FRSA maintain licensed Gas Cylinder Test Stations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth to support our clients requirements for periodic hydrostatic testing and requalification of SCBA cylinders. This is a core requirement of Rescue Equipment compliance for organisations with risk profiles or operational requirements demanding breathing apparatus use.
Various manufacturing standards exist for breathing air cylinders globally, however a significant majority of cylinders used in Australian Gas Traffic are manufactured to European standards. These are generally of the carbon fibre type, and require hydrostatic testing and recertification on a five yearly basis. Other situations that should trigger hydrostatic testing and recertification include exposure to high temperatures, direct heat damage, impact damage, chemical damage, or over-pressurization when refilling.
FRSA utilizes the water jacket method of hydrostatic testing which involves placing the water filled cylinder into a water filled vessel (water jacket), and pressurizing the cylinder hydrostatically (by forcing more water into the cylinder using a pump). This causes some volumetric expansion of the cylinder which displaces water from the water jacket into an enclosed receiver (generally very finely calibrated scales or a burette tube) to measure the amount of water displaced at test pressure which is then returned to the water jacket upon depressurization of the cylinder. The difference between the zeroed pre-pressurized volume of displaced water is then compared to the post pressurized volume of water, and can be used to assess if there has been any increase in the volumetric capacity of the cylinder indicating a potential structural problem with the cylinder such as a crack, bulge or other defect that could result in structural failure with potentially catastrophic consequences. Water is utilized for this process rather than air due to its hydraulic, non-compressible properties versus gas which is very compressible and therefore subject to rapid expansion (explosion) should the breathing air cylinder structurally fail.
FRSA recommends that cylinder valves are overhauled as part of the cylinders’ hydrostatic testing regime which also includes thorough and procedurally reinforced internal and external inspection processes, as well as post-test refilling and testing on air prior to certification and return to the client ready for immediate use.
If you have SCBA cylinders that require hydrostatic testing and recertification, give FRSA a call for a quote. We’ll ensure your critical rescue equipment is ready for immediate use, and certification is in place, giving your emergency response personnel the ability to trust and rely on their equipment and focus on the task at hand every time.