16/02/2024
Please note: Any rifle that is brought to me for a service and is fitted with a buddy bottle or tube : if the pressure vessel (bottle or tube) has exceeded the ten year lifespan it will need to be replaced as part of the service. The DOM will be stamped on the shoulder of bottles and printed on the tube.
This includes rifles such as :
AIR ARMS S300-S500 series
BSA S10 and R10
Weihrauch hw100
Any rifle that is fitted with a detachable bottle or air tube.
Prices upon request.
10 Year Testing is carried our because the cylinders (Pressure Vessels) used to hold the agent or gas are pressurised and under EU requirements (see below) all Pressure Vessels must be tested at least every 10 years to ensure they are still safe to use. This applies to all cylinders that are pressurised whether its holding gases such as INERGEN®, IG55, IG541, Argonite, FM200, Novec 1230 used for example in computer rooms, CO2 used in industrial/manufacturing applications or liquids used for Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems or even Portable Fire Extinguishers.
This is because over time a cylinder can rust or joints can become cracked which will make the cylinder less able to withstand the pressures it is used under, which could be up to 300bar. The last thing anyone would want is a cylinder that fails at that sort of pressure, especially if it failed at a time it is needed the most i.e. when you have a fire.
Cylinders must therefore be removed and all gases or liquids decanted. The cylinder is then hydro-statically tested to ensure the cylinder can withstand the normal operating pressures. If the cylinders passes this test, it is stamped with the month and year of testing, it is emptied and dried, the valve is rebuilt and finally refilled with the correct type and amount of agent.
Cylinders are therefore required to be removed and re-tested every 10 years, but because this would cause disruption to the end user, we always recommend that the cylinders are replaced with new or Service Exchange Cylinders. (Service Exchange Cylinders are cylinders that have previously been in use on another site and have been recently tested, refurbished and refilled). This keeps the costs down as having to attend site to remove and then re-install the cylinders after they have been re-tested, along with the costs of decanting, testing, rebuilding the valve and refilling the cylinder in a short period of time would usually be more.
In the EU testing comes under the Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC), the Transportable Pressure Equipment directive (1999/36/EC) and The Carriage Regulations as stated in the relevant Standards in the UK:-
BS EN 1968:2002, British Standards for Transportable gas cylinders – Periodic Inspection and testing of seamless gas cylinders.
BS EN 1802:2002, British Standards for Transportable gas cylinders – Periodic Inspection and testing of seamless alloy gas cylinders.
BS En 1803:2002, British Standards for Transportable gas cylinders – Periodic Inspection and testing of carbon steel gas cylinders.
What this means is that smaller tubes and air bottles like those fitted to P*P air rifles, can not be Hydro-statically tested and therefore, after 10 years of use, must be replaced.
