What is VCI?

What is Visual Cylinder Inspection?  (also referred to as “Tank Inspection”)

Training is also very important in order to perform high quality visual inspections on high pressure cylinders. Visual inspections for SCUBA cylinders are required annually and other cylinders may require inspections at different intervals.  Many other industries have started adopting an annual inspection process as well.  Federal regulations only require a visual inspection at time of hydro but the fact is that a lot can happen to the condition of that cylinder in a 5-year period.  In scuba, cylinders are subjected to corrosive environments (underwater), fire service has heat and damage to consider, paintball cylinders get banged around during play.

Visual inspection is a necessary process in order to determine a cylinder’s suitability for continued service. However, it constitutes more than looking into a cylinder and pronouncing it “good to go”.  Knowing what makes a cylinder “good” and what makes it “bad” is why cylinder inspection training is important. And contrary to popular belief, there are laws concerning cylinder handling and visual inspection as well as eddy current application!

Did you know?

Transport Dangerous Goods regulations require persons engaged with high pressure cylinders (hazmat) receive function specific training.

Section 6.1 of the TDG regulations says:

(1)  A person who handles, offers for transport or transports dangerous goods must

(a)  be adequately trained and hold a training certificate in accordance with this Part;

– and that training needs to be refreshed every 3 years?  TDG 6.5 states:

A training certificate expires

(b)  for transport by road vehicle, railway vehicle or ship, 36 months after its date of issuance.

In addition, if you work in the commercial dive industry, CAN CSA Z275.2 says:

6.5.4 Portable dive cylinders and permanent or transportable storage pressure vessels for breathing air or gas shall be visually inspected internally and externally, and hydrostatically tested in accordance with CGA C-1, CGA C-6, CGA C-6.1, and CGA C-6.3 and with CSA B339.  Portable dive cylinders shall also be visually inspected annually by a qualified inspector.

If you fill cylinders, you require training too!  CSA B340-08 section 5.1.2 states “Containers shall be filled by persons trained for that purpose.”

PSI programs can provide the necessary training required to stay compliant and give you the tools you need to perform proper visual inspections.