Support For Catalina Cylinders Clientele

After a little bit of work and a lot of dialogue with different people in the compressed gas industry, the following position has been taken by Catalina Cylinders.

HM-220 has come full circle on the pressure relief device (PRD) requirements for oxygen cylinders. As currently written in 49 CFR 173.301(f)(3), ” For a specification 3, 3A, 3AA, 3AL, 3AX, 3AXX, 3B, 3BN, or 3T cylinders filled with gases in other than Division 2.2, beginning with the first requalification due after December 31, 2003, the burst pressure of a CG-1, CG-4, or CG-5 pressure relief device must be at test pressure with a tolerance of plus zero to minus 10%.”, compressed oxygen cylinders are excluded from this requirement since they are identified in the table in section 172.101(columns 3) as a division 2.2 gas. Current specification references were attained on-line at www.myregs.com/dotrspa/.

Catalina interprets this as:

1. New medical oxygen cylinders with the service pressures of 2015 psi and 2216 psi can be (and will be) equipped with the same CGA 870 or CGA 540 valves with the same PRD rated at 3360 psi +/- 10%. There is no requirement for valves with different rated PRDs to be used on 2015 psi and 2216 psi cylinders. This is the same as it was before HM-220 began.
2. Old 2216 psi medical oxygen cylinders (i.e the M6, M4, M2, M60, M90 and M122) in service with the (old) 3360 psi +/-10% rated PRDs will not have to have their PRDs changed out at the next requalification.
3. In preparation for what appeared to be an inevitable rule change, the +0 -10% rating of the pressure relief devices, Catalina Cylinders did procure and insert some valves in M2, M4, and M6 cylinders with pressure relief device rated at 3693 psi +0 -10%.These PRD’s are in compliance with the specification written either way, with either the +/-10% or +0 -10% tolerance on the PRDs, and are acceptable as is and will not have to be changed out at any time in the service life of the cylinders.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting Catalina Cylinders.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transport Canada (TC) require that a cylinder made in compliance with their specifications be marked on the crown with certain information. Over the years the format used by Catalina Cylinders to display these markings has changed a few times. Shown below is an example of the current crown marking stamped on the standard medical “E” cylinders (24 cuft 2015 psi) manufactured by Catalina Cylinders, Garden Grove, CA. Under the example of the crown marking is a list of each of the specific crown markings followed by a brief explanation of that marking. The information provided by the markings is the same, regardless of the different stamping formats used by Catalina Cylinders over the years.

Example of crown marking of an “ME” cylinder manufactured at Catalina Cylinders:

DOT-3AL2015..MMXXXXXXX M4002 07C08 CATALINA M24 U12  TC-3ALM139

Marking		Explanation of Marking
DOT-3AL		The U.S. regulatory authority, the Department of Transportation “DOT“, and specification “3AL” to which the cylinder is manufactured in compliance (required mark).
2015		The service pressure “2015“, in pounds per square inch (psi), of the cylinder (required mark).
MMXXXXXXX		The cylinder serial number. The serial number prefix of “MM” is specific to the 24 cuft 2015 psi medical oxygen cylinder, manufactured at Catalina Cylinders, Garden Grove, California facility, followed by a seven-digit number (required mark).
M4002		The DOT Manufacturers Number (M-Number) “M4002” issued to Catalina Cylinders, Garden Grove, California facility (required mark).
07C08		The original hydrostatic test date of the cylinder, month “07” followed by the year “08“, performed at the time of manufacture of the cylinder. The “C” represents the symbol of the Independent Inspection Agency (IIA) performing the inspection of and certifying the acceptance of the cylinder at the time of manufacture(required mark).
CATALINA		The name of the manufacturer of the cylinder.
M24		The cylinder identifier. Identifies the cylinder is designed for medical service “M” with a capacity of 24 cu ft “24” of oxygen, hence M24.
U12		The cylinder outlet thread designation as specified in CGA TB-16.
		Actually an “O” with a “2” inside the “O” signifies that the cylinder is for oxygen service and the lot of cylinders was subjected to residual hydrocarbon testing.
TC-3ALM		The Canadian regulatory authority, Transport Canada “TC” and specification “3ALM” to which the cylinder is manufactured in compliance (required mark).
139		The service pressure “139” (in bars) of the cylinder (required mark).

