Tank Shelf Life

[Domsz06]

So have been looking at buying some used tanks as I feel you can get some for a pretty good deal if you shop around. I came across some threads that said DOT set a 15 yr shelf life on tanks and that if it's 15 years old your not supposed to refil it (this is for ALUM tanks) but then I also saw where they didn't pass it, or lifted it.

Anyone have any info?

Just wondering as I keep finding some deals on tanks here in Houston, but so many of them have no current hydro, or vis, or are pusint 11-12 years old.


Thanks everyone.

 

[Culcuhain]

There are no shelf lifes. Some shops wont fill the tanks (AL only) made prior to 1990. As long as they are hyrdro'd (lasts 5 years) and in VIP, no problem getting them filled. A hydro and VIP can run between $40 and $60.

Stick to the new tanks and all is well. Good luck!

 

[Rhone Man]

Yep; I have some steels that are nearly 25 years old, and I bet people on the board have older tanks than that.

I have heard that Al tanks have a shorter life expectancy, but I have no personal experience of that.

 

[rhwestfall]

there is no shelf life, it is the cyclical loading that weakens them. Use is more appropriate measure (or abuse - hot fills, over-fills, hot storage). Fatigue is what it is all about. Steel fatigues at a lesser rate than aluminum. "Old" aluminums can fall into the suspect alloy concern - yet many are not of that composition. A shop can make its own rules as to if they will fill them or not.... and many have drawn a line... usually a heated point of discussion will now follow...

 

[knotical]

The 15-year service life almost certainly refers to wrapped cylinders, typically seen in SCBA (think fire-fighters). Not SCUBA.

see for instance: http://www.hawkeyefire-safety.com/scba.htm

 

[spectrum]

The sad fact is that many shops are turning away 20 year old aluminum cylinders so they aren't exactly timeless. If it's a Luxfur 6351 alloy cylinder the sledding is even tougher.

Steel.... now that's forever.

Pete

 

[Domsz06]

Thanks everyone.


Good to know..

 

[hypertech]

It's not so much a shelf life as problems with fills on older tanks. There have been enough problems that many have simply said no aluminum tanks older than 1990.

I have no problem buying a steel tank that is old but passes hydro. The aluminum is probably the same but due to the no fill policy that is becoming mire prevalent I would not buy a used aluminum tank very many years old.

 

[elan]

New Catalinas are quite cheap to worry about different possible problems that might come up when you buy used