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Dive Shops Announce Condemnation of All High Pressure Steel Tanks Manufactured Prior to 1998

SAN DIEGO, Calif., April 1, 2008 - Confirming a proposal first raised in discussions that started at the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) last October, dive shops across the nation are rolling out revised policies this spring, with regard to all high pressure steel tanks manufactured prior to 1998. Effective today, these tanks will no longer be filled by dive shops.

“These tanks are getting to be a decade old at this point, and we as a group are concerned that the time has come to retire this equipment before something happens,” said DEMA Vice President of Retail Sales Growth Charlotte Anne Palterer.

The dive industry has had its share of problems related to compressed air cylinders. Aluminum tanks manufactured prior to 1989 may have been made from a defective alloy, known as “6351,” and were subject to sustained load cracking (SLC) because of the migration of lead within the metal. According to cylinder manufacturer Luxfer, “[out of] the more than 40-million all-aluminum cylinders manufactured by various companies over the last 45 years, … 12 [scuba cylinder] ruptures have been reported to regulatory authorities…” But, thanks to “misinformation and exaggeration…by the Internet” these tanks are no longer filled by most dive shops in America. Where consumers sensed malfeasance, manufacturers saw an opportunity.

“Let’s face it,” said Palterer, “nothing lasts forever.” Despite no incidents with any steel tanks ever, she argued that the condemnation of relatively new 10-year-old, incident-free tanks makes sense. “Everyone knows that stuff was made better a long time ago; the dollar was worth more, stuff was made here in the United States, and folks just expected products to last longer,” said Palterer. “Ten years is a long time for anything to last, these days.”

According to high level sources, the trade group had considered introducing a fancy new electronic test with cool sounds and bright lights that could have added another $15 to the price of an annual inspection and perhaps tacked on another 20 or 30 years of useful life to the now useless tanks. “Unfortunately, as we now see with the aluminum tank eddy current tests and visual inspections, much of this testing is happening outside of association member dive retailers. It’s hard for stores to rely on the income from, excuse me, I meant to say, integrity of those tests.”

Later this year, the group will vote on a proposed rule mandating five year zipper and annual neck and wrist seal replacements for all dry suits.

Comments:

First aluminum tanks now steel tanks, now what should I use. Maybe I will just put a baggie over my head and see how long I can stay down at 60 feet.

# posted by

rporter : Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:32:00 PM

I think a baggie might be OK. So far as I know, they are "not toys" and should be "kept away from children" but nothing says they can not be used as scuba equipment, although the Coast Guard has not made a ruling on whether they can be "approved flotation devices."

# posted by

Rob Falk : Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:55:00 PM