HydroTest Requirements

Last Updated Feb. 19, 2008

Transport Canada (TC) & Department of Transport (DOT) Regulations for 5-year and 3-year hydrotests on fiber-wrapped (composite) cylinders

Written by George A. Lewko print friendly version of article

Rehrydo Testing Dates	Structural Composities Industries (SCI) www.scicomposites.com	Carleton Technologies www.carltech.com	Luxfer Cyclinders www.luxfercylinders.com	Global Composites International (GCI)
U.S.A.	DOT-E 10945	DOT-E 11194	DOT-E 10915	DOT-12695
3 years	Before July 1, 2001	Before July 1, 2001	Before May 11, 2001	DO NOT FILL *[2]
5 years	After July 1, 2001	After July 1, 2001	After May 11, 2001
Canada	TC SU 5141	TC SU 5303	TC SU 5134	TC SU 6146
3 years	Before Jan. 23, 2003	Before Jan. 23, 2003	Before Jan. 23, 2003	DO NOT FILL *[1]
5 years	After Jan. 23, 2003	After Jan. 23, 2003	After Jan. 23, 2003
All cylinders expire after 15 years. Do Not Fill.			Notice: Luxfer Dates between May – Sept. 2005 may need testing. [3] Submit Serial #.[4]

What the tank label tells you

In Canada, this tank requires testing on or before the last day of July, 2005. A test since, Jan. 23, 2003 would then be good for 5 years.

In U.S.A., this tank requires testing on or before the last day of July, 2007.

In Canada, this tank requires testing on or before the last day of Sept., 2005. A test since, Jan. 23, 2003 would then be good for 5 years.

In U.S.A., this tank requires testing on or before the last day of Sept., 2007.

Reference Notes:

*[1] GCI TC SU 6146

http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/newsletter/2006.htm

from: Transport Canada Newsletter 2006

Non-Compliant Manufacture of Compressed Gas Cylinders Used in Paintball Guns

by Nicole Noccey

In September 2003, Global Composites International, Inc. (GCI) was granted a Permit for Equivalent Level of Safety by Transport Canada for the manufacture of composite wrapped cylinders at their San Dimas, California facility. These cylinders were designed for use in paintball guns and were to be manufactured in accordance with the design and testing requirements specified in the Permit, number SU 6146.

GCI moved their manufacturing facility to Ontario, California in April 2004 but did not provide Transport Canada with the information required to re-issue the Permit for cylinder manufacture at their new location. As specified in National Standard of Canada CAN/CSA-B339-2002 "Cylinders, Spheres and Tubes for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods", all registered cylinder designs must be requalified if the manufacturing location is changed.

Please be aware that any cylinders marked TC-SU 6146 with a date of manufacture of 01 April 2004 or later would not be in compliance with the terms of the Permit and must be taken out of service. GCI permanently closed its business on 01 August 2005. For more information, please contact Nicole Noccey at: nocceyn@tc.gc.ca.

*[2] GCI DOT-12695

http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/sa/70fr-47273.htm

from: Department of Transport Aug. 12, 2005 Notices

[Federal Register: August 12, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 155)]

[Notices]

[Page 47273-47274]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12au05-143]

------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2005-20104 (Notice No. 05-06)]

Safety Advisory: Manufacture, Marking, and Sale of Substandard

Compressed Gas Cylinders

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice.

---------------------------------

SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that PHMSA and the Office of the

Inspector General (OIG) are investigating the manufacture, marking, and

sale of high pressure DOT exemption cylinders made and/or distributed

by Global Composites International, Inc. (GCI), Ontario, CA. PHMSA and

the OIG have evidence that suggests GCI manufactured, marked,

certified, and sold an undetermined number of high-pressure DOT

exemption carbon fiber filament cylinders when the cylinders had not

been manufactured in accordance with the Hazardous Materials

Regulations (HMR), DOT-E 12695, and the design qualification standards

incorporated into the exemption. The evidence suggests that some of

these cylinders were not wrapped with a sufficient number of carbon

fiber layers to insure their structural integrity. In addition, the

evidence suggests that many of these cylinders did not undergo the

complete series of safety tests and inspections required by the HMR and

may not possess the structural integrity to safely contain its contents

under pressure during normal transportation and use. Extensive property

damage, serious personal injury, or death could result from rupture of

a cylinder.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond L. LaMagdelaine, Chief Special

Investigations, Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement, Pipeline and

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of

Transportation, 400 7th Street SW., Room 7104, Washington DC, 20590.

