Luxfer issues second notice to owners and users of SCBA cylinders that need to be returned for testing

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (June 19, 2006)—For several months, Luxfer Gas Cylinders has been asking SCBA cylinder users to help locate and recover a small group of Luxfer composite cylinders that may not have been properly autofrettaged and/or hydrostatically tested by a third-party inspector, Arrowhead Industrial Services, Inc.

On May 1, 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation posted a notice concerning these cylinders, including a serial number list, in the Federal Register. The notice states: “A person with a listed cylinder should discontinue use of the cylinder and return it to Arrowhead . . . so that autofrettage and hydrostatic test can be completed before its next use. Shippers and compressed gas filling facilities are advised that these cylinders do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations and may not be offered for transportation or transported until the required testing is completed.”

While these cylinders do not pose a safety risk, those who own or use them are legally required to comply with this DOT mandate. If you still have cylinders covered by the Federal notice, you must remove the cylinders from service and have them tested.

To determine whether you have cylinders that need to be tested, please compare serial numbers of your Luxfer cylinders that have hydrostatic test dates from May through September 2005 with serial numbers listed on the Luxfer website at www.luxfercylinders.com/ctest. (The complete serial number list is published in the Federal Register notice. However, because the list on the Luxfer website is updated frequently, it will contain the most current information). The sample label below shows where to find the serial number and hydrostatic test date.

Once you have determined which cylinders, if any, need to be tested, please call this toll-free number: 1-800-355-3156. A Luxfer customer-service representative will arrange to have your cylinders tested and returned to you promptly at no charge. If removing cylinders from service would create an operational hardship for you, loaner cylinders are available for your use until your cylinders are returned.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we thank you for your understanding and assistance. For more information on SCBA testing, see our first notice.