INTRODUCTION

This course promotes safety in the care and maintenance of high-pressure scuba cylinders. One of its goals is to raise the consciousness of the industry to the need to meet and exceed the minimum standards established by the Code of Federal Regulations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To train inspectors in the proper handling, filling, and inspection techniques including the identification of the various defective conditions which can lead to cylinder rejection or condemnation.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

A. Upon successful completion of this course graduates may visually inspect high-pressure scuba cylinders for defective conditions which could cause a cylinder failure.
B. Upon successful completion of this course graduates can train fill station operators (FSO) in the safe methods of handling, transporting and filling of high pressure scuba cylinders.

WHO MAY TEACH

This course may be taught by any active SDI/TDI Visual Inspector Instructor.

STUDENT – INSTRUCTOR RATIO

A. No more than 5 students per demonstration setup (tools and tanks for the practical)
B. No more than 25 students per active SDI/TDI VIP Instructor

STUDENT PREREQUISITES

A. Minimum age of 18
B. Be affiliated with an organization that has a high pressure air compressor and fill station

REQUIRED COURSE MINIMUMS

Classroom lecture and demonstrations hours - 5

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

The following equipment is the minimum required per inspection group while performing the visual inspection procedure.

A. A right angle mirror (dental mirror) with a magnification of 2X and having a diameter small enough to enter the tank neck.
B. Inspection light of sufficient size and intensity to illuminate the mirror and threads being inspected.
C. A light wand or other light source to illuminate the interior surfaces of the cylinder being inspected.
D. A right angle 1X power mirror and light source to enable the inspection of the interior crown area of the cylinder being inspected.
E. A straight and right angle pick and some gauging method to estimate the depth of any pitting noted on the cylinder walls.

REQUIRED SUBJECT AREAS

The following topics must be covered during this course. The SDI/TDI Visual Inspection Procedures Student Manual is mandatory for use during this course, but instructors may use any other text or materials that they feel help present these topics.

A. Purpose
1. Legal requirements, standards of the community

B. Safe handling of cylinders

C. Fill station operator rules and recommendations
1. Identification of the various tank markings
2. Legal / illegal filling requirements
3. Filling procedures
4. Use of and interpretation of EOI stickers

D. Tools and their uses
1. Use of eddy current technology in assisting the detection of thread cracks in 6351-T6 aluminum cylinders

E. Visual inspection indications
1. Proper identification of the various defect conditions

F. Criteria for rejection and condemnation of a cylinder
1. Define the criteria for cylinder rejection
2. Define the criteria for condemning a cylinder
3. Cover when to mark a cylinder “With notation”

G. Other services
1. Valve inspection and cleaning
2. The basis for cylinder cleaning

H. Visual Inspection Procedure
1. Step by step walkthrough of the inspection process

REQUIRED SKILLS

The student is required to display a degree of competency in the identification of various defect conditions presented to him by the instructor using actual cylinders with known defective conditions.

A. Inspect three cylinders with at least one having a defective condition

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to complete the course, students must:
A. Satisfactorily complete the SDI/TDI Visual Inspection written examination.
B. Demonstrate the ability to identify those conditions in a cylinder that would reject or condemn it.

SUPPORT MATERIALS

A. SDI/TDI Student Record Folder
B. SDI/TDI Visual Inspection Procedures Student Manual
C. SDI/TDI Visual Inspection Procedures Power Point Presentation
D. CGA publication C6-1993
E. CGA publication C6.1-1995
F. CFR 49 parts 171 - 179