does a visual test invalidate an O2 clean?

[weazelz]

I've got a cylinder in for O2 cleaning with Hydrotech at the moment. it's due for a visual in 6 months & they're saying that this will invalidate the O2 clean (& hence do I want them to do the visual & O2 together)

I could see how a hydro could.would invalidate an O2 clean, but that's 5-yearly so it's not an issue. I don't see why a visual test should invalidate O2 clean though - anyone know differently??

[stevechesh]

probably because they have to take the valve off. . .

[ardhill]

Yep, as Steve says as soon as you take that valve off, you have invalidated the O2 clean as you have just let non O2 clean gar (air) get into the tank. The technician will also have to handle the cleaned bits of the tank and valve, so this would further invalidate it. When ptting it back together, he may also use some grease on the threads, which may not be O2 compatible.

Techs can handle non-O2 clean tanks differently that O2 clean ones, and proably will do unless actually O2 cleaning them.

Better to get it all done at the one time.

[neilh]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Yep, as Steve says as soon as you take that valve off, you have invalidated the O2 clean as you have just let non O2 clean gar (air) get into the tank.

Hang on though - how do they O2 clean a cylinder without taking the valve off anyway? And if they do remove the valve, how do they put it back on without letting any air get in?

Originally Posted by ardhill

The technician will also have to handle the cleaned bits of the tank and valve, so this would further invalidate it. When ptting it back together, he may also use some grease on the threads, which may not be O2 compatible.

Wouldn't it be sensible for them to handle cylinders in O2 service carefully and to use O2 compatible grease to reassemble? If they did that then (as they aren't taking the valve apart), wouldn't it stay in O2 service?

...or is that just a simplistic view that avoids the chance to charge for an O2 clean on top of a visual?

[Johnonthesevern]

I agree looks like a LDS charging something for nothing!
john

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by neilh

Hang on though - how do they O2 clean a cylinder without taking the valve off anyway? And if they do remove the valve, how do they put it back on without letting any air get in?

Air is a red herring.
In fact I doubt that a visual test does contaminate a tank but they don't follow O2 clean rules when they do tests so they reason "it might".

They've got you. Pay up. Sorry. However I wouldn't get it cleaned at other than testing time.

[chas49]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Air is a red herring.
In fact I doubt that a visual test does contaminate a tank but they don't follow O2 clean rules when they do tests so they reason "it might".

They've got you. Pay up. Sorry. However I wouldn't get it cleaned at other than testing time.

Which of course makes the mismatch between a 2.5/5 year visual/hydro test cycle, and annual O2 service a bit of a b%gger

Still I think we've probably done that one to death elsewhere

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by chas49

Which of course makes the mismatch between a 2.5/5 year visual/hydro test cycle, and annual O2 service a bit of a b%gger

However the testing cycle is set by the HMG etc. and the annual clean is merely a dive shop convention.

I can see a case for cleaning at 2.5 year intervals when the test is done. That's what I do and nobody has complained yet. If my tank is not clean who pumped oil into it? I'd always ask for clean air and pay the premium.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by weazelz

I've got a cylinder in for O2 cleaning with Hydrotech at the moment. it's due for a visual in 6 months & they're saying that this will invalidate the O2 clean (& hence do I want them to do the visual & O2 together)

...

Rip off.........

But hey that's the whole idea of it all anyway

Chris

[weazelz]

usual rip-off then - I suspected as much .. grumble grumble

Originally Posted by nigelH

I can see a case for cleaning at 2.5 year intervals when the test is done. That's what I do and nobody has complained yet

how do you get o2/trox fills in a non-o2-clean/out-of-test cylinder ?