Hydro Lab (877) 493-7652 info@hydrolabwa.com
Why is hydro testing actually needed?
Department of Transportation (DOT) requires cylinders (bottles) to be tested regularly. The Hydro Date is the month and year the bottle was safety tested. Paintball cylinders need to be retested for its serviceability every three to five years. They also only have a lifespan of 15 years.
HYDROSTATIC TEST or HYDROTEST
We visually inspect each tank for cracks before it’s pressurized with water to look for a drop in pressure or to see if there are any leaks. Using this test helps maintain safety standards and durability of a vessel over its lifetime.
Your tank needs to be hydro-tested in the month prior to its born on month. For example, a tank that had been hydro-tested in November of 2017 should be tested again in 2022 because its certification is up in December.
Every carbon fiber wrapped bottle has a label on the side and every metallic bottle has the pertinent information stamped into it near the top of the bottle.
Understanding your tank label.
The DOT Number is the number that is given to a bottle lot to make it easily identifiable by the Department of Transportation.
To the right of the DOT Number is the Max Operating Pressure, in this instance it is 4500. This bottle is capable of holding 4500 PSI.
Below the DOT Number is the Canadian equivalent of the DOT Number and to the right of that is the pressure rating in BARs (each Bar is equivalent to 14.508 PSI, so 14.508 X 310 = 4497.48 PSI)
Below that is the bottles SERIAL NUMBERS. DEM 157 – A0153
Below the serial numbers is the HYDRO DATE (or Born on Date). 12 @ 04
The M number signifies the MANUFACTURER.
13ci Compressed Air Tanks – The myth is, that tanks this size do not have to be hydrotested because they fall under the 2″ diameter and under 24″ in length. The 3AL specification cylinder re-qualification set forth in CFR49 ss180.205 requires that tanks must be hydrostatically tested and are only exempt from volumetric tests. Similar tanks that are marked 3E do not require hydrotesting.
Be aware of tanks made by Inocom, Luxfer and Carelton that require a 3 year hydro test and 15-year lifespan. Most of these are past their lifespan now. Be careful of what you purchase online.
Our Lab
Our hydro lab is maintained with state of the art equipment that is constantly maintained to meet all government regulations for hydro testing both paintball and scuba bottles. We put all bottles visual and hydro inspections to make sure it meets not only government standards but the standards that our customers have come to expect from us.
Feel free to give us a call (877) 493-7652 or shoot us a message for cost, turn around time (usually within 72 hours) or anything else we can assist you with!
CONTACT
Address: 5000 Burwell Bremerton, WA 98312
Please download this PDF form and submit with any bottles that are sent in for hydro-testing. We can not / will not work on any bottles without this form completely filled out and submitted with the bottle(s) sent in*
* PLEASE BE SURE YOU PACK YOUR BOTTLES FOR SHIPPING IN PACKAGING THAT WILL BE SAFE ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE RETURNED IN AS WE USE YOUR OWN PACKAGING TO RETURN YOUR SERVICED BOTTLE TO YOU.