should be removed from service until it can be reconditioned or replaced. To improve the resistance of your regulators to the kinds of contamination reported, Allied is providing sintered bronze inlet filters. In light of the safety concern, it is imperative that you change these filters. This filter will replace the filter currently found within the inlet port of certain Life Support Products (LSP) regulators. Because of the smaller pore size of the filter, it will improve filtration of the types of contamination reported. While this filter will be helpful, It is by no means foolproof in preventing contamination. Proper adherence to all maintenance and use requirements remains essential. Please call Allied Healthcare Customer Service at (800) 231-5273 between 8:00 AM 5:00 PM CT for a "Fax Response" form. A retrofit kit will be forwarded to you once you complete a "fax Response' form. The retrofit kit Includes the requested number of filter(s), new label(s), alien wrench, and an instruction sheet necessary to retrofit your existing LSP regulators. The retrofit process requires about 45 seconds. In addition, Allied will supply you with additional Information about reducing the risks associated with oxygen and oxygen delivery equipment. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. or DAN Training at (919) 684 - 2948 ext. 555. Please accept our apologies for any Inconvenience this Issue may cause you. - - Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. <<<<<<<< This brings, once again, the debate over how much of an attempt we need to make at O2 cleaning our gear. When coupled with the recent discussion on Viton O-rings, it seemed appropriate to open this can of worms once again. I know some of you have already made up your mind on this topic. You are welcome to your opinion and don't need to read any more. What I am about to say will only anger you or further support your belief. I don't want to anger you or have anyone saying "Ya!!! What he said!!!". For those of you on the fence, please read on. I am NOT employed at nor do I own a dive shop. I am a PC (Privileged Customer) at a dive shop. As a certified "Gas Blender"and a PC, I do partial pressure gas blending at a local dive shop. I take a great deal of care to insure that ALL of the air that goes into my tanks, and others I blend for, is O2 compatable "E" grade breathing gas or better. You can bet your butt I ask to see the analisys at any shop I am not familure with!! If I am not satisfied with the quality of gas beeing pumped I go else wher. By doing this I insure that the gas I breath is clean and free of hydrocarbons. I CLEAN MY TANKS ONCE A YEAR ANYWAY!!!! As I stated in a post yesterday I also use Viton (brand hydrocarbon free) O-rings for every thing. I have them I my valves, tanks, and regs. I use them in my scotter (I find that they last three or more times longer) and some other aplications wher Viton is not usualy sugested. I go top shelf with all components in my gear. I DON'T HAVE GEAR FALURES. When a customer comes in to the dive shop and asks for a nitrox or Tri-mix fill, both the store and I, insist that the tank be O2 cleaned within the last year (mine are). I have no idea wher you got your last fill or how many "dirty" fills you have accepted. I am the one at risk!! When I start adding pure (medical grade) Oxygen to your tanks I have no way of knowing how much compressor oil is on the walls of your tank. Your fill is NOT worth putting me at risk for. For thouse of you that fill your own tanks by partial pressure method, do what ever you want!!! But ask your self "is this fill worth injuring myself for". You decide how clean is clean. If you want to add to O2 your self and bring them in for the air top off... GREAT that will be 5 bucks like every other air fill. You have already proven that the tanks are clean enough to dilute what ever is in them with air. I have never seen an O2 fire but it sounds like Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. beleves that it happens. And that is enough to convince me. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP for Personal Privacy 5.0 Charset: noconv iQA/AwUBNIpofPPdqRXLjbJGEQI2uACfV3lXamzBa0OGl6Ahfw5YN34Xe+EAoPFp POCUwtRZ6Gs70vPy0yCamUU6 =+OfT -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Bill (aquadart) Bott -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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