Mikel's Art

The Standards contained in this section are based on federal regulations as specified by OSHA, NOAA, USN, USCG, and the result of 2 meetings and were developed with international agreement: These Standards do not include CGA or other advisory body recommendations. As a training agency, IAND, Inc./IANTD specifies only the federal limitations which serve as law and meet legal requirements. This is done in accordance with legal counsel. To provide more stringent rules or deviations from federal statutes may impose legal liability on manufacturers of diving equipment.

Manufacturers will define their individual needs and these will provided they meet or exceed the requirements of IANTD supersede IANTD Standards as apply to those individual manufacturers.

At NAUI IQ in 1992 (Pennsylvania): The meeting included representatives of IANTD, ANDI and SDRG (Tom Mount, IAND, Inc./IANTD; Ed Betts, ANDI; and Richard Nordstrom, SDRG. Glen Butler acted as mediator.) The results are as follows: These standards, except for the final gas purity, were agreed upon and adopted internationally as a result of this meeting.

At Tek '93 (Orlando, Florida): A full day, with open participation, was devoted to blending standards. Recognized authorities present included Morgan Wells, Ph.D. of NOAA, Tom Mount and Dick Rutkowski of IANTD, Ed Betts of ANDI, Commander Morrissey of DCIEM, John Comly, Larry Kaplan and Michael Casey both of Lawrence Factor. Glen Butler noted authority, also participated. The following gas purity standards were adopted at that time. In addition, at the conclusion of this session Richard Nordstrom had IANTD and ANDI reconfirm on the record that the standards, initially agreed upon at NAUI IQ '92, would continue unchanged.

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These Standards represent training standards and do not dictate, supersede or alter the specifications of individual manufacturers for the use of their equipment. All equipment used for air, EANx or Trimix must be used per the guidelines of the individual manufacturers of the equipment used by the diver.

A. GAS QUALITY FOR PREPARATION OF BREATHING GASES OTHER THAN AIR

1. Air to be used in blending of gas mixtures other than air, will meet US CGA Standards Grade E, or equivalent, with the following modifications:

a. No more than 0.1 mg-per-meter3 of condensed hydrocarbons.

b. No more than 2.0 parts-per-million carbon monoxide (CO).

2. The air may be produced by oil-lubricated compressors, oil-less or oil-free compressors. All air systems must have proper filtration to meet the specifications in item #1 (above).

3. Verification of gas analysis and gas composition is required quarterly by an appropriate facility.

4. IANTD facilities are to use IANTD band decals, label decals and VIP sticker decals with all breathing gases other than air.

B. EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS

2. Scuba cylinders being filled with a gas mixture (EANx or Trimix) from a pre-mixed bank (i.e. gas storage system) must use oxygen-compatible lubricants. No other alteration of the cylinders is needed; provided the oxygen content is less than 40.

a) If, at any stage of the mixing process, the oxygen content will exceed 40% of the cylinder capacity, the cylinder must be Oxygen Service Rated.

b) IANTD recommends (does not require) as good preventive maintenance, that all cylinders be cleaned annually, regardless of intended use; whether it be for air, EANx, Trimix or oxygen.

3. Scuba cylinders used in direct partial pressure blending (in-cylinder mixing) must be Oxygen Service Rated. This means it must use oxygen-compatible components and be oxygen-clean.

4. Regulators and all other equipment exposed to high pressures of 200 psig or more must use oxygen-compatible lubricants. If the equipment is used in an environment where oxygen content will be greater than 40%, it must be Oxygen Service Rated.

5. Scuba Equipment used with mixed gas should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. If the manufacturer states that its equipment is incompatible with gases other than air, then that equipment should not be used. If a manufacturer requires its equipment be modified for use with gases other than air, then the appropriate modifications must be made prior to the equipment being used for mixed gas diving.

6. Scuba Equipment for breathing gases other than air should be dedicated and labeled appropriately.

C. LABELING EANx MIXTURES WITH LESS THAN 41% OXYGEN

1. Cylinders already painted yellow must be labeled with a 4 inches (10 centimeters) green band. The band must wrap around the tank starting at the flat of the cylinder. The label must state "Enriched Air Nitrox" (or an applicable acronym). IANTD has EANx decals available for labeling tanks.

2. Cylinders painted with colors other than yellow require a 6 inches (15 centimeters) Enriched Air Nitrox band (decal) with the top 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) and the bottom 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) yellow. The middle of the band (decal) should be printed with a green background and the message, "Enriched Air Nitrox" (or an applicable acronym) printed in yellow for easy identification.

3. Note: Scuba tanks without a green and yellow label with suitable contents description-wording to identify Nitrox, EANx or an equivalent acronym must not be filled by IANTD Facilities. Any color-coding other than yellow and green violates community standards, IANTD Standards and International practices.

4. Nitrox (EANx) cylinders must have Cylinder Contents Labels affixed to them. The Contents label must state the oxygen percentage currently in the cylinder and the Maximum Operating Depth (MOD). The label must be dated and signed by the person who purchased (or requested) the mix (verifying he/she confirmed the O2 percentage).

5. This label may be a separate label, or part of the EANx band. IANTD has waterproof, reusable Cylinder Contents labels and cylinder content tape available for order.

6. Nitrox (EANx) cylinders must have a current Visual Inspection (VIP) decal stated that oxygen-compatible lubricants have been used in the system (valve, tank neck, and/or cylinder). EANx cylinders used with EAN 41, or greater, or for direct partial pressure blending use, must have an Oxygen Service Rated VIP decal. IANTD has VIP decals (which also cover both tank and valve inspections) available for order.

D. LABELING EANx (GREATER THAN 40%) AND OXYGEN (GREATER THAN 91%) MIXTURES

1. Cylinders containing oxygen levels of 91% or greater must be painted either green or white, or have a 10 inches (25 centimeters) long by 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide green adhesive band decal with the word "OXYGEN" clearly and prominently printed in white on it. IANTD has waterproof Oxygen Cylinder Decals available for order.

2. Cylinders should not be painted in common sport diving colors such as black or red as underwater these are hard to read the oxygen label.

3. Regulators used with tanks containing high levels of oxygen must also have green or white second stage coers and/or hose wraps or other means of identification as oxygen service regulators, leading to the second stage. Alternatively, the second stage purge buttons may be green or white.

4. Cylinders containing EAN 40 to 90 must have a color-coded "oxygen green" and white label decal boldly stating, "Decompression Mix EAN* _____." or a Breathing Gases other than air decal that is red and white. This label must be 10 inches (25 centimeters) long and 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide. IANTD has Cylinder Contents labels available for order. * Or, equivalent acronym.

E. LABELING TRIMIX MIXTURES

1. Cylinders containing Trimix must be labeled with either the word, "Trimix", or "Breathing Gas Other Than Air". A Cylinder Contents Label reflecting the percentages of Oxygen, Helium and Nitrogen must be affixed to the tank.