30 Year SCBA Tanks

[Spartan]

I've heard about these 30-year SCBAs in the past, but today was the first time seeing a used one for sale on eBay (granted, I haven't been doing much looking the past year or so, but I used to often keep an eye on used tanks).

Years ago, a friend told me about his $50 thumb rule for used SCBAs. $50 in value for each year of service that it had left. Made sense, and seemed to be accurate enough for a fair value. I used that rule when purchasing my last couple of tanks. But of course this was for the standard 15-year tanks.

Wanted another tank, so started looking again and was happy to see a used 30-year model available. So I grabbed it seeing as it has 22 years of service life left (2016 manufacture date). That would be $1,100 in value using that $50 thumb-rule, but I got it for a much more reasonable $450.

I wonder if these 30-year tanks will start disrupting the used tank market prices. Maybe the newer 15-year tanks will come way down price. I certainly hope so

 

[Aimright]

Interesting, I was looking at the testing requirements for these 30 year tanks and from what I can tell in addition that you still need to have the tanks hydro tested every 5 years, the tank manufacturers actually have to get samples from the field at 10 and 15 years and test. If the tests fail they may recall the tanks and reduce their 30 year service life to 15 or take them out of service (see pdf links below for more info). I don’t think the 30 year tanks have been around long enough to see the outcome of these tests, hopefully when the time comes the manufacturers will make that info readily available to airgunners and dive shops. And also hopefully the dive shops will stay in the know.

I see in the Feldfire pdf file below the main difference in the 30 year Scott scba tanks is more carbon fiber.

https://www.feldfire.com/assets/images/6HS7221A-EN_30-YearCylinder_QA_2p_.pdf

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/documents/offer/SP13583.pdf/offerserver/SP13583

 

[18.13]

I know the 30 year tanks are heavier

 

[Trucker3573]

You probably are ok seeing that the tank is already life extended somehow. I know when you get a 15 yr tank life extended at the end of its life you have to have that same expensive test done every five years. No more hydro tests. The test is a cpl hundred dollars plus shipping costs both ways. Makes it not really worth bothering with.

 

[18.13]

You probably are ok seeing that the tank is already life extended somehow. I know when you get a 15 yr tank life extended at the end of its life you have to have that same expensive test done every five years. No more hydro tests. The test is a cpl hundred dollars plus shipping costs both ways. Makes it not really worth bothering with.

Trucker they do make 30yr tanks they are thicker and heavier than the 15yr tanks
https://dalmatianfire.com/scott-30-4500-cylinders-30-year-2022-new-old-stock/

 

[Trucker3573]

Trucker they do make 30yr tanks they are thicker and heavier than the 15yr tanks
https://dalmatianfire.com/scott-30-4500-cylinders-30-year-2022-new-old-stock/

Ok got ya. I checked into having a couple already expired tanks extended and it would be greatly expensive. Good you can buy them upfront. Thanks for the info.