Telephone: (202) 366-4700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through its investigation, PHMSA and the OIG

believe that GCI manufactured, marked, certified and sold an

undetermined number of high-pressure carbon fiber wrapped cylinders

owned by commercial entities and the private consumer. Among others, we

believe many of these may be in use by paint ball enthusiasts. DOT

recommends that any person possessing a cylinder manufactured by Global

Composites International, Inc. (GCI) and marked with exemption number

DOT-E 12695 take the cylinder to a qualified refilling station and have

the pressure relieved from the cylinder. The cylinder is no longer

authorized for use. Refilling stations and cylinder requalification

facilities are advised that DOT-E 12695 has been suspended and these

cylinders may not be refilled or requalified for service.

    This safety advisory covers all high-pressure DOT exemption

cylinders manufactured by Global Composites International, Inc. and

marked with DOT exemption number DOT-E 12695

[[Page 47274]]

These cylinders may pose a safety risk to the public and should be

considered unsafe for use in hazardous materials service. Furthermore,

cylinders described in this safety advisory should not be filled with a

hazardous material.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August, 2005.

Robert A. McGuire,

Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.

[FR Doc. 05-16022 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-60-P

*[3] Luxfer TC SU 5134

http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/newsletter/spring2006.htm#luxfer

From the TDG Newsletter – Spring 2006

Non-Compliant Luxfer Composite Gas Cylinders

by Pascal Verville

Transport Canada has been informed by Luxfer Gas Cylinders (Luxfer) that certain carbon fibre reinforced gas cylinders manufactured at their Riverside, California facility were not manufactured and tested in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements.

The subject cylinders were designed for use in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or for use in paintball guns (markers). They are marked “TC-SU 5134” but were not subjected to the autofrettage process and were not hydrostatically tested as specified in the Permit. According to Luxfer, the affected cylinders are marked with initial test dates ranging from May through September 2005.

To remedy the non-conformities, Luxfer has developed a plan for retrieving and retesting the affected cylinders. Written notices have been distributed by Luxfer to the known cylinder owners and users. Moreover, Luxfer has posted news releases and detailed cylinder identification, serial numbers and recovery information on their website database (www.luxfercylinders.com/ctest).

Any cylinder marked “TC-SU 5134” and bearing a serial number “matching” one found on Luxfer’s above-mentioned website database is not in compliance with the terms of the Permit and must be taken out of service until the remedial measures specified by Luxfer are taken. Luxfer should be contacted at 951 341-5293 to make suitable arrangements.

*[4] Luxfer DOT-E 10915

http://www.luxfercylinders.com/ctest

From Luxfer Cylinders

How to determine whether your cylinders need to be tested

Luxfer Gas Cylinders requests your help in locating a small group of Luxfer composite cylinders that may not have been properly autofrettaged and/or hydrostatically tested by a third-party inspector, Arrowhead Industrial Services, Inc. The cylinders in question have hydrostatic tests dates from May through September 2005.

Luxfer has verified that the cylinders are safe based on thorough testing, detailed engineering analysis and data collected from many cylinders already recovered from the affected group. Even though there is no safety risk, affected cylinders remaining in the field must be recovered and tested as soon as possible for regulatory reasons.

To determine whether you have cylinders that need to be tested, please either type or electronically cut and paste your cylinder serial numbers into the window above. (See the sample label below to help locate serial numbers and hydrostatic test dates on your cylinders.)
Cylinders with serial numbers that “match” need to be tested. For cylinders with serial numbers that do not “match,” no further action is required.

Once you have determined which cylinders, if any, need to be tested, please call
1-800-355-3156 in the United States or +44 115 980 3800 in Europe. A Luxfer customer service representative will arrange to have your cylinders tested and returned to you at no charge. If you are calling the United States from a non-European country, please use this number: +1 951 341 5293.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Please be assured that Luxfer will make every effort to get your cylinders back to you as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance.