Testing, maintenance and refilling of scuba diving cylinders

Whether used for recreational or technical purposes, scuba diving cylinders involve a great deal of responsibility and must therefore be used properly and regularly checked and maintained.

At Idini Estintori we offer refilling, testing and overhauling scuba diving cylinders services, which is essential for anyone who wants to dive in total safety. Periodic equipment inspection is essential and the utmost attention must be paid, regardless of the degree of competence of the diver.

Diving cylinders are divided according to the material with which they are manufactured:

• aluminum diving cylinders,
• steel scuba tanks
• scuba tanks in composite material.

Each type has a number of advantages and disadvantages (weight, size, positive thrust with empty cylinder, etc.) which must be known and evaluated by the diver according to their needs.

They can also mount different types of taps. It is essential, when buying a scuba tank, to contact an official dealer.

The regulations regarding the use, transport and testing of diving cylinders change very often. Each cylinder, from the day of its construction, carries with it a sort of "identity card", that is a series of information which, as per the current European directive (97/23/EC Pressure Equipment Directive), must compulsorily be stamped on the ogive.

As for the testing, which takes place through the so-called "hydrostatic test", it must be carried out four years after the first test (the one carried out by the manufacturer during construction) and, subsequently, every two years.

Testing of scuba cylinders must take place every 2 years after the first.

The pre-testing phase of the scuba cylinders

The testing of diving cylinders cannot be separated from a preventive revision of the device, which is divided into the following phases:

• External inspection of the cylinder: aimed at identifying the presence and extent of any signs of impact, dents, cracks, cuts, swellings, corrosion, etc. that may in some way alter or compromise the functioning of the cylinder;
• Emptying: the possible presence of air is checked and the cylinder is emptied;
• Removal of the valves and internal check of the cylinder: with regard to the cylinder, the internal check of the state of the thread is carried out and, once the absence of rust or other signs of wear is ascertained, cleaning is carried out. Otherwise the cylinder can be considered out of the test;
• Check the tare by means of a special scale;
• Storage: the cylinders that have passed the above checks are ready for the hydrostatic test and are stored in special baskets depending on the type.

The hydrostatic test

The purpose of the hydrostatic test is to verify the tightness of the cylinder and consists of compression at a suitable pressure of the fluid contained within it, therefore the consequent emptying of the cylinder itself.

If the cylinder passes the test, our operator will affix a special marking indicating the test date (month, year).

Thanks to the experience gained over the years, our operators are able to meticulously deal with both the hydrostatic test, carried out in the presence of an INAIL technician, and all the phases that precede and follow the test: control and internal inspection of the cylinder, cleaning with high pressure cleaner, internal drying and, on request, sandblasting and replacement of the taps.

Refilling of scuba cylinders

The refilling service of the diving cylinders takes place at our headquarters in Olbia. We can refill any type of scuba tank. We recommend that you always bring the cylinders a few days before use, in order to ensure efficient refilling.

In addition to cylinders, we also deal with everything related to self-contained breathing apparatus for boats. Discover our services!

Contact us without obligation, we at Idini Estintori will be happy to advise you in the best possible way to ensure that your next scuba diving experience will be serene and carefree in nature, that only total safety can guarantee.

We are the operators authorized to test and overhaul scuba cylinders for the areas of Olbia, Porto Cervo, Santa Teresa di Gallura, La Maddalena and all of Northern Sardinia.

Call us, fill out the form or send us an email to [email protected] to find out the costs of overhauling and testing the scuba tanks.