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CAZ
08-21-2005, 01:14 PM
http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/sa/70fr-47273.htm




[Federal Register: August 12, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 155)]
[Notices]
[Page 47273-47274]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au05-143]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2005-20104 (Notice No. 05-06)]


Safety Advisory: Manufacture, Marking, and Sale of Substandard
Compressed Gas Cylinders

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.

ACTION: Safety advisory notice.

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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that PHMSA and the Office of the
Inspector General (OIG) are investigating the manufacture, marking, and
sale of high pressure DOT exemption cylinders made and/or distributed
by Global Composites International, Inc. (GCI), Ontario, CA. PHMSA and
the OIG have evidence that suggests GCI manufactured, marked,
certified, and sold an undetermined number of high-pressure DOT
exemption carbon fiber filament cylinders when the cylinders had not
been manufactured in accordance with the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR), DOT-E 12695, and the design qualification standards
incorporated into the exemption. The evidence suggests that some of
these cylinders were not wrapped with a sufficient number of carbon
fiber layers to insure their structural integrity. In addition, the
evidence suggests that many of these cylinders did not undergo the
complete series of safety tests and inspections required by the HMR and
may not possess the structural integrity to safely contain its contents
under pressure during normal transportation and use. Extensive property
damage, serious personal injury, or death could result from rupture of
a cylinder.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond L. LaMagdelaine, Chief Special
Investigations, Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement, Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 7th Street SW., Room 7104, Washington DC, 20590.
Telephone: (202) 366-4700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through its investigation, PHMSA and the OIG
believe that GCI manufactured, marked, certified and sold an
undetermined number of high-pressure carbon fiber wrapped cylinders
owned by commercial entities and the private consumer. Among others, we
believe many of these may be in use by paint ball enthusiasts. DOT
recommends that any person possessing a cylinder manufactured by Global
Composites International, Inc. (GCI) and marked with exemption number
DOT-E 12695 take the cylinder to a qualified refilling station and have
the pressure relieved from the cylinder. The cylinder is no longer
authorized for use. Refilling stations and cylinder requalification
facilities are advised that DOT-E 12695 has been suspended and these
cylinders may not be refilled or requalified for service.
This safety advisory covers all high-pressure DOT exemption
cylinders manufactured by Global Composites International, Inc. and
marked with DOT exemption number DOT-E 12695

[[Page 47274]]

These cylinders may pose a safety risk to the public and should be
considered unsafe for use in hazardous materials service. Furthermore,
cylinders described in this safety advisory should not be filled with a
hazardous material.

Issued in Washington, DC on August, 2005.
Robert A. McGuire,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-16022 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]

warpedx
08-21-2005, 01:50 PM
Interesting. So if you have a cylinder from that batch or time, it is now useless.
http://www.glcomposites.com/ That's the site, I saw no notice on a replacement offer or anything. I'd say send them an email if you have one of these tanks in question.

Furby
08-21-2005, 02:49 PM
http://www.68caliber.com/news/industry/story041098.php

Presto333
08-21-2005, 05:03 PM
good thing my tank is made by Carleton, hopefully nothing bad happens to the people that do own these tanks, good find CAZ.

Bigal1
08-21-2005, 06:45 PM
is the mfg's name imprinted on the cylinder somewhere?

Bigal1
08-21-2005, 09:00 PM
checked my tanks. both are good to go.

Klassy Guy
08-22-2005, 02:20 PM
Yeah where is the manufacturer on the tank, I have a macdev, so I doubt it is made by them, but always be safe. So is the name on the label under the slick clear epoxy layer?

CAZ
08-22-2005, 02:32 PM
it should be on there somewhere.

the 4 large manufacturers used in paintball are
luxfer
carelton
sci
and gci
as i understand it is only tanks manufactured by gci with that dot#.

thog94
08-22-2005, 03:19 PM
FYI, any divers out there should also check their tanks. I just got a official message from my dive center today on this.

Klassy Guy
08-22-2005, 08:03 PM
Damnit, my leigonair is made by GCI, good thing my paintball store only fills to 4000 hot, I really hope either macdev or GCI will give me my money back.

Trigga Nometry
08-22-2005, 09:03 PM
Whewwww! My 70/4500 LP Crossfire is made by SCI.

Bigal1
08-22-2005, 09:17 PM
mine too. took me a while to figure it out. had to keep checking "was it SCI or GCI?"

CAZ
08-23-2005, 12:28 AM
: sorry for the o.t. post but that is a nasty alex grey avvy trigga :bigok:

Klassy Guy
08-23-2005, 04:40 PM
Well macdev is being very professional about this, I just need to give them 40 bucks and they will get me a new tank. I love good customer service, and GCI go to hell. It really bothers me when companies put peoples lives at stake just to save a few dollars around the shop (or factory, because gci is a big company). Now because of this people need to pay for new tanks, and they have made their company untrustworthy and low quality in the mind of customers, so they hurt themselves.