Hydro dates & filling air tanks

[Tyger]

I went to an indoor field tonight to actually PLAY for a change. Yeah, finally getting off the PT and off my sorry tail to get back into the swing. I had fun, yeah, but they did something that kinda bugged me, so I thought I'd bring it up as a point of safety for the group.

I brought with me two air tanks to get filled. I noticed that the kids (teens, I'm thinking) filling the tanks were just putting them on the ASA and filling, not looking. So when he handed my tank back to me, I asked him "Oh, what's the hydro date on my tank?"

He kinda looked at me, and said "No clue, dude."

I had two 20 ounce tanks filled. One was dated 06/00, the other 07/03. They DID look at the second tank after I mentioned it, a PMI pure energy CO2 tank, and it had a "re-test date" on it, but they both didn't know how to look for the stamped "born on" date for the Co2 tanks.

That kinda disturned me. I know there's a HEFTY fine for filling out of code tanks (I can't find it offhand). So I guess I'm asking a few things

Anyone know where the regulations for cylinder testing can be found? Ideally I'd like ot print them out and hand them to some field owners to keep them in buisness. I'd also like to find the list of fines for filling bad tanks, to back myself up. Plus, I'd like to somehow raise awareness to the newer fields on the importance of checking the tanks they fill, and knowing the regulations.

Ideas or help, anyone?

-Tyger

Edit add : I just found http://www.vm68.com/stuff/dot_regulations.html has some information on the subject, but I'm looking for the official DOT regs & fine set.

[RobAGD]

Rob,

The best source of that info is the manufactures site. They list tanks, CI's Pressures, Exemptions that thier tanks fall under and give you DOT info.

The US.GOv Dot site blows a bunch of dead animals.

I have print outs at all the HPA and CO2 Fill stations in our shops.

-R

http://www.carltech.com/new-composite/extension.html

That covers the rules on the 3 year to 5 year extention

http://www.carltech.com/new-composite/e11194.html

More coverage of E-11194

http://www.carltech.com/new-composite/e11005.html

3000 psi fiber

[Kevmaster]

If i remember from my PTI right, US DOT and OSHA will fine you $25,000 for each infraction of fill station procedure. 99% of fields break official procedure every time they fill a tank.

[than205]

http://www.catalinacylinders.com/home.html

http://www.scicomposites.com/

http://hazmat.dot.gov/exempapp/exemptions/exemptions_index.htm

http://www.seawestern.com/tech.htm

http://www.southcoastbattlegroup.com/articles/articles_4.html
(good info)

http://www.hydrotester.com/
(really good info)

http://www.paintballsafety.info/
(new to me)

[joez]

When i was running the air fill station at a local park, this was a couple years back, the fine for filling an out of date or damaged C02 tank started at $10K, and the fine for HPA tanks started at $25K. I ALWAYS checked for dates, it pissed a lot of people off, but that is way to huge of a risk, not to mention the fine, to take for filling an expired tank.

It amazes me every time i go out to play that nobody else has ever, EVER checked my tanks. People just dont understand, and to be honest, that is scary.

[trains are bad]

Paintball is a joke (tm)

[SlartyBartFast]

Paintball fields should require something along the lines of Lufer "smart cylinder" RFID tags (http://www.luxfercylinders.com/products/smartcylinder/) so that the underpaid schleps filling the tanks wouldn't have to know a thing about them.

But, until a tank explodes and kills someone due to a fast fill, out of hydro tank, or plain bad luck, paintball will continue to fly under the radar of the insurance companies and legislators.

When one of the above does happen you can expect heavy inspections, certifications, and the use of blast containment such as the systems used by firefighters to fill SCBA tanks.

[SlartyBartFast]

http://www.psicylinders.com/

Federal law provides for civil penalties up to $27,000.00 for violations of the Hazardous Materials regulations. PSI training greatly reduces the likelihood of non-compliance. Willful violation could result in a $250,000.00 fine and prison.

:eek:

[RoadDawg]

Well down here if your tank is older then 3 years (even with a proper re-test label) they won't fill your HPA tank. Has to be a brand new tank. All for several reasons, some punk was handing out free stickers, and another is the owner is to cheap to pay to train his employees that are in charge of the filling. :tard:

Anyways... I've seen things like this happen weekly. It's scary but then again it's not going to stop those that have SCUBA's.