Luxfer Cylinders

Product info

Luxfer Gas Cylinders manufactures the widest range of aluminum and carbon-composite paintball cylinders in the world. With an unmatched record for safety and performance, Luxfer paintball cylinders have proven to be the strongest, safest and most durable available. By providing the most advanced products and unsurpassed levels of customer service and technical support, Luxfer Gas Cylinders makes it easy for paintball players of all levels to stay ahead of the game.

Quality checks

Quality control is built into every stage of the Luxfer manufacturing process to ensure that our paintball cylinders consistently meet and surpass the most stringent industrial standards. Cylinders are regularly destroyed for verification of neck-forming, subjected to tests of hardness and tensile strength and crushed or bent to test internal wall integrity. At every stage of the manufacturing process, each cylinder undergoes a visual inspection and hydrostatic testing to pressures well in excess of rated specifications. Luxfer Gas Cylinders manufactures to all major global specifications and in accordance with all major standards.

Air versus CO2

In the past, CO2 was the most common gas used by paintball players. However, in recent years the use of CO2 has declined in favor of a growing preference for high-pressure air or nitrogen. There are a number of reasons for this:

• Cleanliness – Because CO2 is stored in liquid form, it has to “burn off” in order to escape. This process can lead to liquid CO2 getting into the internal workings of the paintball marker. Conversely, compressed air is a naturally clean gas, so internal marker components remain free of potentially damaging material.
• Marker jamming – Another CO2 downside: as gas burns off, it freezes, which can damage and jam a paintball marker. Compressed air, on the other hand, is stored in a non-freezing gaseous state. Air is released from a cylinder at a constant pressure, enhancing marker accuracy and stability.
• Temperature – CO2 is also temperature-sensitive, which can affect the speed and trajectory of a propelled paintball. Extreme temperatures can greatly reduce the performance of markers powered by CO2.
• Environmental – Compressed air is a more environmentally friendly gas than CO2.

Technical information

United States

Paintball cylinders used in the United States must have U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) markings and be used in accordance with current DOT regulations.

Europe

Paintball cylinders in Europe must be manufactured to the appropriate European standards and must comply with the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED).

The following cylinders are allowed for commercial use in Europe: CE (European) standard cylinders; HSE standard cylinders; British standard cylinders.

Cylinders with only the DOT (USA) marking are not acceptable for commercial use in Europe, and they cannot be approved for any gas application in Europe.

Luxfer advises anyone who has a DOT-marked cylinder to check if it also has an HSE marking. Filling bottles carrying only the DOT stamp is illegal in Europe. Ensuring that cylinders are properly stamped as required by law is the responsibility of the cylinder owner. Failure to do so may result in fines or other legal action.

New paintball cylinders will carry the Pi-mark (π), indicating that they comply with the new developments in rules and regulations in Europe. In July 2003, the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) became law, and all cylinders manufactured after this date must comply with the new directive and be certified with the Pi-mark.

Markings

Europe: composite cylinders for compressed air

The markings of carbon-composite cylinders appear on the cylinder’s label

• Row 1: Thread specification | country of manufacture | cylinder manufacturer | serial number (can also appear on cylinder neck); | United Nations identification number for gas (e.g., 1002 is compressed air)
• Row 2: Empty weight of cylinder | minimum internal capacity (liters) | working pressure (PW) and test pressure (PH) | aluminum alloy used for liner construction | gas
• Row 3: Design specification | ADR approval number | country of approval (e.g., Deutschland or Germany) | Pi-mark (of conformity for TPED and notified body reference number (e.g., 0035 is TUEV) | stamp of TPED notified body (e.g., TUEV) | year/month of initial test | manufacturer’s mark (in this case, Luxfer) | year of retest
• Row 4: Design life of the cylinder

Europe: aluminum cylinders for compressed air

• Row 1: Thread specification | country of manufacture | cylinder manufacturer | cylinder type number and serial number | alloy used in construction
• Row 2: Minimum wall thickness | Empty weight of cylinder only (kg) | minimum internal capacity of cylinder | working pressure
• Row 3: Pi-mark (π) showing conformance to TPED 1999/36/EC and reference number of TPED notified body | pattern approval number | country of TPED approval | authorized stamp of TPED notified body | year/month of initial test

Europe: aluminum cylinders for CO2

• Row 1: Thread specification | country of manufacture | cylinder manufacturer | cylinder type number and serial number | alloy used in construction
• Row 2: Minimum wall thickness | empty weight of cylinder only (kg) | minimum internal capacity of cylinder | test/working pressure | empty weight of cylinder and valve (kg) | maximum charge weight
• Row 3: Pi-mark showing conformance to TPED 1999/36/EC and reference number of TPED notified body | pattern approval number | country of TPED approval | authorized stamp of TPED notified body | year/month of initial test.

United States: composite cylinders for compressed air

United States: aluminum cylinders for both air and CO2

• Row 1: TC (Transport Canada) and Canadian design specification | charge pressure (bar)
• Row 2: Department of Transportation and US design specification | charge pressure (psi) | serial number | manufacturer | month and year of initial pressure test and mark of independent inspection body (e.g., Arrowhead Industrial Services Ltd.)

