Support For Catalina Cylinders Clientele

There are a few reasons for inspecting a cylinder with a straight edge. The two main reasons are for identifying a bulged cylinder and a bowed cylinder.

A Bulged Cylinder

A bulged cylinder will exhibit at least some area of its sidewall being convexed, curved outward. It is possible for the entire sidewall of the cylinder to be bulged, curved outward. The bulge is readily identified as a hump in the sidewall of the cylinder when checking with a straight edge. A bulged cylinder indicates that the metal has yielded and is no longer safe for use. A bulged cylinder should be condemned.

It is very rare for a cylinder to be bulged. A cylinder that is bulged has usually been overheated or overfilled.

A Bowed Cylinder

A bowed cylinder will exhibit an area of the sidewall that is convexed, curved outward, and also an area, 180� opposite the convex side, that is concaved, curved inward. A bowed cylinder is sometimes identified as exhibiting a banana affect. A bowed cylinder can be verified by identifying the convexed, humped, side of the cylinder with a straight edge, then rotating the cylinder 180 and verifying this side of the cylinder is concaved, recessed from the straight edge.

A bowed cylinder sometimes occurs due to variations in the manufacturing process.

For a standard 3000 psi 80 cuft scuba cylinder, Catalina Cylinders considers a bow measured on the concave side of the cylinder acceptable if .085″ or less.

One of the most common questions asked of Catalina Cylinders is, “How do we clean aluminum cylinders which have been in service?” Catalina Cylinders has found the following cleaning practices to be effective in the cleaning of aluminum cylinders. The cleaning practices have been broken down into two groups, external and internal, with different types of conditions requiring cleaning listed under each group.

External

General In-service Soiling

Wash with a dish washing soap and rinse. Dry the cylinder after rinsing.

Chipping Paint or Minor Corrosion

Removal of loose paint and minor corrosion by-products by scraping with a scraper or putty knife is acceptable.

 

If complete paint removal from a cylinder is desired, Catalina Cylinders recommends that paint be removed from aluminum cylinders by the use of paint strippers. Catalina Cylinders has found that gel-type strippers work well in removing old paint and do not remove metal from the cylinder when properly used. Use gel strippers that are compatible with aluminum. Take great care to ensure that the gel-type stripper does not enter the cylinder.

 

Catalina Cylinders does not recommend cleaning of cylinders by means of sanding or abrasive blasting. Removal of paint or minor corrosion from a cylinder by sanding or abrasive blasting can also remove metal thus reducing the wall thickness of the cylinder and reducing the integrity of the cylinder. If sanding or abrasive blasting is used to clean a cylinder, the remaining wall thickness after sanding or abrasive blasting is complete must be checked by suitable means (i.e. a U.T. gauge) to guarantee the minimum remaining wall thickness is greater than the minimum design wall thickness.

 

Catalina Cylinders strongly recommends against the use of any method of exposure to high heat (i.e. flame, oven, etc.), in excess of 265 ^oF, for any amount of time in the removal of paint from aluminum cylinders.

Internal

Moisture and Light Soils

Steam clean with soft water and blow dry with forced air if possible. If not possible, fill cylinder with hot soft water and tumble the cylinder for a few minutes. The hotter the temperature of the water introduced into the cylinder increases the capability of the hot cylinder to aid in the drying of the cylinder by evaporation. Follow the tumbling with hot soft water by 1 minute of forced air blow-drying. Always make sure the air used in blow drying a cylinder is dry and free of contaminates (filtered). Drying the cylinder completely after cleaning is necessary to reduce the chance of corrosion from occurring.

Grease, Oil and Lubricants

Tumble the cylinder for 5 minutes with a solution of a small amount of dish washing soap and hot soft water. Make sure the amount of solution is sufficient to wet the entire inside surface of the cylinder. Rinse the cylinder with hot soft water. Several rinses may be required to remove all the soapy solution. Repeat this sequence as often as needed. Drying the cylinder completely after cleaning is necessary to reduce the chance of corrosion from occurring.

