Air tank testing

[KitsuneAndy]

Why would anyone lie about where you can get your bottle tested? Money? I don't think so! Dive shops should deal with diving equipment and leave paintball gear to the proper certified paintball air system engineers! End of!

This is my opinion and I stand by it!

I find it very hard to believe that there is no where in the UK that can test these bottles, is fully accredited and yet will not deal directly with the public.

I use the same test center as the local UKPSF approved paintball site and will continue to do so, I also believe this center is DTI approved (I will ask for a copy of the certificate) and they are more than happy to deal with the public.

And I really doubt there are any speciallised paintball air system testers! There wouldnt be enough cylinders to keep them in business. I believe the Hydro test is a standard test for ALL cylinders designed to hold air, whether it be for paintball or for scuba the test is the same (I believe)

 

[Gassy]

The regs are not inspected by Fatbobs,they are inspected by the relevent test centre.The reason you send your bottle with the reg on is most manudfacturers locktite the regs on and the test centres have the equipment and expertise to remove them without damaging them or your bottle and they are also deemed as compitent people.

I have stayed out of this so far as there will be the "You play for Fatbobs" cries but you really seem to have a problem with a service that is fairly self explanatory.

option1
If you want your bottle testing,send it to Fatbobs and they will send it off for testing.This option guarentees it will be done to all current legeslation.

option2
If you want your bottle testing and think Fatbobs are trying to pull a fastone to make you buy a new reg.Find you own test centre and hope its accredited to current legislation and that you won,t get your bottle recalled when they find out they are not.

Look at it this way.

Hpac no longer provide this service,Fatbobs has found somewhere that will so use them if you want or find somewhere else if you don't.

Easy isn't it.

 

[KitsuneAndy]

option1
If you want your bottle testing,send it to Fatbobs and they will send it off for testing.This option guarentees it will be done to all current legeslation.

option2
If you want your bottle testing and think Fatbobs are trying to pull a fastone to make you buy a new reg.Find you own test centre and hope its accredited to current legislation and that you won,t get your bottle recalled when they find out they are not.

Completely agree mate, the only thing I'd argue against is according to fat bobs, the ONLY way to get it done correctly is through them. If you can find a local centre, that is fully accredited and up to date on the legislation, then that will also be fine.

Also, I believe the need for regs to be tested is still up for debate as far as the UKPSF is concerned? I believe that's along the lines of what Bully said on this forum anyway.

 

[axess]

one little thing.

the thread on the "other forum" suggests that regs must be CE approved and that only 2 regs currently meet this standard, yet the shop who are linked to the forum have started selling other regs which it would suggest are not CE approved? just think thats a bit confusing.

secondly it would probably make people less suspicious if fatbobs were more transparent regarding their pricing for the bottle test, i am aware that most of the price is made up of postage but i think if there was a break down, cost of test, cost of postage, people would get a greater understanding. personally i think that there is nothing wrong with fat bobs taking a bit of money as they are providing a service, but thats my opinion.

 

[Gassy]

Completely agree mate, the only thing I'd argue against is according to fat bobs, the ONLY way to get it done correctly is through them. If you can find a local centre, that is fully accredited and up to date on the legislation, then that will also be fine.

Also, I believe the need for regs to be tested is still up for debate as far as the UKPSF is concerned? I believe that's along the lines of what Bully said on this forum anyway.

This is the post offering the service,where does it say they test the regs and its says a replacement reg can not will be supplied by them?
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In July 2006 the rules for bottle testing changed and the responsibility was moved from the HSE to the DFT (Dept for Transport). Also the rules on testing stations changed and as of July 2006 only DFT Accredited stations can test bottles. As far as I am aware there are only 2 accredited testing stations in the UK. Your local dive shop cannot test bottles.

We have been in touch with one of these stations and have negotiated a price for testing. These centres do not deal with the public but are quite happy to deal with Fat Bobs. Here's how it will work.

1) Send your bottle/s to us. It is vital that you leave the reg on the bottle, do not attempt to remove it.
2) We send your bottle to the DFT testing station. The station will remove and inspect the reg. They will test the bottle and then refit the reg to PED spec. A new test date will then be added to the bottle
3) Should the bottle fail it's test it will be made useless (either by being drilled or having the threads criushed. Either way it will be returned to you.
4) If the reg is in a condition that the testing station deems to be unsafe then we will instruct them to fit a new reg (Of your choice) and charge you accordingly. The new reg must be CE approved and can be supplied by us.
5) We will then return the newly tested and inspected bottle back to you.

Cost.
The cost for this service is £45 inclusive of VAT and all delivery charges.

Please note that the £45 is payable in advance and regardless of weather the bottle passes or fails.

 

[KitsuneAndy]

This is the post offering the service,where does it say they test the regs and its says a replacement reg can not will be supplied by them?

Apologies, I'd misread on that point. My point about Fatbobs not being your only option for retesting still stands though.

Also, as stated above, Fatbobs are indeed fully entitled to take a profit from this and the service is good, especially if you live near enough to drop the bottle off.

 

[Mort]

Sooooo, after all this, can I go to my local dive shop/fire safety place, or do I HAVE to go through Fatbobs (I'd rather not, dunno why but I've always disliked them as a company). I've tried reading through the threads both here and on TalkPB, but it just seems to be a bunch of mudslinging and people crying and stamping their feet after they get accused of profiteering.

 

[Gassy]

Go to whoever you want,Fatbobs offer a service if you don't use it I don't think they will cry about it.

 

[Mort]

Thats the answer I was after, just wanted to clarify that there are other approved test centres about as it's all pretty misleading.

 

[Tom Allen]

Here's a quick run down on the current situation.

This is direct from the Department For Transport.

All bottles born before the introduction of the "PI" mark (approximately May 2003) can still be tested by existing testing centers, as they have a form of grandfather rights. This would cover every bottle that is currently in need of a test.
As the CURRENT TPED legislation states that "PI" bottles fall under the scope of this legislation, they must be tested by a DFT notified body. I have a list of these companies and i'll be contacting them within the next few days to see which are in a position to test our bottles.
This is a not a problem now, it will only be for "PI" bottles when they need to be tested from approximately May 2008.

I've mentioned "CURRENT TPED" legislation, in the previous paragraph, and i say current because the TPED will be revised next year so the rules could change again.

There is no need to supply the regulator with your bottle as there is no current test for regulators.

I will update this thread as more info arrives.