Cylinder care

Important information about your Luxfer paintball cylinder

Please read the following information carefully. Understand and remember these warnings. This information could save your life and the lives of others.

• WARNING: Improper use, filling, storage, disposal or failure to follow instructions may result in property damage, serious personal injury or death!
• NEVER alter of modify the cylinder in any way.
• NEVER expose a filled, or partially filled, aluminum or composite cylinder to temperatures exceeding 50 ° C.
• WARNING: If you suspect that an aluminum cylinder has been heated to temperatures between 120 ° C and 150 ° C, it must be hydrostatically retested before further use. Aluminum cylinders exposed to or with evidence of exposure to heat in excess of 150 ° C must be condemned and removed from service.
• NEVER expose an un-pressurized aluminium cylinder to temperatures exceeding 120 ° C.
• NEVER expose an un-pressurized composite cylinder to temperatures exceeding 56 ° C.
• WARNING: If you suspect that a composite cylinder has been heated to temperatures of 56 ° C or more, it must be hydrostatically retested and fully re-qualified before further use. Composite cylinders exposed to or with evidence of exposure to heat in excess of 72 ° C must be condemned and removed from service.
• NEVER overfill or have your cylinder filled beyond its rated capacity. Overfilling may result in property damage and/or personal injury.
• NEVER tamper with or alter the cylinder valve, safety relief device or other cylinder attachments.
• WARNING: Activation of a safety relief device in an overfilled cylinder can result in property damage and/or personal injury!
• NEVER use paintball cylinders for applications other than paintball.
• NEVER use caustic paint strippers or corrosive cleaners, which will damage the cylinder.
• NEVER use heat-activated paint (such as baked enamel or powder coatings) on your cylinders. Use only air-drying paints.

Before filling or using your paintball cylinder

Always

• ALWAYS have the cylinder inspected and/or hydrostatically retested if it shows signs of corrosion, gouges, indents, bulges and/or heat damage or if it has been dropped or otherwise damaged.
• ALWAYS check for leaks before each use. In the unlikely event that a leak is detected, under no circumstance should the cylinder be refilled.
• ALWAYS verify that the cylinder to be filled with air has a working pressure (PW) stamped on the crown (for aluminium cylinders) or printed on the label (for composite cylinders) that will not be exceeded by the filling apparatus. Have compressed air filled at less than 40 bar (600 psig) per minute to the stamped working pressure (PW) of the cylinder.
• ALWAYS have a CO 2 cylinder filled by weight and do not exceed the stamped fill weight of the cylinder; see Luxfer cylinder markings.

Never

• NEVER ask for a cylinder to be filled beyond its rated capacity. Overfilling is dangerous.
• NEVER use or have your cylinder filled if it leaks or if you suspect that your cylinder has been damaged. In these cases, take the cylinder to an authorized cylinder requalifier for a thorough visual inspection and retesting, if necessary.
• NEVER fill a CO 2 cylinder on which the safety relief device has been altered in any way.
• NEVER fill a cylinder that is outside its periodic inspection and retest period.
• NEVER modify your cylinder in any way or add attachments that are not authorized. Unauthorized modifications are illegal and could make the cylinder dangerous.

Taking care of your paintball cylinder

Take care of your cylinder and it will give you years of safe use!

Always

• ALWAYS keep the threads and inside of your cylinder dry and free from oil, dirt and other contaminants.
• ALWAYS make sure that your cylinder is within its retest period. Cylinders must be inspected and hydrostatically tested as follows:
• Aluminum cylinders – every 10 years
• Composite cylinders – every 5 years (subject to national regulations)
• NOTE : Composite cylinders have a maximum life of 15 years from their original hydrostatic test date.
• ALWAYS keep the outside of your cylinder clean, using only mild soap or a neutral detergent cleaning solution when necessary. Thoroughly dry the cylinder after cleaning.
• ALWAYS store the cylinder in a cool, dry area with adequate ventilation.
• ALWAYS have your cylinder serviced only by trained personnel.
• ALWAYS make sure that all cylinder attachments are maintained, serviced, inspected and handled in strict accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.

Never

• NEVER alter or obscure cylinder markings.
• NEVER allow your cylinder to roll around while traveling.
• NEVER drop, strike or heat your cylinder.
• NEVER expose your cylinder to excessive heat (see temperature guidelines above).
• NEVER attempt to modify the threads or force a valve into your cylinder.
• NEVER remove metal from your cylinder (removing metal could make the cylinder unsafe for the rated pressure containment).
• NEVER modify your cylinder by adding extra openings for gauges or filling ports.
• NEVER repaint your cylinder with paints that require stoving or heating at elevated temperatures. Only use air-drying paints.
• NEVER use caustic paint strippers or corrosive cleaners that will damage the cylinder.
• NEVER use the cylinder for anything other than the purpose for which it was designed