Odors

For a few minutes wet the entire inside of the cylinder with a solution of baking soda and soft water, approximately 1 cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water. Make sure the entire inside surface is wetted by the solution. Next, rinse the cylinder with soft water. Follow this with a few minutes of wetting the entire inside surface of the cylinder with a solution of vinegar and water, approximately on 1/2 cup of household vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Then rinse the cylinder completely with water until all odor of vinegar is gone. If original odor persist repeat this operation as many times as necessary. Drying the cylinder completely after cleaning is necessary to reduce the chance of corrosion from occurring.

Corrosion and Heavy Soils

Tumble the cylinder with a slurry of aluminum oxide pellets, water and dish washing soap. The ratio of aluminum oxide pellets to water should be about 3 to 2. To thoroughly treat the entire surface when tumbling, a cylinder should be approximately half full of slurry prior to tumbling. For a standard 3000psi 80 cu ft cylinder, a slurry of 17 cups aluminum oxide pellets, 12 cups of water and a small amount of dish washing soap rotated for 15 to 30 minutes, works well at removing mild corrosion by-products or heavy soils in most cases. Always thoroughly rinse and dry the cylinder after tumbling is complete. Drying the cylinder completely after cleaning is necessary to reduce the chance of corrosion from occurring.

Please note that after all cleaning operations it is recommended that the cylinder be dried completely to reduce the chance of corrosion from occurring.

All cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders, have been and are being manufactured form aluminum alloy 6061, never aluminum alloy 6351.

Eddy current inspection of 6061 aluminum alloy cylinders at the time of the 5 year hydrostatic retest or annual visual inspection in the case of SCUBA cylinders is not required by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or the Canadian agency Transport Canada (TC).

Catalina Cylinders does not require eddy current inspection of the threads of their 6061 aluminum alloy cylinders.

Aluminum cylinders known to have been exposed to overheating or showing evidence of having been overheated, with overheating being a cylinder metal temperature in excess of 350°F, must be condemned per 49 CFR 180.205 (i) (viii). No testing for acceptance or re-heat treatment is authorized.

In CGA pamphlet C-6.1; Standards For Visual Inspection of High Pressure Aluminum Gas Cylinders, it states that cylinders heated to cylinder metal temperatures in excess of 350°F (176°C) must be condemned.

Common evidence of exposure to overheating that may heat the metal temperature to 350°F (176°C) include:

• charring, blistering, or discoloration of the cylinder paint or protective coatings;
• distortion of the cylinder;
• melting of non-metallic (i.e. plastic, etc.) valve components;
• charring or burning of labels;
• activation of valve pressure relief device; or
• activation of the heat indication system.

Catalina Cylinders recommends that if there is evidence, or it is believed, that a cylinder has been exposed to overheating but the temperature of metal of the cylinder is not believed to have reached 350°F (176°C) for any duration of time, the cylinder must still be subjected to hydrostatic testing or condemned. A cylinder that has been exposed to temperatures great enough to change the temper of the cylinder could show an increase in total or permanent expansion as measured during hydrostatic testing. Cylinders showing unusually high total expansion or exceeding the regulatory limits for the relationship of permanent expansion to total expansion (i.e. DOT = 10% and TC = 6%) should be condemned.

All DOT 3AL / TC-3ALM 6061 aluminum cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders and Catalina East Division are non-magnetic. This includes all DOT-3AL /TC-3ALM medical oxygen cylinders.

Please consult the appropriate cylinder accessory manufacturer for the magnetic properties of any or all of the cylinder accessories (i.e. valves, caps, carrying handles, snap rings, regulators, etc.).

Non-magnetic medical valves are currently available. Contact Catalina Cylinders Customer Service for information on suppliers of non-magnetic medical valves.

Aluminum cylinders should not be exposed to elevated temperatures, 350°F (176°C) or greater, or the action of fire for any period of time. In section (f) (4) of 49 CFR part 173.34, DOT-3AL and DOT-4E, aluminum cylinders subjected to fire must be removed from service. In CGA pamphlet C-6.1; Standards For Visual Inspection of High Pressure Aluminum Gas Cylinders, it states that cylinders heated to metal temperatures in excess of 350°F (176°C) must be condemned.

