Support Items

Luxfer Gas Cylinders has received questions from cylinder inspectors and users about whether it is necessary to use eddy-current devices to test Luxfer scuba cylinders made from aluminum alloy 6061 (AA6061). 

Eddy-current testing is used to detect sustained-load cracking (SLC) in aluminum alloy cylinders. The majority of Luxfer aluminum alloy cylinders in service today are made from Luxfer AA6061 alloy, which is not susceptible to SLC.

For all scuba cylinders made from Luxfer AA6061, the Luxfer manufacturer’s requirement is that cylinders conform to regulatory requirements for periodic inspection and testing in the countries in which cylinders are being used. Luxfer does not require or recommend eddy-current testing of these AA6061 cylinders. 

Torques greater than the maximum specified are unnecessary and can damage the valve and in extreme over-torque cases might create unsafe conditions.

High over-torques can split the knob into 2 or 3 pieces. A cracked or split knob does not affect valve sealing; however, it indicates excessive torque applied to the knob. Replace a cracked or split knob immediately.

Please see the attached PDF file for further support.

ALUMINIUM ALLOY CYLINDERS FOR UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS

Statement for UK Diving Industry – March 2018

1. All Luxfer cylinders manufactured from aluminium alloys AA6351 and HE30/AA6082 and used primarily for gases for underwater breathing apparatus must undergo a thorough visual inspection by a trained, properly qualified inspector and be tested with an eddy-current device, in addition to testing required by the regulatory authority, at the time of periodic inspection and testing. Cylinders manufactured from these alloys are known to be susceptible to sustained-load cracking (SLC). Cylinders to be inspected and tested include those used for SCUBA diving, those that supply breathing air through an umbilical hose and those used to fill SCUBA cylinders. Failure to conduct such inspection and testing could result in serious harm.

2. Luxfer-required eddy-current testing is in addition to any other testing normally done during periodic inspection and testing. Luxfer approves two eddy-current devices, Visual Plus? and Visual Eddy™, for such testing. Periodic inspection and testing of these cylinders should occur at least every five years.

3. For Luxfer underwater breathing apparatus cylinders made from aluminium alloy 6061 (AA6061), Luxfer’s manufacturer’s requirement is that every five years a cylinder be visually inspected by a qualified inspector and also undergo testing required by the regulatory authority. Luxfer does not require eddy-current testing of Luxfer underwater breathing apparatus cylinders made from Luxfer’s proprietary version of AA6061, which is marketed under the trade name Luxfer L6X® or as ‘6061 (a proprietary blend)’. The vast majority of Luxfer aluminium cylinders in service today are made from this alloy, which is not susceptible to SLC.

4. Luxfer does not object to more frequent visual inspection of diving cylinders, typically annually or every 2.5 years, if the diving industry and/or regulatory authorities believe it useful to promote safety. Luxfer has supported such choices of the industry and regulatory authorities in the past and continues to do so.

The following serial numbers of Luxfer medical oxygen cylinder model ME24 with an original hydrostatic test date of 08/15 are under recall by Luxfer Gas Cylinders. The reason for the recall is that the cylinders may fall outside of the design specification.

If you find that you are in possession of any cylinders on this list, please contact Luxfer Gas Cylinders customer service toll-free at 800-764-0366 for information regarding the return of cylinders to Luxfer.

This recall does not affect any other Luxfer products outside of the list or original manufacture date of 08/15.

BX302116

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Luxfer Gas Cylinders sometimes receives inquiries about whether our aluminum and aluminum-lined composite medical cylinders are MRI compatible. The term "MR or MRI Compatible" has been superseded by the current ASTM International terminology: "MR Conditional," which is defined as "an item that has been demonstrated to pose no known hazards in a specified MRI environment with specified conditions of use." Field conditions that define a particular MRI environment include static magnetic field strength, spatial gradient, dB/dt (time varying magnetic fields), radio frequency (RF) fields and specific absorption rate (SAR).

Whichever term is used, the question remains: Can Luxfer medical cylinders be safely used in close proximity to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other types of medical equipment that emit magnetic fields? The general answer to that question is: Yes.

In addition to our own testing, Luxfer commissioned in-depth third-party testing of our medical cylinders, covering all combinations of aluminum alloy and monolithic/composite construction. The third-party test report concluded: "For each cylinder tested, no apparent magnetic field interactions were detected under the conditional used for testing. Thus, each cylinder product may be considered 'MR Conditional at 3-Tesla or less.'"

Please note that Luxfer's statement and the cited test results apply only to Luxfer aluminum alloy and composite cylinders and do not apply to valves, regulators, handles, carts or any other equipment that may be either attached to or used in combination with Luxfer cylinders. Always ensure that any such ancillary equipment also meets ASTM or other applicable safety criteria for use in proximity to MRI equipment.

For more than a decade, Luxfer has actively researched this matter and participated in detailed deliberations involving DOT, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) and other cylinder manufacturers to obtain a service-life extension. However, DOT declined to approve life extension for these cylinders. Consequently, Luxfer decided not to pursue this effort further and to take a different approach to providing cylinders with longer service life.

In 1996, DOT issued its CCFC-1 standard that established basic requirements for design, manufacture and performance of cylinders consisting of seamless aluminum liners over-wrapped with structural layers of filament-wound carbon fiber and epoxy composite material. At that time, DOT offered the possibility of extending the 15-year service life of such cylinders "up to a total service life of 30 years." To obtain an extension, a cylinder manufacturer was required to submit for DOT approval a "Service Life Extension Plan" that would meet certain criteria. Soon after CCFC-1 was issued, Luxfer and other U.S. cylinder manufacturers individually submitted such life-extension plans to DOT. However, DOT accepted none of these plans and declined to extend cylinder service life.

In response, cylinder manufacturers attempted an industry-wide approach to obtain DOT approval under the auspices of a special CGA task group, but the service life was not extended.

In 2006, Luxfer began developing a new, more robust cylinder designed for a service life longer than 15 years. This new cylinder was based on ISO 11119, an international design standard. In August 2008, DOT granted Luxfer special permit 14232 (SP14232), which authorizes the manufacture of these cylinders for use in the United States.

While cylinders made under SP14232 are designed for service lives as long as 30 years, the special permit explicitly sets forth certain testing and validation requirements that must be met before the service life of any cylinder may be extended beyond 15 years. As of the issue date of this bulletin, no cylinder manufactured under SP14232 has thus far been approved for a service life longer than 15 years since these cylinders have not yet reached the age at which their service life will be eligible for extension.

For more information, please use the DOT links below or contact Luxfer Gas Cylinders at 951-341-2348.

U.S. Department of Transportation special permits searchDOT-CFFC (Basic requirements for fully-wrapped carbon fiber reinforced aluminum-lined)