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Cylinder testing and inspection services to European Standards

Our company has since 1995 operated a full quality management system for the periodic inspection and testing of transportable seamless steel, aluminium and composite cylinders. We operate to the following European inspection and testing standards, EN 1968, EN 1802 and EN ISO 11623.

It is important to note that any organisation or persons carrying out refilling of gas cylinders should do so in accordance with EN 1920. This standard covers requirements which reflect current practice and experience such that each transportable gas cylinder is inspected at the time of filling in order to establish that:

•  It has no defects such that the cylinder is unsafe for filling, requires testing or is unsafe for continued use.
•  It can be identified and complies with the relevant requirements with regard to marking , labelling, colour coding and completeness of its accessories.
•  Its valve functions satisfactorily.

Diving Cylinder Inspection and Testing

Since 2006 all test houses carrying out Inspection and Testing of diving cylinders in Ireland are now part of the IDEST (Inspectorate for Diving Equipment Service & Testing) organisation and their Inspectors are accredited under UKAS for approval of such activities and regularly audit Inspection and Test houses both here and in the UK to ensure continued competency against the various standards of periodic inspection and testing of seamless transportable cylinders as used in Diving. A list of these test houses in Ireland can be seen at www.sita.org.uk.

Only accredited test houses can inspect, test and issue cylinder inspection labels. If a diving cylinder does not bear an IDEST inspection stamp and label it has not been tested according to legislation and will in all likelihood not be filled by a compressed air station.

Industrial Pressure Testing Limited has been an IDEST test house since 1997 and has a registered test house mark for diving cylinders of 3R which is stamped on all diving cylinders after inspection and/or retest.

A diving cylinder must be inspected visually every two and half years and undergo a retest every 5 years from its date of manufacture.

Composite Cylinders

Fully wrapped carbon composite cylinders are among the lightest gas cylinders available for general high-pressure applications and are now in use worldwide. These types of cylinders meet the needs of many end users in breathing apparatus, escape sets, medical support gases (see Notified Body Testing section) and anywhere portability is important.

It is important to understand the following, particularly in relation to BA cylinders:

• All cylinders manufactured to EN 12245 (CE marked) require testing every 5 years from the date of manufacture printed on the information label.
• Cylinder life spans can vary e.g. 15 years or 20 years and CANNOT under any circumstances be extended.
• As part of EN ISO 11623 (2002) the expiry date of composite cylinders must be clearly marked with the letters FINAL followed by the year (four figures) and the month(two figures).
• At IPT Limited we operate a policy of placing a sticker on the cylinder neck of each cylinder containing the retest date. The orange FINAL sticker on the cylinder neck will contain the withdrawal date of the cylinder. This enables the BA officer to easily identify cylinders. This information is also placed on the cylinder body.
• Some cylinders will not be tested to a 5-year cycle as the life span of the cylinder (15 or 20) will take precedence.
  Cylinders that have reached their end of lifespan must be removed from service. A certificate of Rendering Unserviceable may be issued by the Client if requested.
• All SCOTT, DRAGER and INTERSPIRO BA cylinder valves must be serviced at the time of cylinder test.

Test Certificates or Certificates of Destruction are issued for each cylinder. Click the below image to download the PDF file

For further general information on composite cylinders and technical bulletins click here at www.luxfercylinders.com