Safety Flash
Sustained load cracking in aluminium cylinders manufactured from aluminium alloys HE30/AA6082 and AA6351
Sustained load cracking in aluminium cylinders manufactured from aluminium alloys HE30/AA6082 and AA6351
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 07/18
- DivingInspection and MaintenancePressure SystemsRegulation and Legislation
- Pressure systemsRegulation and legislationStructural and asset integrity
- Inspection and maintenance
- Gas cylinder
- Non-destructive testing
Summary
This flash examines sustained load cracking in older aluminium breathing-gas cylinders made from HE30/AA6082 and AA6351 alloys. It summarises New Zealand approval withdrawals and UK inspection requirements, including eddy-current testing. IMCA recommends excluding these cylinders from member worksites and provides identification markings and disposal guidance.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Regulation and legislation; safety legislation; regulatory requirements.
Classifications: Structural and asset integrity; asset integrity; structural integrity.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Gas cylinder; compressed gas bottle; gas cylinders.
Classifications: Non-destructive testing; NDT; non-destructive examination; NDE.
Summary
Certain older aluminium breathing-gas cylinders may fail catastrophically unless identified, inspected and tested.
IMCA SF 07/18. Themes: diving, inspection and maintenance, pressure systems, regulation and legislation.