Tank handling safety

[Disneymom]

So.... that whole tank exploding thread has me spooked. Now, I know - the odds are probably miniscule that anything would ever happen, but would anyone care to educate a novice on proper tank care and feeding? I'd like to make sure I don't do anything stupid when I rent tanks for the weekends.

[MEL-DC Diver]

Don't fill it after dark. They come out at night.

In all seriousness, these things are pretty safe and durable, so common sense applies. Annual VIPs and keeping a current hydro are tops on the list. So are avoiding big overfills (not going into cave fills), and drastic changes in temperature w/ a full tank. But the number one rule - don't bang on the valve by doing silly things like dropping it from the top of your roof with a full fill.

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by Disneymom

So.... that whole tank exploding thread has me spooked. Now, I know - the odds are probably miniscule that anything would ever happen, but would anyone care to educate a novice on proper tank care and feeding? I'd like to make sure I don't do anything stupid when I rent tanks for the weekends.

As long as you don't drop them on their valves or whack their valves with sledge hammers, you should fine be with any rental tank.

The tanks in the other thread were the older 6351 alloy, which has been discontinued. I doubt that any reputable dive shop is stupid enough to use those anymore.

FYI.. don't worry about pressure explosions. tanks are tested to 5/3 rds of their pressure rating. So in theory, your 3000psi AL80 is safe to approximately 5000psi. Even leaving it in your car in the hot sun won't over pressure it. (though not reccomended).

[Disneymom]

Originally Posted by MEL-DC Diver

don't bang on the valve by doing silly things like dropping it from the top of your roof with a full fill.

Well, you sure know how to ruin a girl's fun!

What about in cars? And if it's sitting out in the sun patiently awaiting me to take it diving? What if I drop it when I trip over the rock on the way down to the lake shore?

[MEL-DC Diver]

Yeah, actually after reading mike's post I should elaborate on mine. When i say to avoid big overfills or drastic (immediate) changes in temp I am referring to stressing out a tank over time, thereby shortening its life, not running the risk of a pressure explosion.

[Disneymom]

Originally Posted by mike_s

As long as you don't drop them on their valves or whack their valves with sledge hammers, you should fine be with any rental tank.

The tanks in the other thread were the older 6351 alloy, which has been discontinued. I doubt that any reputable dive shop is stupid enough to use those anymore.

FYI.. don't worry about pressure explosions. tanks are tested to 5/3 rds of their pressure rating. So in theory, your 3000psi AL80 is safe to approximately 5000psi. Even leaving it in your car in the hot sun won't over pressure it. (though not reccomended).

Yeah, I was reading up on that old alloy. Nonetheless it's still air under pressure in there...

Oh, OK. no hot cars. should storage be in the house, or is a garage acceptable?

[MEL-DC Diver]

Originally Posted by Disneymom

Well, you sure know how to ruin a girl's fun!

What about in cars? And if it's sitting out in the sun patiently awaiting me to take it diving? What if I drop it when I trip over the rock on the way down to the lake shore?

I avoid cooking my equipment as a general rule, but sometimes it is unavoidable. A tank will handle all the basic issue you described w/o blowing up your car or going off from a simple trip over a rock. You could end up with a little exterior rust from dropping it, but that is pretty much it.

[BSea]

There have been cases of burst disk blowing on tanks. Especially when they get hot. The sudden release of air can still cause damage. A guy I know had 1 go off in his trunk. The air expanded so fast it warped his trunk lid. Not to mention it scared the daylights out of anyone close by.

I seem to remember a story or 2 about windows being blown out of cars when a burst disk ruptured.

But a burst disk is really a safety precaution. It's designed to release the air from the tank in a safe way, preventing a tank from actually exploding. So any properly maintained tank should be safeguarded from actually exploding.

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by Disneymom

Oh, OK. no hot cars. should storage be in the house, or is a garage acceptable?

well hot cars aren't reccomended, but I've left mine in my car for a few weeks before. So it's doable. Many dive teams leave theirs in their trailers permanently for example.

It doesn't matter whether you keep them in the house or garage.
I'd say that 98% of us keep them in the garage over the house just because it's not something that you would normally need to go a step further and keep inside.

I used to keep mine inside, but it was only because my garage was that small where I used to live and it was hard to walk around them if you parked your car inside.

But you'll find many people who live an apartments that keep them inside withouth problem.

other than that, handling they taught you in your OW class should get you through anything. (stuff they taught you like be carefull of leaving a tank upright on uneven surfaces or with BC/reg on it. )

[MEL-DC Diver]

Originally Posted by BSea

There have been cases of burst disk blowing on tanks. Especially when they get hot. The sudden release of air can still cause damage. A guy I know had 1 go off in his trunk. The air expanded so fast it warped his trunk lid. Not to mention it scared the daylights out of anyone close by.

I seem to remember a story or 2 about windows being blown out of cars when a burst disk ruptured.

But a burst disk is really a safety precaution. It's designed to release the air from the tank in a safe way, preventing a tank from actually exploding. So any properly maintained tank should be safeguarded from actually exploding.

BSea, you are going to scare the cr** out of Disneymom. We had her all nice and relaxed and now you start in with the burst disks.