At 22:12 06 February 2006, Jphoenix wrote:

jcarlyle wrote:
George, I'm very surprised. All of the pressure vessels
I've ever
worked on over the last 30 years that were located
inside the USA have
had either DOT or ASME certification. I don't have
a reference for you
at the moment, but I've written a note about this
issue to a past
president of ASTM to get his input. I'll get back
to you with his
response.

Meanwhile, could you tell me exactly what the stamped
ratings on the
shell say that you are taking on trust?

-John


Fellas,

Here's the current FAA guidance on the subject: (HBAW
02-01B)
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/e...ors/8300/hbaw/
2002/

An excerpt below, but please read the whole bulletin
in the link above
as this policy should not be taken out of context.
Most IA's will not
sign off an annual on an aircraft with an out-of-date
hydro.

'C. Title 49 CFR parts 171 through 180, Hazardous Materials
Regulations
(HMR), pertains to the retest and inspection of cylinders
in
transportation in commerce. However, cylinders used
as components in
aircraft are not considered to be in transportation
in commerce when
installed in an aircraft. As a result, the retest period
for cylinders
used as a component of and installed in an aircraft
is not subject to
the HMR. However, 49 CFR part 180, =A7 180.205, formerly
part 173, =A7
173.34(e), would apply to a cylinder that is removed
from the aircraft
and offered for transportation as an article of commerce.
In this case,
the cylinder must include the appropriate exterior
packaging and hazard
communication requirements (i.e., shipping papers,
marking, and
labeling).'

Jim



Two observations.

1) This bulletin appears to apply only to type certified
aircraft.
2) Section 1,3,C,3 shown below only requires that non-DOT
cylinders must be tested as per DOT specifications.

'All other cylinders must be inspected and tested as
required by subparagraph 3C(1) above as it applies
to DOT 3HT cylinders unless alternative testing and
inspection procedures are specified by the manufacturer
or referenced authority'.

The bulletin also states that that existing dot requirements
do not apply to aircraft 02 cylinders which makes me
wonder if DOT requirements are only for the transportation
of cylinders. Can anyone come up with the actual DOT
regulation that a non-DOT aircraft 02 cylinder cannot
be legally filled?