Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) The
recommendations in this section are primarily directed to purveyors of SCUBA
air to protect public health.
(b)
Compressed air containers. No compressed air container used for self-contained
underwater breathing apparatus should be filled or refilled unless it shows
evidence of a recent I.C.C. hydrostatic test.
(c) Preparation of compressed air.
Uncontaminated air may be compressed by means of suitable equipment and the
compressed air should not exceed the limits set forth in this section. The
following sampling, testing, and test procedures may be used to determine the
quantitative composition of the compressed air.
1. Carbon monoxide. Determination of carbon
monoxide may be made by using:
i. Mine Safety
Appliance Detector Co., Carbon Monoxide Tester No. Ds-47133;
ii. U.S. Safety Services Detector, model 300
"Saf-Co-Meter";
iii. Kitagawa
Precision Gas Detection Unico Model No. 400, with the cartridge No. 106A; or
its equivalents;
iv. Any other
device or method acceptable to the Department of Health.
2. Carbon dioxide. Determination of carbon
dioxide may be made by using:
i. Kitagawa
Precision Gas Detection Unico Model No. 400;
ii. Davis Emergency Co., Gas Detector
Kit;
iii. Any other device or
method acceptable to the Department.
3. Oil. Determination of oil may be made by
passing 100 liters of air at atmospheric pressures and room temperature through
a Number 41 Whatman Filter and measuring the increase in weight over the
original weight of the filter. Air contamination with 0.02 milligrams of oil
per liter of air will add two milligrams to the weight of the filter. Other
forms of particulate matter may be similarly assayed. Assays may be made by
this or by any other device or method acceptable to the Department of
Health.
4. Water. Compressed air
may be saturated with water vapor but should not contain water in separated
form. This may be determined by using:
i. Dew
point equipment as manufactured by Mine Safety Appliance Co., Foxboro Co., or
American Instrument Co.;
ii. Any
other device or method acceptable to the Department.
5. Odor. Compressed air may be tested for
odor by cracking the valve and smelling the escaping air. Filled cylinders
having any objectionable odors should be rejected.
(d) Equipment. Equipment for compressing air
should be of suitable design, size, construction and location to facilitate
maintenance and operation for its intended purpose in a manner that is orderly
and clean. Such equipment should be:
1. So
constructed that any surface that comes in contact with the air be nonreactive,
nonadditive, or nonabsorptive to the finished product;
2. So constructed that any substances
required for its operation, such as lubricants or coolants, may be employed
without hazard or without becoming additive to the finished compressed
air;
3. So constructed to
facilitate maintenance to assure reliability of the finished product within the
limits as set forth in section 20 of this subchapter.
