Nitrox workshop dings - Divers Alert Network

Rubicon Foundation Archive (http://rubicon-foundation.org)Lang (ed.): DAN Nitrox Workshop, Divers Alert Network, November 2000B. Oliver: Aqua-Lung did some testing on regulators and although they didn't share with us theexact details, said, "Some of your regulators are okay for 40 percent nitrox and some aren't."Aqua-Lung made some changes in the regulators that weren't and brought them up to thelevel for approval, but they wouldn't approve anything for 100 percent oxygen. Somesmaller manufacturers changed their positions to Aqua-Lung's.J. Hardy: Bill, could you clarify the Scubapro line?B. Oliver: Scubapro has one unit that is good for 100 percent oxygen. They were qualifying thatregulator at the time that I was talking to them and the X on the table just meant that all otherequipment that they have is only good for air.M. Lang: Allow me to introduce Dr. Sergio Angelini, Director of Technical Development atScubapro, who is joining us this morning.S. Angelini: Molte grazie. This is derived from testing of the Mk 20 first stage to 3600 psi at100 percent O2 by the German agency B.A.M. (Bundesanstalt Fur Materialpriifung). This isnot a value that comes from some empirical guessing, it has been tested and we'recomfortable with that. We have not extended it to our other models because we did not testthem and don't know what the results would have been. The particular Mk 20 that passed thetest had the nitrox kit and therefore Viton o-rings and a special high-pressure seat. We justrecently approved the Mk 20UL (ultralight), which has the aluminum body with the nitroxkit, to 40 percent O2 taking a more conservative position.T. Mount: Does this mean that the Mk 20 Nitrox, which we've been using for the last couple ofyears, is now approved for 100 percent O2? Is that what you're saying?S. Angelini: Every Scubapro Mk 20 with a nitrox kit (oxygen clean and with the kit installed) isapproved for 100 percent O2.T. Mount: That's reassuring to know because we've all been using it with 100 percent.B. Turbeville: What is Scubapro's position on continuing maintenance and cleaning of theregulator once it's first been nitrox cleaned?S. Angelini: That's a very good question because we don't sell a Mk 20 that's ready out of thefactory for 100 percent O2 use. We only sell it with a normal high pressure seat and regularo-rings. We sell the kit separately to the dealers and they have to install it. We have to trustthem to do a good job. That may be somewhat of a delicate position, but then again, after ayear you have to perform the servicing and have to trust your dealers anyway.B. Turbeville: Do you have a recommendation as a manufacturer on how the regulator should betreated or stored between dives? Should it be bagged in plastic or how do you keep it frombeing re-contaminated?S. Angelini: We only say that it has to be used on tanks and valves that are oxygen clean. Thereis absolutely no way that you can track that though.144