East Coast Diving week

Testing a cylinder to IDEST standards

Compression rig & controls

When testing a cylinder at our IDEST testing centre, the cylinder initially goes through the formality of identity and an external visual inspection, whilst being tagged and prepared for testing.

On completion of an initial safety check, any pressurised gasses are safely removed from the device before removal of the valve, using the valve removal tool.

One of the tests carried out, is the check on the threads (see pictures)

There also follows a closer and internal inspection of the inside of the cylinder.

See the picture below, where the IDEST engineer is using a camera and looking at the monitor for a close-up inspection of the inside walls of the cylinder.

The cylinder is placed on a roller, where the engineer can manoeuvre the cylinder in order to see the whole cylinder with ease.

The cylinder is then hydrostatically tested and then fully dried before being visually inspected further

When this process is complete, the cylinder is re-assembled and checked before being officially marked accordingly, it is then filled with air and is ready for use.