Is it possible to ship a CF tank full or are there laws against that? Thanks. Brian Smith
question about shipping tanks
- Thread starter briansmith
- Start date
I received a scba tank in the mail a few years ago with 4500psi on the guage. It read correctly. I called the sender and he said he sends tanks full all the time. It was packed ok I guess. Nothing special. Would you want 4500 psi exposed to the way ups, usps, or fedex handle things? Very scary if you ask me. Have fun, Scott
Upvote 0
I don't work for any of the shipping companies including the USPS but I have shipped and received many scuba tank in the past through the most common shippers. Tanks are always shipped with the valves removed. When I inquired as to why, I was always told the same thing. It is against the law to send a pressurized DOT vessel via shipping companies. Makes sense that it would be but I have never looked up the law to verify. From a common sense point of view, why would you want to put yourself in jeopardy of being sued or imprisoned for damages should the tank be damaged in handling and cause an accident? I think I will keep removing the valves before I send a DOT thru the mail. Just my 2 cents.
On second thought I would think there would be some type of declaration and special shipping arrangements that could be made for high pressure vessels that are under pressure. I would think the shipper would have to pay a little extra for this sort of service.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/173.301
The link is to a Legal Information Institute 49 CFR 173.301 which is the general requirements for shipment of compressed gasses in cylinders (paraphrased for brevity)
I also found a link to a website that touches on how this shipper would possbily handle a declaration of shipment of pressurized gasses:
(basically requires special handling, some shipper require pressurized vessels be stored in explosion proof containers, etc.)
http://www.ercweb.com/resources/viewreg.aspx?id=8075
On second thought I would think there would be some type of declaration and special shipping arrangements that could be made for high pressure vessels that are under pressure. I would think the shipper would have to pay a little extra for this sort of service.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/173.301
The link is to a Legal Information Institute 49 CFR 173.301 which is the general requirements for shipment of compressed gasses in cylinders (paraphrased for brevity)
I also found a link to a website that touches on how this shipper would possbily handle a declaration of shipment of pressurized gasses:
(basically requires special handling, some shipper require pressurized vessels be stored in explosion proof containers, etc.)
http://www.ercweb.com/resources/viewreg.aspx?id=8075
Upvote 0
Thanks. I'm not to PCP yet, and have to travel an hr each way to get a tank filled. So when I get the tank we'll make a day of it, stopping my wife off to some craft stores, and to lunch. I'm certainly not versed in this at all and appreciate the info. I bought a used tank a couple days ago, and just thought if possible it would be nice to start off full. All this make sense to me. Thank you again. Brian Smith
Upvote 0