Crown Marking Diagram Catalina East Division (Hampton, Virginia)Medical “E” Cylinder

Marking		Explanation of Marking
DOT-3AL		The U.S. regulatory authority, the Department of Transportation “DOT“, and specification “3AL” to which the cylinder is manufactured in compliance (required mark).
2015		The service pressure “2015“, in pounds per square inch (psi), of the cylinder (required mark).
ASXXXXXXX		The cylinder serial number. The serial number prefix of “AS” is specific to the 24 cuft 2015 psi medical oxygen cylinder, manufactured at the Catalina East Division, Hampton, Virginia facility, followed by a seven-digit number (required mark).
O2		The “O2” signifies that the cylinder is for oxygen service and the lot of cylinders was subjected to residual hydrocarbon testing (required mark).
M1039		The DOT recognized Manufacturer’s Symbol “M1039“, an acceptable alternative to the DOT M-Number issued to Catalina East Division, Hampton, Virginia facility (required mark).
07C08		The original hydrostatic test date of the cylinder, month “07“, followed by the year “08“, performed at the time of manufacture of the cylinder. The “C” represents the symbol of the Independent Inspection Agency (IIA) performing the inspection of and certifying the acceptance of the cylinder at the time of manufacture (required mark).
TC-3ALM		The Canadian regulatory authority, Transport Canada “TC” and specification “3ALM” to which the cylinder is manufactured in compliance (required mark).
139		The service pressure “139” (in bars) of the cylinder (required mark).

At the time of manufacture of medical oxygen cylinders at Catalina Cylinders in Garden Grove, CA and Catalina East Division in Hampton, VA, the cylinders are painted with a clear powder paint and a warning label is applied. Both the paint and the label are irreversibly heat indicating and will permanently discolor when exposed to elevated temperatures.

After a little bit of work and a lot of dialogue with different people in the compressed gas industry, the following position has been taken by Catalina Cylinders.

HM-220 has come full circle on the pressure relief device (PRD) requirements for oxygen cylinders. As currently written in 49 CFR 173.301(f)(3), ” For a specification 3, 3A, 3AA, 3AL, 3AX, 3AXX, 3B, 3BN, or 3T cylinders filled with gases in other than Division 2.2, beginning with the first requalification due after December 31, 2003, the burst pressure of a CG-1, CG-4, or CG-5 pressure relief device must be at test pressure with a tolerance of plus zero to minus 10%.”, compressed oxygen cylinders are excluded from this requirement since they are identified in the table in section 172.101(columns 3) as a division 2.2 gas. Current specification references were attained on-line at www.myregs.com/dotrspa/.

Catalina interprets this as:

1. 1. New medical oxygen cylinders with the service pressures of 2015 psi and 2216 psi can be (and will be) equipped with the same CGA 870 or CGA 540 valves with the same PRD rated at 3360 psi +/- 10%. There is no requirement for valves with different rated PRDs to be used on 2015 psi and 2216 psi cylinders. This is the same as it was before HM-220 began.

1. 1. Old 2216 psi medical oxygen cylinders (i.e the M6, M4, M2, M60, M90 and M122) in service with the (old) 3360 psi +/-10% rated PRDs will not have to have their PRDs changed out at the next requalification.

1. In preparation for what appeared to be an inevitable rule change, the +0 -10% rating of the pressure relief devices, Catalina Cylinders did procure and insert some valves in M2, M4, and M6 cylinders with pressure relief device rated at 3693 psi +0 -10%.These PRD’s are in compliance with the specification written either way, with either the +/-10% or +0 -10% tolerance on the PRDs, and are acceptable as is and will not have to be changed out at any time in the service life of the cylinders.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting Catalina Cylinders.

Oxygen is one of the three components necessary for combustion. Great care must always be taken when performing any operation in an oxygen-enriched environment. Catalina Cylinders recommends the following steps be included in any procedure for the valve removal from, and the insertion in, oxygen cylinders.

Valve Removal

1. Always perform the valve removal operation in a well-ventilated and clean (oil-free) area.
2. Make sure there are no possible sources of ignition (i.e. lit cigarettes, open flames, welding equipment, etc.) in the well ventilated area in which the valve removal form the oxygen cylinders will be performed.
3. Always use clean (oil-free) tools.
4. Verify the cylinder is an oxygen cylinder by the Oxygen USP Warning label on the sidewall of the cylinder and the O2 or O with a 2 inside it stamping in the crown marking on the top of the cylinder. Do not remove the valve from a cylinder of which the contents of the cylinder is unknown.
5. Open the valve slightly and verify the cylinder is free of oxygen charge.
6. Do not remove the valve from cylinders containing any charge (pressure).
7. Secure the cylinder, use a wrench that fits the valve body and manually supply enough force to break the valve free from the cylinder.
8. Stop and listen (for hissing) for loss of contents. If heard discontinue any efforts to remove the valve from the cylinder.
9. If there is no evidence of loss of contents after breaking the valve free, continue to remove the valve.
10. If the valve binds (sticks) in the threads during removal, do not use an oil-based release agent to assist in the removal of the valve.
11. After removal of a valve that was stuck in a cylinder, evaluate the threads of the valve and cylinder before ire-inserting the valve into the cylinder.
12. Discard the Teflon o-ring. It cannot be reused.

