Canadian spec cylinders

[NamTinker]

Why are cylinders that are legal in Europe (Germany), South Africa, Australia any many other countries not "legal" in Canada? Imagine my disgust after I was just told that all four of my steel cylinders (2x300bar 7l and 2x200bar 10l), all having had a hydro and visual just last year - can not be filled anywhere! I require the DOT stamp!
So - any Canadian on the list? Do I know sit with four high pressure door stops? Where can I go to obtain the DOT stamp? What are the costs?
Keeping in mind that a new Pressed Steel approx 12l costs CAN$450!

[wreckweasel]

Essentially.. you're screwed unless you get your own compressor/friendly shop.

Try looking on scubaboard or the decostop, they can help you more with local affairs.

[Lawrence Debono]

No, no, no Canadian standard is called TC. If you have the European stamp you might be able to right to Transport Canada to convert your tanks to a TC.

Just curious, where about are you in Canada? Ontario? If you're here let me know may be I'll recommend you to a store that "might" fill them up for you. Older tanks marked DOT are still honored here in Canada and I wouldn't be surprised if you can work some thing out with a TC certified agency / rap.



Lawrence D

[Lawrence Debono]

Me again. I found the other thread. Waw you've gone far?! I'm In Guelph Ontario. Hey, never mind the pool; get your rear end in those nice lakes up among the Rockies, before they freeze solid. Just put on your dry bag and good under garments and you'll be fine.

I'm not planning any visits there any time soon. It's a good 3 Hr flight, but should you come in Ontario send me an email. I would like to meet more YDers. We’ll go for a dive for sure regardless of the time of year.

About the tanks, you will also notice that TC stamps are in bars - quite different than DOT. I really hope that you'll be able to solve this glitch.

Did you have any hard time with the metric gauges from other local divers here? My gosh I can’t stand that. I’ve been called the “weird diver” a few times because I use the metric / up to date measurements. I can care less, 60% of my diving is solo diving any ways.

Take care

Lawrence D

[NotDeadYet]

I never realised Canadians still used PSI on their gauges, I thought you were metric? I lived in BC for a few months, not realising when I got there your speed limits were in kmh, I thought 110 was a very liberal speed limit.

Anyway, it also works the other way around. I had a few bottles from my time living in the US that I never had any problem getting tested over here. Until bastard IDEST decided in the last year or two that unless they have BS or EN stamps they were an automatic failure. AFAIK over here there isn't anything you can do, mine had both US DOT and Canadian CTC markings and ten years of British Standard test certificates but still were rejected.

Hope you have better luck than I did.

Cheers,

Stuart

[Lawrence Debono]

Yes we do have metric passed in and approved in parliament and we do use Km/ hr on the road as well as liters for gas / petrol or diesel. But because of the US influence we were kept in the dark ages. To be honest it pi55es me off. It should be metric without any debate. Too bad if the Yanks are still a century behind.

As I noted the TC (new Transport Canada) stamps are all metric as of 1993. Finally!! These are also more liberal as far as pressure. To give an example a 2400psi with 10% overfill for the first 5 years only as stated by DOT is also stamped to 180 bars for the life of the tank by TC. So since I'm in Canada I take advantage and go with the 180 bars

Right, your DOT tanks would have no problem with just DOT in Canada because of the proximity, influence, etc. What are BS and EN standards? Are these for Europe? I am still convinced that since a national standard is stamped on the tank, and the tank passed, another standard from a different country should accept or at least consider looking into retesting the tank to meet the local standard.

I would say write to TC and get the whole picture from them. Don’t throw the tanks away.

Another thing that might scare you a bit – do you know that even with the Inspiration RB the 3L tanks are DOT stamped in the US and can only take 160 bars. Here I had seen TC stamp to 180 bars and I know who doesn’t give a ….. and pumps them to 200 bars.

Lawrence D

[NamTinker]

Lawrence

I originate from a totally "metric" country. I was standing there in the shop doing conversions on my pda - fill pressures, volumes, volumes @ fill pressures... The attendants were looking at me with big eyes when I asked for samples of 12l 232bar steel tanks, etc. I refrained from even mentioning DIN. :-)
But geez, no disrespect to anybody intended, when would the "rest of the world" realize how easy the metric system is! It actually makes for a safer world!
The dive shop will try and find out how much, where and/or if the tests can be done.

I'll give you a heads-up if I come in your direction.
What about the additional certification required around the East coast for "out-of-town" divers? I read an article about divers requiring additional certification to "prove" they can use a drysuit, dive in cold water etc etc.

Coenraad

[Lawrence Debono]

I had done my very fist Club Diver certification in Malta under SAA in 1987. When I came here I had some people telling me I had to convert to PADI, etc. I still did my own thing and if a place wasn't happy to rent tanks for me, I simply went else where. That was in 88 - 89 (when I immigrated). Over all I found very little resistance except for measurements volumes and the stuff we talked about. In 99 I proceeded with other TDI.certifications taken here. Then a year and a half ago I took addition courses in Malta and when ever I want to fill, no one ever questioned any thing. In a nut shell I survived so far.

It's funny you mentioned DIN; at the Ontario Under Water Explorers we have some individuals to discredit DIN and say it's unpopular. I never had a problem here in Canada, Cuba, Malta, Europe, etc to find DIN. Some at the club like to complicate matters with dry suit courses and photography courses. I like to take any thing that is beneficial without making life harder.

What I could see here in the Great lakes and Upper Atlantic coast is a huge tech diving community that are slowly moving to the Bar and liter measurements. DIN is certainly well established among these fellows. If you stand firm, request what you want and don’t tell exceptional experiences, to the dive store, I can assure you, you will get what you want.

I want to apologize with the other Forum Members that I hijacked this area.

Lawrence D

Originally Posted by NamTinker

Lawrence

I originate from a totally "metric" country. I was standing there in the shop doing conversions on my pda - fill pressures, volumes, volumes @ fill pressures... The attendants were looking at me with big eyes when I asked for samples of 12l 232bar steel tanks, etc. I refrained from even mentioning DIN. :-)
But geez, no disrespect to anybody intended, when would the "rest of the world" realize how easy the metric system is! It actually makes for a safer world!
The dive shop will try and find out how much, where and/or if the tests can be done.

I'll give you a heads-up if I come in your direction.
What about the additional certification required around the East coast for "out-of-town" divers? I read an article about divers requiring additional certification to "prove" they can use a drysuit, dive in cold water etc etc.

Coenraad