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Mike, I don't have answers for most of your questions, just some things you probably know already. For testing and retesting. Each country has its own set of tests and procedures. As a rule, every tank should be retested in the country that originally tested it. Most countries I know take 5 years between hydrostatic testings, with visual inspection every 2 years. Oxygen-clean tanks should be inspected and cleaned every year, but I don't think that is mandatory. Just something the agencies (IANTD in this case, Tom Mount can probably write a few pages on this) prescribe Example, if your tank is sold in the UK, it gets the UK BSxxxx approval. This approval is (for example) not recognized by the authorities in Belgium, therefore, they will not retest your tank. It has to go back to the UK to be retested. It's all pretty confusing and a general mess. A good step would be to have a norm for testing (like a DIN norm) which is valid over a wide range of countries ( in Europe this could be a good start) to stop this protectionalism that is going on now. I guess things are the same with US testing. What markings are mandatory? The minimum markings on an US/Canadian gas cilinder are: DOT/CTC 3AA 2250+ 12345 PST 6mark88 Where; -DOT/CTC is the Government agency supervision/approval (Department Of Transportation/Canadian Transportation Comission) -3AA is the metal type;3AA is chromoly steel, 3AL or SP6498 or E6498 is aluminum -2250+ is the working pressure. The '+' sign means that a 10% overfill is allowed. -12345 is the cilinders serial number -PST is the Manufacturer (here Pressed Steel Company) -6mark88 is the hydrostatic test date (6/88), the mark can be either the hydrostatic testers initials or a registrated symbol representing the tester with the Department of transport Needless to say, over here in Europe, the working pressure is in bars. Sometimes also the maximum hydrostatic test pressure is stamped on the cilinder.. I also have the weight (in kg) stamped on each cilinder. as well as the Liquid Capacity (in liters). Further, the cilinders over here are (of course) not DOT/CTC approved, but by another agency, there is one in each country it seems ;-). Not very assuring for the travelling diver. It pays to check out what regulations abide in the countries you plan to visit. Other people on this list can tell more about this, I'm sure. I don't think filling stations will refuse to fill your cilinder, if the sticker is from another agency. They must check the date of the last hydrostatic testing of the tank, but can(and will) refuse to fill the cilinder with oxygen (in case of PP filling), if they are not sure it was cleaned properly. They can also demand to see the inside of the cilinder if they find it suspect, they should not charge you for this. tank colours: Most countries seem to except green and yellow as being nitrox, but I don't think it is the norm. Also for helium, there is AFAIK not a set international norm for tank colouring. I think I saw something about that on this list before, but am not sure in what context. Other list members will tell more about this, I'm sure. I hope this makes some sense and answers a little bit of your question. --- Adri KC Haine darkangel@en*.co* "Every body is like a book of blood, wherever we're opened, we're red" Clive Barker - "Books of Blood" On Sun, 2 May 1999 12:25:12 mikejsk wrote: > > > >I have several questions about tank markings. > >1: Which are actually regulated outside the scuba industry ? I know Hydro >dates and the stamp are controlled by the government. In other words which >markers are legally required ? > >2: Are there any international marking standards ? If I travel with a tank >through customs what is expected ? Does green and yellow mean Nitrox every >where? > >3: Are there any regulations on Argon cylinders ? > >4: What is required on a VIP and O2 clean sticker ? Can one fill station >refuse to honor a sticker because it is from another agency or country ? > > >I have been reading the E-mails and see valid points all through the >discusion. I am trying to sort out what is on my tanks because of govt >regulations, which are scuba politics and what would work best for my style >of diving. > >These discussions are rather opinionated and heated. > >As a travelling diver, I will eventually run into fill stations and charter >captains that require one set of markings or another. > >I am seeing a need for a broader education on this topic. > >Any information would be appreciated. > >Thanks >Mike J > > > > >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. > __________________________________________________________________ Get your own free England E-mail address at http://www.england.com -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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