Why do the manufacturers put date stamps on them then, I first did my gas equipment inspectors course nearly 30 years ago and it was a requirement then
I take it these things aren't serviceable/rebuildable then? AFAIK they work the same way as diving regs and they are servicable.
Just out of interest, I've not got oxy acetylene and use gasless wire. I do have propane for the house and they fail closed IME.
No, standard industrial regs are not serviceable. Years ago you could get what was called “Service Exchange” regulators. This was stopped due to people carrying out poor repairsI take it these things aren't serviceable/rebuildable then? AFAIK they work the same way as diving regs and they are servicable.
Just out of interest, I've not got oxy acetylene and use gasless wire. I do have propane for the house and they fail closed IME.
There are far more issues with inert gases than oxy/fuel. I’ve been in the welding game for over 45 years now and the only fatality I’ve had direct involvement with was a guy using argon, wish they could have told his parents it was ok, he was only using inert gasThe op didn't say whether oxy, acetylyne or co/argon?
As long as it isn't oxy acetylene I don't see the issue here? Totally agree, modern single stage regs are rubbish, to the extent they are useless for tig, borderline for mig, and lets not even bother with anything else. So use the old ones if you have them, inspect and record if you need to, but don't by cheap single stagers, useless junk for the most part.
Get yourself a copy of BCGA CP44 which covers inert regs, clearly states what nearly everyone else has been sayingThere was a date on them back then but afaik there was no requirement to replace them, just an annual inspection. I worked at that company nearly 10 years & they were still using the same regs, BOC called annually & checked them.
Available online for freeGet yourself a copy of BCGA CP44 which covers inert regs, clearly states what nearly everyone else has been saying
Get yourself a copy of BCGA CP44 which covers inert regs, clearly states what nearly everyone else has been saying
If you have an incident and HSE are involved and they find things that are outside BCGA guidelines they say you have not been adhering to the best available current information and treat it as if you have been breaking the law, this is a fact, I have personal experience of it1. Codes of practice.
2. The actual law of the land.
3. What your insurers insist on.
Are three differing things - this can be a very misleading subject (grey area) when dealing with compressed bottles and associated equipment.
That’s basically it, you can’t see, touch or smell most industrial gases used in the UK so you don’t know they are there. Oxygen depletion can creep up on you gradually over a period of a whole day with potentially fatal consequences, the early symptoms can easily be confused with just getting tired etc throughout the course of the day. Remember if a full cylinder empties itself , the gas will fill a space equivalent to approximately 230 times the size of the cylinderThat's suprised me. Care to share with us the issues? I guess it's leakage into confined space?
If you have an incident and HSE are involved and they find things that are outside BCGA guidelines they say you have not been adhering to the best available current information and treat it as if you have been breaking the law, this is a fact, I have personal experience of it
You’ve not looked at the right ones then, they cover regulators, flashback arrestors, hose check valves, hoses etc etcI have found the "BCGA guidelines" really only cover - storage - handling - siting of bottles - not the associated equipment.
CP 44 covers cylinder storage so will not have much bearing on equipment, you need to refer to CP 7 and CP 47I have found the "BCGA guidelines" really only cover - storage - handling - siting of bottles - not the associated equipment.
You will see what I mean if you read "BCGA CP44".
It is my insurers that insist on yearly inspections.
To be honest - I have never read anything that says "every five years" - except the labels and boxes that the regulators come in - "expires in ###### (date)".
I think this myth maybe - made up by people who sell regulators?
WE replace them every five years - as we take a "best practice to safety" for everything.
The voice of reasonHobby use is the worst possible thing for them
They sit around in a cold garage for months doing nothing then that poor diaphragm suddenly gets loaded with 230bar of pressure having not moved for ages. In daily use they keep their flexibility much better and more likely go the distance. Look at caravan tyres, side walls all cracked from been left untouched for 12months. Similar principle. I wouldn’t buy a reg out of date personally. It probably would just vent in the event of a failure yes but ask yourself the question would you be happy venting a full cylinder of argon into your garage? What if your working in there when this happens. Could be very dangerous potentially.
Just buy a new one. There is really no reason whatsoever to be tight with regs.
Hobby use is the worst possible thing for them
They sit around in a cold garage for months doing nothing then that poor diaphragm suddenly gets lin oaded with 230bar of pressure having not moved for ages. In daily use they keep their flexibility much better and more likely go the distance. Look at caravan tyres, side walls all cracked from been left untouched for 12months. Similar principle. I wouldn’t buy a reg out of date personally. It probably would just vent in the event of a failure yes but ask yourself the question would you be happy venting a full cylinder of argon into your garage? What if your working in there when this happens. Could be very dangerous potentially.
Just buy a new one. There is really no reason whatsoever to be tight with regs.
Not exactly.if a diyer buys a professional tool (say a Harris 2 stage or an elga gas saver) they should expect to replace it sooner than if it was used in an professional setting?
What do you think is reasonable?
4 Years? 3 or possibly every year?
Are we suggesting that these tools won't last because they aren't being used?