The CGA recognizes the effects of high temperature on aluminum cylinders and issued a safety bulletin SB-22; Aluminum Cylinders – Guidelines for a Heat Exposure Indicating System. In this safety bulletin the use of heat indicating devices on aluminum cylinders is only a recommended practice and is not a requirement by the CGA or any DOT specification. However, in some applications, Catalina Cylinders believes the use of such devices makes sense. CGA’s safety bulletin SB-22 identifies many applicable parameters of a heat indicating system but does not identify sources of these systems.

Following are a few sources of different types of heat (temperature) indicating systems.

American Thermal Instruments, Inc.
Phone: 800 648-6339
Fax: 937 252-6509
Web: www.americanthermal.com

Omega Engineering Incorporated
The Temperature Handbook
Temperature indicating labels, Crayons, cements, and paints
Phone: 203 359-1660
Fax: 800 848-4271
E-mail: temp@omega.com
Web: www.omega.com

McMaster Carr
Temperature indicating labels, Crayons, and pellets
Phone: 562 692-5911
Fax: 562 695-2323
E-mail: la.sales@mcmaster.com
Web: www.mcmaster.com

Telatemp Corp.
Temperature indicating devices
Phone: 714 879-2901
Fax: 714 870-8136
E-mail: techsales@telatemp.com
Web: www.telatemp.com

Catalina Cylinders recommends that when choosing a heat indicating device, make sure you select a non-reversible temperature indicating device and that the device is compatible with the environment in which the cylinder will be used.

Catalina Cylinders recommends that paint be removed from aluminum cylinders by the use of gel-type (non-caustic) paint strippers instead of sanding, abrasive blasting, or any methods of exposure to heat. Removal of paint from a cylinder by sanding or abrasive blasting can also remove metal thus reducing the wall thickness of the cylinder and reducing the integrity of the cylinder.

Catalina Cylinders has found that gel-type (non-caustic) strippers work well in removing old paint and do not remove metal from the cylinder when properly used. Gel-type (non-caustic) paint strippers are commonly found at your local hardware or paint stores.

Do not use caustic strippers to remove paint from aluminum cylinders. Make sure the gel-type paint stripper selected is compatible with aluminum.

Always replace the cylinder warning label after refinishing a cylinder. Replacement cylinder warning labels are available from Catalina Cylinders Customer Service Department upon request.

The requalification of cylinders was formally known as the retesting of cylinders. Requalification is done to ensure that a cylinder is still acceptable to continue to be used as a pressure vessel to transport hazardous material. DOT requalifying of a cylinder and the marking thereof are to be performed by an approved DOT requalification facility that has been issued a DOT Requalifiaction Identification Number (RIN). The requirements for the requalifying of DOT cylinders in the US are identified in Title 49 of the Code Of Federal Regulations (CFR) in part 180, “Continuing Qualification and Maintenance Of Packaging” and any applicable DOT exemption.

The requalifying requirements of any cylinder are specific to the DOT specification and/or exemption to which the cylinder was manufactured. The DOT specification and/or exemption number are stamped on the crown of the cylinder. Cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders are marked with “M4002” on the crown of the cylinders. Cylinders manufactured by Catalina East Division are marked with “M1039” on the crown of the cylinder.

The most basic of the retesting requirements for cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders are identified below.

DOT-3AL Cylinders (Catalina Cylinders and Catalina East Division)

Requalifying required every five (5) years. Requalifying of a cylinder is to be performed five (5) years, as per Table 1 “Requalification of Cylinders” in 49CFR 180.209, after the original manufacturing hydrostatic test date stamped on the crown of the cylinder. Please note the 12 year requalification cycle notated in Table 1 is only for “dry” fire extinguishers as noted in 49CFR 180.209(j). In section 180.205 (c) it states that a cylinder that is filled before the retest date may remain in service until it is emptied of its charge. In other words, a cylinder that currently has a charge when the 5 year retest date occurs does not have to be drained of its charge and retested. The charge can be used and the cylinder retested after the charge has been used.

The requalifying specified in part 180 consists of an internal inspection and hydrostatic retesting of the cylinder at a pressure equivalent to 5/3 the service pressure of the cylinder.

Catalina Cylinders and Catalina East Division are not requalifiers of cylinders to the general public. If you go to this website, https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov/rinlocator, you will find a complete list of DOT approved retesters throughout the country.

There are a few companies that have DOT exemptions to requalify cylinders by Ultrasonic Examination (UE) of the cylinders instead of visually inspecting and hydrostatically retesting the cylinders. In some cases there are benefits to this type of requalifying.

DOT-3AL Cylinders “2 by 2 rule” (Catalina East Division only)

Requalification not required per the note under table 1 in 49CFR part 180.205. The note reads, “Any cylinder not exceeding two (2) inches in outside diameter and less than two (2) feet in length is exempt from volumetric expansion testing.”

DOT-39 Cylinders (Catalina East Division only)

These are non-refillable cylinders and do not require requalifying..

E-7737 (Aluminum DOT-3E) Cylinders (Catalina East Division only)

Requalifying is not required.

Eddy current inspection of the threads in 6061 aluminum cylinders is not required by the DOT and is not mandated as necessary by Catalina Cylinders. Cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders and Catalina East Division have only been manufactured from aluminum alloy 6061, not aluminum alloy 6351, and do not require any special testing or inspection of the neck, threads or shoulder of the cylinders.

All cylinders that have been successfully requalified will have the date of the retest (month and year) stamped in the crown of the cylinder with the RIN of the DOT approved requalification facility stamped between the month and year of the retest date.

If you have any questions with regards to the requalifying of cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division please do not hesitate in contacting us directly.

The Replacement Policy

Products (i.e. cylinders, impacts, and others) manufactured by Catalina Cylinders and Catalina East Division will be replaced at no cost to the customer if, after evaluation of the product at the appropriate manufacturing facility, the product is determined to have a manufacturing defect. Neither Catalina Cylinders nor Catalina East Division shall pay for shipment of products being returned to our facilities unless agreed to otherwise prior to the returning of the products. Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division shall pay for shipment of returned or replaced products to the customer.

Cylinders manufactured by the “Catalina Cylinder Corporation” in December 1991 or before will be replaced at a nominal cost to the customer if, after evaluation of the cylinder at Catalina Cylinders, the cylinder is determined to have a defect condemning the cylinder. The nominal replacement cost for SCUBA cylinders is referenced in the table below.

CYLINDER TYPE REPLACEMENT COST

Compact Series (3300 psi) SCUBA Cylinder $69.00
Standard Series (3000 psi) SCUBA Cylinder $59.00
By contacting Catalina Cylinders, the nominal replacement cost for all other types of cylinders can be obtained. As stated above, the customer shall pay for shipment of the cylinder being returned to Catalina Cylinders. Catalina Cylinders shall pay for shipment of the replacement cylinder to the customer.

All returned products which are deemed “acceptable as manufactured” and “acceptable for service”, after evaluation at the appropriate facility, will be returned to the customer with documentation explaining the findings of the evaluation. Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division will pay for shipment of products returned back to the customer.

Contacting Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division

If at any time the integrity of a product manufactured by Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division is in question, we request you immediately contact appropriate manufacturing facility,

Catalina Cylinders at (714) 890-0999 or

Catalina East Division at (757) 896-9100,
and ask to speak with a Return Authorization (RA) representative. Our RA office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm PST for Catalina Cylinders and 8:00am – 5:00pm EST for Catalina East Division.

Before calling, please have available the product identification marking and an explanation of your concerns about the product. For cylinders the product identification marking would be the complete crown stamping. Having this information available at the time of the call will help expedite the resolution to your concerns. The information you provide the RA representative will determine if a RA report should be generated and the products returned to Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division.

Issuing a RA Number

If the RA representative determines that the product of concern should be returned for evaluation, a RA number will be issued and a RA report generated. A product returned against a RA number is called a RA product.

Returning a RA Product

Do not return a product to Catalina Cylinders for evaluation or replacement without first talking to a Catalina Cylinders or a Catalina East Division RA representative and having a RA number issued against the product.

RA products must be marked with the RA number and the location of concern on the product should be clearly identified. Not marking the RA number and not identifying the area of concern on a RA product will only lengthen the time of the evaluation process. Clearly mark the RA number on the outside of the packaging in which the RA product is to be returned.

Do not ship RA cylinders with accessories unless requested to do so by the RA representative. Only ship a RA cylinder with a valve if the valve is part of the concern of the product integrity. A cylinder with damaged threads that was valved should be returned with the valve. Never ship a pressurized (charged) cylinder! Vent all pressure from a cylinder and leave the valve open.

Processing a RA Product

Please allow 4 weeks for the complete processing, evaluation and shipping, of a RA product. RA products that are deemed to be acceptable after evaluation will be returned to the customer with documentation explaining the findings of the evaluation. At no time will a product of questionable integrity be returned to the customer. Again, Catalina Cylinders or Catalina East Division will pay for shipment of cylinders returned to the customer. All RA SCUBA cylinders returned to the customer shall have passed eddy current thread inspection and will have a dated certification sticker noting this affixed to the cylinder.

If you have any additional questions or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at Catalina Cylinders (714) 890-0999 or Catalina East Division (757) 896-9100.

Thank you for choosing products manufactured by Catalina Cylinders and Catalina East Division.

View Document

All DOT/TC aluminum cylinders must be subjected to visual inspection at the time of their 5 year retest. Thread and neck inspection can only be performed with the valve removed from the cylinder and all foreign material (i.e. dirt, corrosion, etc.) removed from the o-ring gland and threads. Thread and neck inspection is performed visually with the aid of a light source and a 2X dental mirror and can be supported by the use of an eddy current thread inspecting device.

Eddy current inspection of 6061 aluminum alloy cylinders is not mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Catalina Cylinders has only manufactured its cylinders from 6061 aluminum alloy. Only 6351 aluminum alloy cylinders are required to be inspected at the time of requalifcation, every 5 years, by the DOT.

Catalina Cylinders recommends that the items defined below be included in the thread and neck inspection of Catalina Cylinders’ cylinders subjected to annual visual inspection. The rejection criteria for each item is listed under that item.

Minimum Number of Threads

The minimum number of complete threads required in Catalina Cylinders’ cylinders are:

The minimum number of complete threads is counted from the top thread down. The minimum number of complete threads cannot be interrupted by any discontinuities (i.e. valleys, folds, corrosion, cracks, or damage).

Rejection criteria:

Cylinders with less than the minimum number of complete threads required for the above noted service pressures are unacceptable.

Replacement Policy:

Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy covers cylinders manufactured with less than the minimum number of complete threads required.

Valley

A valley is a lack of metal condition at the bottom of the threads. A valley is created during the crown forming operation. A valley has an inverted “U” appearance in the bottom of the threads. The contour of a valley is generously rounded.

Rejection Criteria:

A valley is unacceptable if:

• it interrupts the required minimum number of complete threads and
• it creates a thread imbalance of 6 threads or more

A valley can be detected by, but is not rejected singularly by the use of an eddy current thread inspection device. A valley will not appear as a spike on a Visual Plus Unit.
Replacement Policy:

An unacceptable valley is a manufacturing related defect covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Thread Imbalance

A thread imbalance is the count of partial threads in a cylinder. A thread imbalance is the difference between the number of complete threads and the number of total threads (complete threads and partial threads) in a cylinder.

Rejection Criteria:

A thread imbalance is unacceptable if:

• It interrupts the required minimum number of threads in a cylinder, or
• It measures 6 threads or more

A thread imbalance can be detected by, but is not rejected singularly by the use of an eddy current thread inspection device.
Replacement Policy:

An unacceptable thread imbalance is a manufacturing related defect covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Folds

A fold is a lack of metal condition at the bottom of the threads or in the shoulder of a cylinder. A fold is created during the crown forming operation and is actually the metal folding over on itself during the forming operation. A fold is a static condition – not propagating or growing in magnitude. A fold has an inverted “V” appearance in the bottom of the threads. Typically a fold will have a linear indication running down the deepest part of the fold. The contour of a fold is sharp at its deepest point. A fold is similar in appearance to and often mistaken for a crack, a dynamic condition, which can occur in 6351 alloy cylinders.

Rejection Criteria:

A fold is unacceptable if:

• it interrupts the required minimum number of complete threads, or
• it interrupts two complete threads, or
• it causes loss of contents of the cylinder

An eddy current thread inspection device can detect folds in the threads of a cylinder.
Replacement Policy:

An unacceptable fold is a manufacturing related defect covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Corrosion

Corrosion can occur in the threads of a cylinder if moisture, possibly by charging the cylinder with wet air, enters the cylinder. Corrosion will typically start in the 9th or 10th threads, at the location where the bottom of the threaded portion of the valve ends in the threads of a cylinder. A scuba valve that is not fully chrome plated may accelerate the corrosion process in the thread section of a cylinder. Corrosion can occur on the top surface of the cylinder and in the o-ring gland of the cylinder.

Rejection Criteria:

Corrosion is unacceptable if:

• it interrupts the required minimum number of complete threads, or
• it interrupts two complete threads, or
• it causes loss of contents of the cylinder

An eddy current thread inspection device can detect corrosion in the threads of a cylinder.

Replacement Policy:

Corrosion is not a manufacturing related condition and is not covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Thread Cracks

A crack is a linear discontinuity that typically runs linearly top to bottom in the threads. A crack typically starts at the bottom of the threads and propagates upward. A crack can, but rarely does, start at the top of the threads. A crack is a dynamic condition – propagating or growing in magnitude over time, typically when the cylinder is under pressure. A crack in a 6351 alloy cylinder is similar in appearance to a fold, a static condition.

Rejection Criteria:

A crack is unacceptable.

Cracks can be identified and rejected by an eddy current thread inspection device. It is recommended that cylinders, in which a crack has been identified by an eddy current thread inspection device and cannot be identified visually, be returned to Catalina Cylinders against a Return Authorization (RA) for evaluation prior to condemning.

Replacement Policy:

A crack that is determined to be a manufacturing related defect is covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Eddy Current Device “Spike” Indications

Eddy current inspection of 6061 aluminum alloy cylinders is not mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Catalina Cylinders has only manufactured its cylinders from 6061 aluminum alloy. Only 6351 aluminum alloy cylinders are required to be inspected at the time of requalification, every 5 years, by the DOT.
Eddy Current Device “Spike” indications measuring two threads long. These indications are measured after the unit has been calibrated, is operated in the 1X mode, and the trace line has been reset and centered below the threshold line.

Rejection Criteria:

Any linear indication that interrupts two complete threads and is identified by the Eddy Current Device as a spike indication is reason for reject (not condemned). Cylinder with Eddy Current Device reject conditions should have the reject condition visually verified before condemning the cylinder.

Replacement Policy:

Corrosion pits, an acceptable valley, and 1 thread fold are not covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

A cylinder that exhibits unacceptable manufacturing conditions (i.e. folds, cracks, or lack of complete threads) that extend two threads as identified by the Eddy Current Device are covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Tool Stop Marks

Tool Stop Marks appears as linear indications in the bottom 1 – 3 threads of a cylinder. Typically there are six equally spaced tool stop marks visible at the bottom of the threads in a cylinder when the threads are complete. The tool that cuts the threads into a cylinder creates tool stop marks. A tool stop mark is a slight build-up of metal at the location where the thread cutting tool stops, hence the name tool stop mark. Tool stop marks are not a rejectable condition.

Eddy current thread inspection devices typically do not detect tool stop marks.

Rejection Criteria:

None.

Replacement Policy:

Tool stop marks are not an unacceptable manufacturing condition covered by Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy.