Valve Insertion

1. Always perform valve insertion operation in clean (oil-free) area.
2. Always use clean (oil-free) tools.
3. Verify the cylinder is an oxygen cylinder by the Oxygen USP Warning label on the sidewall of the cylinder and the O2 or O with a 2 inside it stamping in the crown marking on the top of the cylinder.
4. Verify the valve is the correct valve to be used in oxygen service. For DOT-3AL cylinders the valves are CGA 870 or CGA 540 valves with straight threads.
5. Verify the valve and cylinder threads are free of all oil-based products (i.e. lubricants). Never use products containing oil in the valve insertion process in oxygen cylinders.
6. Inspect the inlet and outlet connection of the valve and the threads and o-ring gland of the cylinder for damage to the threads and o-ring area. If either the valve or cylinder has damage to the threads or the o-ring area, do not insert the valve into the cylinder.
7. Always use a new Teflon o-ring every time the valve is re-installed. Verify that the new Teflon o-ring is free of lubricants and damage.

1. Never use Teflon tape or any other sealing compound to seal a leaking valve/cylinder assembly.
2. Teflon o-rings are easily damaged. Be careful when putting the o-ring onto the valve. Contact the valve manufacturer for their recommended technique to install a Teflon o-ring on a valve.
3. Tighten the valve hand tight.
4. If you feel the valve binding in the cylinder while inserting the valve, stop immediately, remove the valve, check the threads of the valve and cylinder for apparent damage, inspect the cylinder internally for contamination.
5. Remove from service a valve and/or cylinder with damaged threads.
6. If contaminates are visible inside a cylinder, remove all contaminates and re-inspect the inside of the cylinder verifying the cylinder is free of contaminates before inserting a valve into the cylinder.
7. Caution: If using compressed air to remove (blowout) contaminates form a cylinder, make sure the air is oil free. The compressed air system should have in-line oil filters. Many standard compressed air systems do not have in-line oil filters.
8. Final tightening of the valve should be done with a clean calibrated torque wrench to the recommended torque values noted below:

1. When torquing is complete, there should be no gap between the bottom of the flange of the valve and the top of the cylinder. For oversized o-rings, a slightly higher amount of torque may be required to seat vavles completely.
2. Close the valve with no more than 1 lbf – ft torque.
3. Do not tamper with the safety device of the valve. The safety device of the valve should be rated at the test pressure of the cylinder.
4. Whenever replacing the safety device of a valve, Catalina Cylinders recommends that you always replace the safety device with a complete new safety device assembly.

Serial number prefixes are the first two characters of the cylinder’s serial number. 

Note 1:	Serial number prefixes “A” – “E” were used for ALL cylinders manufactured by Catalina Cylinders West prior to 1993.
Note 2:	Serial number prefixes listed for Catalina Cylinders East were initiated in June 2001.

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. 1. We strongly recommend the transportation of charged cylinders be done by cylinder transport professionals trained to do this task.

1. 1. 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.

1. 1. Follow all charged cylinder supplier instructions.

1. 1. Only transport the minimum number of charged cylinders necessary.

1. 1. Do not transport charged cylinders, not in use, in the passenger area of a passenger vehicle.

1. 1. The area of the vehicle used for transporting the charged cylinders should have adequate ventilation.

1. 1. Verify the charged cylinders are in good working order, within retest date, and not leaking. Consult with your charged cylinder supplier with any questions.

1. 1. Verify proper labels are affixed to the cylinders. Consult with your charged cylinder supplier with any questions.

1. 1. Secure the charged cylinders in the vehicle in a manner not to cause damage to the cylinders or their accessories during transport.

1. 1. 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.

1. 1. 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.

1. 1. 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 1250F (520C).

1. 1. When the destination is reached, immediately remove the charged cylinders from the passenger vehicle.

1. 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.