Good Air
Q: I have some tanks in my garage that are filled to 3,000 psi, and I have not used them in many months. Is there any hazard to breathing the air in these tanks after a prolonged period? Does the air in them need to be replaced after a certain amount of time?
A: We’re not aware of any studies that address this issue specifically. To comply with recommended safety guidelines, all scuba cylinders should be visually inspected annually. The gas in the cylinder is replaced in the course of the visual inspection. Experts have discussed whether air in a cylinder can actually “go bad,” but without any data, arguments for or against using the air after a prolonged period are purely speculative. There is no clear mechanism to explain why the air would not be suitable for use, and any theoretical risk is avoided by the annual inspection.
— Marty McCafferty, EMT-P, DMT
A: We’re not aware of any studies that address this issue specifically. To comply with recommended safety guidelines, all scuba cylinders should be visually inspected annually. The gas in the cylinder is replaced in the course of the visual inspection. Experts have discussed whether air in a cylinder can actually “go bad,” but without any data, arguments for or against using the air after a prolonged period are purely speculative. There is no clear mechanism to explain why the air would not be suitable for use, and any theoretical risk is avoided by the annual inspection.
— Marty McCafferty, EMT-P, DMT
Posted in Dive Safety FAQ, Dive Safety Tips, Smart Guides
Tagged with Gas, Air, Clean Air, Pure Air, Cylinder safety
Tagged with Gas, Air, Clean Air, Pure Air, Cylinder safety
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