Dive Source Fill Policy

DIVE SOURCE FILL POLICY

We regret that we are no longer comfortable servicing* or filling Aluminum Scuba Cylinders made from 6351 Alloy (i.e Made before 1989) This does not apply to steel tanks.

History & Reasoning:

Scuba Cylinders are high pressure vessels that contain huge amounts of potential energy and must be handled with care. Part of that handling is also proper maintenance and inspection by properly trained people.

Sustained Load Cracking (SLC) is a condition that typically is seen in the neck area of aluminum cylinders and most commonly in cylinders made from 6351 Alloy which is a type of aluminum commonly used before 1989 by all manufacturers other than Catalina.

Failure to detect these cracks can result in catastrophic failure and there have been documented cases of explosions happening during filling which have caused serious injuries, although it is rare.

Dive Source has always taken this issue very seriously since it first came to light Approx. 10 when the first documented explosion took place in Australia in Oct. 1988.

Our service regimen includes:

· PSI trained inspectors ( PSI is the only training agency dedicated to cylinder inspection only and is recognized as the industry standard)

· Highly Magnified Optical viewers to inspect tank necks

· Use of Eddy Current testing to further check for cracks.

· Thorough documentation during inspection.

Variables that we cannot control:

· Skill or training of inspectors outside of our store.

· Human Error

· Lack of proper tools used by other inspectors. ( I.E Eddiy current, Magnified viewers, proper lights etc)

· Fill rates & Pressures at other fill stations

· Many shops will not fill these cylinders unless they have done the visual themselves or will not fill them at all.

· Even doing everything right leaves a bit of doubt and frankly we do not wish to deal with this unknown any longer.

Summary: You will get various opinions on this topic from professionals in the industry but many share ther belief that this action is a positive one and have instituted similar policies.

Should you have one of these cylinders which are nearly 20 years old (or older) we will take it on trade (for disposal) and sell you a new one at a discount.

Finally: Consider a scenario for comparison - If you were told your car had old brakes that were prone to failure more than others types of brakes and they required special testing and inspection techniques to be safe, what would you do? Especially when you could simply replace them cheaply and eliminate the risk...

Thank-you for your understanding on this issue, should you have any other questions please contact the shop.

References:

Transport Canada Notice ON 6351 Cylinders and SLC:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/Documents/alerts/cylinders.htm

PSI – Professional Scuba Inspectors:

http://www.psicylinders.com/

Article by Bill High of PSI on SLC cracking:

http://www.psicylinders.com/library/Current/cracking.htm

DOT – Department of Transport Alerts on 6351 Cylinders:

http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf97/411928_web.pdf

http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/reports/cylinder/3al_advisory.pdf

Cylinder Manufacturers Info: