Hydrostatic Testing Services

Automatic Fire Control offers hydrostatic testing services of most types of D.O.T. rated cylinders, both steel and aluminum. At our facility, competent testing and safety are stressed. Quick turn-around time and careful handling of cylinders are also important considerations. Most cylinders can be tested and back in service in 2-3 working days. Our technicians are trained and certified to meet D.O.T. requirements and our facility is licensed, certified, and monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Hydrostatic testing is a nondestructive test required by the Department of Transportation to insure the integrity of pressurized cylinders. These include everything from small fire extinguishers, to Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA) used by fire departments, to CO2 cylinders used for soft drinks, to medical and industrial oxygen cylinders, to Nitros cylinders used for race cars and SCUBA tanks used by divers.

Hydrostatic testing for different types of cylinders is required at different intervals.

All DOT-3AL marked CO2 cylinders are to be inspected and hydrostatically tested every five years as required in CFR Title 49 Part 180.205(c). Cylinders still with charge at the time the 5 year test is due, do not have to be tested until the charge is used, but prior to the re-filling of the cylinders.

High pressure, fiber wrapped aluminum cylinders, such as those used by fire fighters must be tested every three years and must be decommissioned after 15 years.

Additional information can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49, under "transportation".

Cylinder type	Testing Interval
SCBA bottles, composite	3 years (15 year life)
SCBA bottles, carbon composites by Luxfer	5 years
SCBA bottles, steel or aluminum	5 years
Oxygen bottle, steel or aluminum	5 years
CO2 bottles	5 years
A/C bottle, 4BA bottle	5 years

NFPA 10 lists these guidelines for portable fire extinguishers.

Extinguisher Type	Hydrostatic Testing Interval
Stored Pressure Water, Loaded Stream, and/or Antifreeze fire extinguishers	5 Years
Wetting Agent fire extinguishers	5 Years
AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) fire extinguishers	5 Years
FFFP (Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam) fire extinguishers	5 Years
Dry Chemical With Stainless Steel Shells fire extinguishers	5 Years
Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers	5 Years
Dry Chemical, Stored Pressure, with mild steel shells, brazed grass shells, or aluminum shell fire extinguishers	12 Years
Dry Chemical, Cartridge or cylinder operated, with mild steel shell fire extinguishers	12 Years
Halogenated Agent fire extinguishers	12 Years
FE-36 fire extinguishers	12 Years
Dry Powder, Stored Pressure, Cartridge or Cylinder-Operated, with mild steel shell fire extinguishers	12 Years

First, the cylinders are visually inspected. Visual inspection, at the time of hydrostatic testing, must be performed by a DOT licensed test agency. Visual inspection must be performed in accordance with CGA pamphlet C-6.1; Standards for Visual Inspection of High Pressure Aluminum Compressed Gas Cylinders. Internal and external visual inspection of a cylinder is performed prior to hydrostatic testing. The visual inspection includes: checking for cracks and fissures, sidewall stamps, rust, and verifying the correct tolerances for outside diameter, wall thickness, length and straightness.

Next, the cylinders are put under pressures of over 66% higher than their normal working pressure. Hydrostatic testing must be performed by a DOT licensed re-test agency. Hydrostatic testing must be performed in accordance with CGA pamphlet C-1; Methods for Hydrostatic Testing of Compressed Gas Cylinders.

Once a cylinder has successfully passed all visual inspection and hydrostatic test requirements, it is to be permanently marked with the test date, month and year, and licensed test agency's number in the proximity of the previous hydrostatic test date. No cylinder is to be marked with the licensed test agency's number until the cylinder has passed all visual inspection and hydrostatic test requirements. No cylinder is to be marked with a licensed test agency number by any other person or agency other than the personnel of the licensed test agency.