Requirements for valve servicing

[laterontoday]

Just had a cylinder back from a visual test to find Ive also been charged for a service of the valve. Now I didnt ask for the valve to be serviced nor did I ask them to change the breathing air sticker that was already on the tank but they did. My bill is double what I was expecting to pay.

So is it a requirement to have the valve serviced after a prescribed period of time?

Have I been ripped off and charged for something I didnt want, or ask for?

How can I tell if the valve has actually been serviced or if Ive just been charged for it?

Unfortuneatly i didnt collect the tank myself so couldnt argue the point at the time.

Just interested for future reference.

[Steve S]

I've seen a notice at Stoney saying that valves will be serviced on tests and charged accordingly, don't know if the rules have changed though?

Safe diving,
Steve

[pelagic69]

Valve servicing is now a mandatory requirement on both hydrostatic and visual tests, no way round it I,m afraid.

Your valve and cylinder also get thread checks when you send ir for O2 clean and can fail then as well.

[marine boy]

Originally Posted by pelagic69

Valve servicing is now a mandatory requirement on both hydrostatic and visual tests, no way round it I,m afraid.

Your valve and cylinder also get thread checks when you send ir for O2 clean and can fail then as well.

this is correct

[NeilB]

Is this a change to the BS or EN standard then? We get our cylinders tested after we have removed the valves ourselves.

[Big Andy]

You just have to look at the number of valve failures recently to realise why simply having the cylinder serviced is not enough. I think that this change came about as a result of 'suggestions' from the HSE to IDEST (don't quote me - just what I heard). Point to remember, you shouldnt pay for a valve service when you get your cylinder o2 cleaned - it should be automatically included. In addition, if you have any of the old Apeks BSP valves (black handle), there are no service parts available and are replaced as obsolete if you want your cylinder serviced. Adds about £27 to the cost.

[Andy C]

Originally Posted by pelagic69

Valve servicing is now a mandatory requirement on both hydrostatic and visual tests, no way round it I,m afraid.

Mandated by whom?

[Big Andy]

You don't need a mandate if you're the HSE - you don't even need regulations - you just let everyone know that 'if there's an event that involves an unserviced valve', action will be taken. As far as IDEST is concerned, they make the rules for their members and they've been recognised as the appropriate organisation. The process is a little fuzzy but the bottom line is that your LDS will look to see an IDEST approved test on a cylinder if they are to fill it and IDEST require valve services - this is what I'm told - please help yourself to a spade of salt! At the end of the day, with all the problems with exploding cylinder valves (fitted by idiots or used well beyond their service life without servicing), this had to happen before filling staff got killed.

[laterontoday]

Many thanks to all who answered my OP. I'm happy to have the valve serviced but would have liked to have been told that the £20 visual inspection would be more like a £40 because I also had to have the valve service.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Big Andy

You don't need a mandate if you're the HSE - you don't even need regulations - you just let everyone know that 'if there's an event that involves an unserviced valve', action will be taken. As far as IDEST is concerned, they make the rules for their members and they've been recognised as the appropriate organisation. .....

So its not mandatory, but more industry BS then?

Chris