Damage

Damage to the top surface, the o-ring gland, or the threads of a cylinder can be created during the manufacture of a cylinder and after the cylinder has been in service.

Rejection Criteria:

Damage to the top surface, the o-ring gland, or the threads of a cylinder is unacceptable if:

• it causes loss of contents of the cylinder, or
• it interrupts the required minimum number of complete threads in a cylinder

An eddy current thread inspection device may or may not detect damage to the threads of a cylinder.

Replacement Policy:

Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization Policy covers unacceptable damage created during the manufacturing of the cylinder.

If at any time the integrity of a cylinder stamped with “CATALINA” and/or “M4002” on the crown is in question, we request you contact Catalina Cylinders immediately and ask to speak with a Catalina Cylinders Return Authorization (RA) representative. Our RA office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm. Before calling, please have available the cylinder crown marking (stamping) and an explanation of your concerns about the cylinder. Having this information available at the time of the call will help expedite the resolution to your concerns. The information you provide the RA representative will determine if a RA report should be generated and the cylinder returned to Catalina Cylinders.

Catalina Cylinders is aware that many charged cylinders are transported in passenger vehicles and that in a few instances the pressure relief device (PRD) has activated suddenly releasing the charge of the cylinder in the passenger vehicle. Sudden release of the charge of a cylinder into a passenger vehicle can pose many hazards. Depending on the charge of a cylinder, the released contents, suddenly or through a leak, can be flammable, cause an oxygen enrich environment (a fire catalyst), be toxic or poisonous, be corrosive, and or cause asphyxiation. The loss of the charge of a cylinder will result in the loss of the use of the charge of the cylinder and can cause, property damage, accidents, loss of consciousness, personal injury and even death.

The transportation of any charged cylinder must be done in complete compliance with all federal, state and local regulations. Catalina Cylinders believes that all charged cylinders should be transported by professionals trained in the legal transport of charged cylinders.

Catalina Cylinders recommends any safe practice established and followed in the transport of charged cylinders in passenger vehicles should include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. We strongly recommend the transportation of charged cylinders be done by cylinder transport professionals trained to do this task.
2. Persons transporting charged cylinders in passenger vehicles must be knowledgeable of, and comply with, all federal, state and local regulations related to the safe transport of charged cylinders. Consult with your charged cylinder supplier regarding these regulations and their recommended safe practices.
3. Follow all charged cylinder supplier instructions.
4. Only transport the minimum number of charged cylinders necessary.
5. Do not transport charged cylinders, not in use, in the passenger area of a passenger vehicle.
6. The area of the vehicle used for transporting the charged cylinders should have adequate ventilation.
7. Verify the charged cylinders are in good working order, within retest date, and not leaking. Consult with your charged cylinder supplier with any questions.
8. Verify proper labels are affixed to the cylinders. Consult with your charged cylinder supplier with any questions.
9. Secure the charged cylinders in the vehicle in a manner not to cause damage to the cylinders or their accessories during transport.
10. Be sure to transport all necessary cylinder accessories and tools to aid in the function and service of the charged cylinder. Keep these accessories and tools clean and free of potential contamination.
11. Do not smoke in vehicles transporting charged cylinders carrying an oxidizing charge, such as medical oxygen cylinders, oxygen enriched air SCUBA tanks, or nitrous oxide cylinders.
12. Extreme heat can lead to activation of the PRD on the valve of charged cylinders. Great care must be taken never to expose charged cylinders to heat in excess of 125°F (52°C).
13. When the destination is reached, immediately remove the charged cylinders from the passenger vehicle.
14. Do not leave charged cylinders in vehicles for any amount of time

This list is in no way meant to be the only items to be included in a safe practice for transporting charged cylinders in vehicles. Use all possible sources of information in establishing safe practices for transporting charged cylinders in passenger vehicles. The safe practice for transporting empty cylinders, cylinders without a charge, should include the same items listed above. Establishing and following legal and safe transporting practices while transporting charged cylinders in passenger vehicles will maximize the potential safety of all trips.