10 January 2000

Recently Luxfer Gas Cylinders announced a global policy on the care and maintenance of scuba cylinders and a new replacement program. Given that the inspection regime is different in Europe, we would like to clarify exactly what this means for our local markets.

Cylinder Inspection and Visual Plus

For some time Luxfer has been concerned about the difficulty of finding sustained load cracks in the threaded area in aluminium scuba cylinders at the annual visual inspection (in accordance with BS5430, pt 3 or equivalent national regulations). After 5 years of evaluation, Luxfer USA has found a relatively inexpensive device which can help with the visual inspection of aluminium cylinders. The unit is an eddy current machine marketed by AIT in the USA under the brand name “Visual Plus”.

Luxfer requires that all test stations use the Visual Plus unit (or alternative non-destructive testing equipment specifically designed for neck crack detection) as an additional safety precaution when annually inspecting Luxfer aluminium cylinders that are 15 years old or older.

During February of next year AIT will be touring the UK to explain to Test Stations how to use the unit. For further details please contact Chris Clarke at Luxfer, on (+44) 0115 9803842 or email chris.clarke@eu.luxfercylinders.com

Please note that Luxfer has no financial interest in Visual Plus. We are only concerned with improving safety standards for the Dive Industry.

Luxfer Scuba Replacement Program

Luxfer Europe offers the following program in support of the global initiative.

Luxfer Europe Aluminium Cylinders 10 years old or less:

Luxfer will replace at no charge any Luxfer aluminium scuba cylinder 10 years old or less that fails to pass the testing procedure detailed in BS5430, pt 3 [or equivalent national regulations] and is condemned because of a manufacturing defect or because of sustained load cracking. Please send the undamaged cylinder together with the test certificate to the above address, attention Mrs Chris Clarke. The owner is responsible for the cost of freight to Luxfer; Luxfer will pay the return freight. Any invalid claim will be to the owner’s cost.

Luxfer Europe Aluminium Cylinders more than 10 years old:

For any aluminium scuba cylinder more than 10 years old that fails to pass the BS5430, pt 3 [ or equivalent national regulations] testing procedure and is condemned because of a manufacturing defect or sustained load cracking, Luxfer will offer the following trade-in deal:

  • For 10 and 12 litre cylinders: forward a bank cheque for £50 made payable to Luxfer Gas Cylinders plus the condemned cylinder to Luxfer, and Luxfer Gas Cylinders will replace with a new cylinder of the same capacity.
  • For 7 litre cylinders: forward a bank cheque for £38 made payable to Luxfer Gas Cylinders plus the condemned cylinder to Luxfer, and Luxfer will replace with a new cylinder of the same capacity.
  • For 3 litre ‘pony’ cylinders: forward a bank cheque for £15 made to Luxfer Gas Cylinders plus the condemned cylinder to Luxfer Gas Cylinders, and Luxfer will replace with a new cylinder of the same capacity.
  • Replacement prices for sizes other than those listed above will be handled on request.

With all the trade-in cylinders, the owner is responsible for paying the cost of freight to Luxfer. Luxfer will carry the cost of freighting the new cylinder to the owner. Please note that the undamaged cylinder (without a valve or any accessories) must be accompanied by the test certificate and preferably the Visual Plus printout from the Certificated Gas Cylinder Test Station. Luxfer Gas Cylinders will take no responsibility for any valves or accessories returned with the cylinder. The trade-in cylinders are to be forwarded to Customer Service, at the above address. Any invalid claim will be to the owner’s cost.

An undamaged cylinder denotes a cylinder that has not been rendered unusable. In the event that there is mutual agreement that no sustained load crack or manufacturing defect exists, the cylinder will be returned to the owner.

Please note that as part of the inspection procedure Luxfer will use the Visual Plus unit in conjunction with the visual inspection to confirm that the cylinder should be condemned. So please ensure that the threads are undamaged.

If you require any further information or clarification on the Global Scuba Policy please contact Chris Clarke on (+44) 0115 9803842

John Mellors, Market Sector Manager Scuba