DOT Temporarily allowing fills in Out of Hydro Cylinders due to COVID 19

[akdeepdiver]

DOT Issues COVID-19 Enforcement Discretion for Cylinder Requalification Requirements

 

[lexvil]

Nice, to bad no one is open to do the fills.

 

[Bob DBF]

Nice, to bad no one is open to do the fills.

I’ll bet there are a lot of medical O2 cylinders being filled.

 

[runsongas]

most of the larger places like praxair and airgas operate an inhouse RIN that can recertify their own cylinders

 

[Bob DBF]

most of the larger places like praxair and airgas operate an inhouse RIN that can recertify their own cylinders

Assuming the person who does the hydros is healthy and able to do it. The notice does not say to skip the hydro, it just gives room in case of a disruption, regardless of whether the hydro in-house or the local hydro shop had to close due to illness.

 

[runsongas]

cross training and shift isolation, having only one person capable of performing a critical task is poor planning

 

[rjack321]

cross training and shift isolation, having only one person capable of performing a critical task is poor planning

Having one person doing a task that requires is ongoing relatively expensive training and experience is incredibly common. It's cheaper not training more than necessary for the current demand. Also not planning on them being out sick or in isolation for a month.

I don't see this affecting scuba cylinders which need VIPs far more frequently than hydros anyway. By the time its 6 months over hydro its waaayy overdue on VIP - and not going to get filled by most places.

 

[kelemvor]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. Isn't this very dangerous? Especially considering it seems to be aimed at oxygen cylinders.

If not then... maybe the testing (and especially VIP) rules really are as much BS as some folks claim.

 

[rjack321]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. Isn't this very dangerous? Especially considering it seems to be aimed at oxygen cylinders.

If not then... maybe the testing (and especially VIP) rules really are as much BS as some folks claim.

Dangerous how?
Hospital O2 bottles and CO2 cylinders for industry, and inert gas industrial cylinders are only hydroed and VIPed every 5 years anyway (at most, some are on 10 year intervals when star rated, ASTM cylinders are never hydroed at all). Extending it a few months isn't a significant change. None of these cylinders are used underwater which is where almost all the problems arise.

 

[runsongas]

Having one person doing a task that requires is ongoing relatively expensive training and experience is incredibly common. It's cheaper not training more than necessary for the current demand. Also not planning on them being out sick or in isolation for a month.

I don't see this affecting scuba cylinders which need VIPs far more frequently than hydros anyway. By the time its 6 months over hydro its waaayy overdue on VIP - and not going to get filled by most places.

CGA doesn't work like PSI/PCI where you have renewal fees per inspector.