Posted by Ken Kurtis on February 02, 2001 at 18:49:45:
In Reply to: The Numbers posted by Chris on February 01, 2001 at 13:48:10:
The rules are pretty simple:
A tank (cylinder/bottle/etc.) may be filled to it's stamped, rated pressure.
A steel tank (cylinder/bottle/etc.) that has a "+" mark after a valid hydro date (within the last five years), may be filled to 10% over the stamped, rated pressure. (Aluminum tanks cannot be stamped with a "+".)
IMHO, overfills can be extremely dangerous to the fill station operator and/or the customer. Tank explosions are NOT pretty and they definitely kill and maim people.
And to put a very selfish spin on it, we (and many store owners) are not willing to jeopardize with overfills the safety and well-being of our employees ourselves, so that someone can get a or few extra minutes underwater. The consequences of an accident are simply too dire.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, Ca.