PSI/PCI Cylinders

Safety Advisory: Manufacture, Marking, and Sale of Untested Compressed Gas Cylinders

Safety Advisory: Manufacture, Marking, and Sale of Untested

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Federal Register: May 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 83)]

[Notices]

[Page 25633-25640]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr01my06-107]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-06-24304 (Notice No. 06-2)]

Safety Advisory: Manufacture, Marking, and Sale of Untested

Compressed Gas Cylinders

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),

DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA was recently notified of the manufacture, marking, and

sale of certain high pressure DOT exemption cylinders that were not

tested in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. These

cylinders were manufactured and/or distributed by Luxfer, Inc.

(Luxfer), Riverside, CA. Luxfer and its independent inspection agency,

Arrowhead Industrial Services, Inc. (Arrowhead), reported to PHMSA that

6,325 high pressure cylinders manufactured to the DOT CFFC and FRP-1

standards as authorized in DOT-E 10915, DOT-E 9634, and DOT-E 9894, had

been shipped from Luxfer without undergoing the required autofrettage

and hydrostatic tests. In a joint effort, Luxfer and Arrowhead have

retrieved 2,581 of the untested cylinders. The model numbers and serial

numbers of the remaining 3,744 cylinders are listed in this notice.

Only cylinders with the listed serial numbers listed are affected. A

person with a listed cylinder should discontinue use of the cylinder

and return it to Arrowhead at the address below so the autofrettage and

hydrostatic test can be completed before its next use. Shippers and

compressed gas filling facilities are advised that these cylinders do

not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations and

may not be offered for transportation or transported until the required

testing is completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Chaney, Cylinder Program

Manager, Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement, (202) 366-4700,

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department

of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 7104, Washington, DC

20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Luxfer and its independent inspection

agency, Arrowhead Industrial Services, Inc. (Arrowhead), reported to

PHMSA that 6,325 high pressure cylinders manufactured to the DOT CFFC

and FRP-1 standards as authorized in DOT-E 10915, DOT-E 9634, and DOT-E

9894, had been shipped from Luxfer without undergoing the required

autofrettage and hydrostatic tests. In a joint effort, Luxfer and

Arrowhead have retrieved 2,581 of the untested cylinders. PHMSA has

compiled a list of all model and serial number markings of the

remaining cylinders identified by Luxfer and Arrowhead that were not

properly tested prior to distribution. Information provided to PHMSA

indicates many of these cylinders are being used as self-contained

breathing apparatus, in paint ball applications, and in aircraft slide

service. Any person possessing a cylinder manufactured by Luxfer and

marked with exemption number DOT-E 10915, DOT-E 9634, or DOT-E 9894 and

marked with one of the serial numbers listed in this notice should take

the cylinder to a qualified refilling station and have the pressure

relieved from the cylinder. The cylinder should be returned to

Arrowhead Industrial Services for autofrettage and hydrostatic testing

before further use. Refilling stations and cylinder requalification

facilities are advised that any cylinders marked with DOT-E 10915, DOT-

E 9634, or DOT-E 9894 should be checked against the attached

list of serial numbers before they are filled or requalified for

service. To make arrangements to have an affected cylinder

autofrettaged and hydrostatically tested, contact Arrowhead Industrial

Services, Inc., 3537 South NC 119, P.O. Box 1000, Graham, NC 27253;

telephone (336) 578-2777.

This safety advisory covers only the high-pressure DOT exemption

cylinders manufactured by Luxfer that have a model number and serial

listed on the attached list. Not all cylinders manufactured by Luxfer

under DOT-E 10915, DOT-E 9634, and DOT-E 9894 are affected.

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Model No.  ( of cylinders)                                  Serial Nos.

EDITOR’S NOTE: See http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/sa/71fr-25633.htm for serial number.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2006.

Robert A. McGuire,

Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.

[FR Doc. E6-6535 Filed 4-28-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-60-P

LUXFER PRESS RELEASE

Notice to owners and users of Luxfer paintball cylinders manufactured from May through September 2005

Luxfer Gas Cylinders is attempting to locate a small group of Luxfer composite paintball cylinders that may not have been properly tested by a third-party inspector, Arrowhead Industrial Services, Inc. The cylinders involved have hydrostatic test dates ranging from May through September 2005. However, not all cylinders from this time period are affected. Most of these cylinders were sold in North America, but a limited number were sold in Europe.

Luxfer has verified that these cylinders are safe based on thorough testing, detailed engineering analysis and data collected from cylinders already recovered from the affected group. Even though there is no safety risk, affected cylinders remaining in the field must be recovered and tested as soon as possible for regulatory reasons.

To determine whether a cylinder needs to be tested, please compare serial numbers of Luxfer cylinders that have hydrostatic test dates from May through September 2005 with the serial number database at www.luxfercylinders.com/ctest on the Luxfer website. The sample labels below show how to locate the serial number and hydrostatic test date.

Once you have determined which cylinders, if any, need to be tested, please call Luxfer at 1-800-355-3156 in the United States or at +44 115 980 3800 in Europe, and a Luxfer customer service representative will arrange to have your cylinders tested and returned to you at no charge. If you are calling the United States from a non-European country, please use this number: +1 951 341 5293. If you do not have Internet access, please call these same telephone numbers, and a customer service representative will assist you.

U.S. Paintball Label

European Paintball Label