Bill High
Professional Scuba Inspectors, Inc.
Dear Bill
A question came up the other day!
My tank has a sticker that has a hole punched out on april 1998. Can I still get an air fill in April 99, or do I need to have a new inspection (VCI sticker)?
Phillip E. Graf VisuaI Cylinder Inspector 9410
Phil
This question comes up every so often. The industry standard is Visual inpection annually not annual plus several days or weeks. Its the same for hydro retest and for that, the law says retest expires at 5 years (for scuba) not 5 years and some days, etc. We had some facinating discussions with DOT on this issue until it occurred to them that we were right and they were wrong. Now to the point. If you have a written record of the exact date on which the inspection was done in the expiring month, like a PSI evaluation form or a copy of the hydro retester's report, then the EOI sticker (or DOT mark) expires at the end of the day marked on the report. Since neither a EOI sticker or DOT retest mark show the day of the month performed, and to ensure that the day is not exceeded thereby passing the time limit (one year or 5 years), the valid period must expire on the first day of the month shown on the EOI or DOT mark.
Yes, if you had the inspection done on the last day of the month and therefore are entitled to all the days of that month you lose!!
Bottom line, since the expiration DAY (date) can't be exceeded, and you generally don't know what the actual day was, it must expire on the earlier date available.
Sorry for the long answer to a simple but rather technical question.
Bill High, PSI, Inc.
Bill,
Thanks for your discussion.
After having several discussions with several people we sort of came up with your answer.
But it is now official.
I'm having several tanks done (30), started last Tuesday, but told them to hold off until Thursday, so what is 2 days, well in this case it is either a March or April VCI.
When we have tanks inspected I always have the store hydro at the VCI date, if the tank expires any time in the year, so if the hydro expires in November and the VCI is due in March, I just have them hydro and VCI in March. It just makes our accounting easier. March seems to be a bit of a slow time for us, except for this year. We ended up traveling with 24 tanks VCI in March 98 and had some difficulty filling them in March 99. It won't happen again while I'm on watch.
Thanks again for your response. If you don't mind I plan to post it on my page.
Please take a look at the page and links. I have not yet posted your answer. I did add the vci.htm soon after I became an Visual Cylinder Inspector. Any comments/suggestions/questions you might have would be appreciated.
Phil
P.S. Are you coming back to Boise anytime for another training class?
Phil
Yes, you may pass on my response. Had I known it was to go public, I might have organized it a bit better. Your site looks very professional and we are pleased that is promotes PSI quality inspections.
Bill
P.S.
I offered to come to Boise on May 24, Monday (the class went really well) and do a class if 4 or more people could be guaranteed at $185.00 per person for the VCI class. I plan to travel in that direction on other business so could make the stopover.
With some promotion, I would think there are a few fire fighters from surrounding towns since we also cover SCBA cylinders and many fire department have dive rescue (few rescues mosty body recoveries, etc.) teams. There might even be a hydro retester within driving distance that would benefit from the class as well as dive related people. Its worth mentioning that our Inspector class meets federal DOT and OSHA requirements for Hazmat training for persons who handle, transport of otherwise are exposed to the potential hazards of the pressurized cylinder.
Bill High, PSI, Inc.
Thanks Bill, Phil
Professional Scuba Inspectors, Inc.