Post by penguin on Mar 23, 2009 16:17:31 GMT -5
Many paintball players nowadays have made the switch-over from CO2 to HPA tanks. However, not all HPA users have made the switch over from what are affectionately called "Steely" tanks to Carbon-Fiber tanks. You know, those black tanks that look like a fire extinguisher, rather than a scuba-diver's tank.
Department of Transportation issued a notice in August of 2008 specifically outlining a major safety issue between tanks stamped "3HT" versus "3AL". The background addressed in the notice points out:
The DOT-3HT specification is a lightweight, high tensile strength steel thin walled, high pressure cylinder design, generally used in aircraft applications where the weight of the pressure vessel is a consideration. DOT-3HT cylinders have a minimum wall thickness of 0.05 inches, where a typical DOT-3AA has a minimum wall thickness of 0.10 inches, and DOT-3AL has a minimum wall thickness of 0.125 inches.
The 3HT cylinders are not designed for repeated pressurization cycles. In addition, the wall thickness of the 3HT tanks are not designed to receive the typical punishment received during paintball games. DOT-3AL tanks have the overall thicker wall design and, most importantly, much thicker necks as compared to the 3HT tanks. As such, many big name field owners and venues will NOT fill your 3HT tanks. If this is the only tank you have, you may find yourself out of luck when it comes time to fill up on air, and the field won't let you. I highly recommend retiring your steely and picking up a carbon fiber tank when you get the chance. They are lighter, typically have a higher air capacity, and above all, have that edge of safety over the 3HT tanks.
Although, currently, there is no recall on the 3HT cylinders, field owners and tank filler companies have specific DOT regulations that they must now follow. These, along with the hydro testing companies also have specific regulations to follow when testing these cylinders.
To find out if your steely is a 3HT or a 3AL, look at the top of your tank by the valve for an imprint, or stamping. You should see the marking "DOT-" followed by either the 3AL or 3HT code. If your tank isn't stamped with the prefix "DOT", bad news folks, your tank isn't even approved for use in the United States. Many, if not all of you, shouldn't have this problem.
Sources:
April 2009 Action Pursuit Games article "We Won't Fill That!"
Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration website
phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/D....lan_DOT-3HT.pdf
Department of Transportation issued a notice in August of 2008 specifically outlining a major safety issue between tanks stamped "3HT" versus "3AL". The background addressed in the notice points out:
The DOT-3HT specification is a lightweight, high tensile strength steel thin walled, high pressure cylinder design, generally used in aircraft applications where the weight of the pressure vessel is a consideration. DOT-3HT cylinders have a minimum wall thickness of 0.05 inches, where a typical DOT-3AA has a minimum wall thickness of 0.10 inches, and DOT-3AL has a minimum wall thickness of 0.125 inches.
The 3HT cylinders are not designed for repeated pressurization cycles. In addition, the wall thickness of the 3HT tanks are not designed to receive the typical punishment received during paintball games. DOT-3AL tanks have the overall thicker wall design and, most importantly, much thicker necks as compared to the 3HT tanks. As such, many big name field owners and venues will NOT fill your 3HT tanks. If this is the only tank you have, you may find yourself out of luck when it comes time to fill up on air, and the field won't let you. I highly recommend retiring your steely and picking up a carbon fiber tank when you get the chance. They are lighter, typically have a higher air capacity, and above all, have that edge of safety over the 3HT tanks.
Although, currently, there is no recall on the 3HT cylinders, field owners and tank filler companies have specific DOT regulations that they must now follow. These, along with the hydro testing companies also have specific regulations to follow when testing these cylinders.
To find out if your steely is a 3HT or a 3AL, look at the top of your tank by the valve for an imprint, or stamping. You should see the marking "DOT-" followed by either the 3AL or 3HT code. If your tank isn't stamped with the prefix "DOT", bad news folks, your tank isn't even approved for use in the United States. Many, if not all of you, shouldn't have this problem.
Sources:
April 2009 Action Pursuit Games article "We Won't Fill That!"
Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration website
phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/D....lan_DOT-3HT.pdf