Air at Elsham
This shall be my only post on this matter.
The site air available at Elsham is of a completely satisfactory standard to use with paintball markers/regs, the driers/purifiers fitted to the compressors are the same standard as those fitted on most other breathing air compressors, the tubing is stainless steel and the lubricant used is synthetic type. The standard of air delivered from these machines will be of breathable quality providing the correct purifier cartridge is used and within its useable lifespan limits.
The air delivered at the marker fill point on the site (3000psi) I believe would not be of breathable quality because (although the system is almost entirely stainless steel) the short length of flexible pipe between the tap and the filling connector is pricked hydraulic hose that while being adequate for the pressure/fluid would not meet the required standard for breathing as the rubber may liberate toxins. The air at the 4500psi tournament/back up rig has breathable (PTFE lined) fill valve flexible lines so would be ok.
Crap cannot enter the system from the compressor side as on the site system it passes through the compressor filter/purifier then an inline sintered core filter at the "Hale Hamilton reducer" then a core filter prior to the taps. The tournament rig has an automatic water drain between each compression stage then a sintered full flow core filter then an independent water separator then another inline filter, at the outlet each individual tap has a sintered filter at the inlet. Crap gets into your systems by players not having adequate protection on their fill nipples which causes crap to blow back into your reg when you fill, also when the fill valve depressurises upon completion of filling a small volume of air is blown back into the valve vent, some of this may then be blown into the reg of the next person to fill.
It is possible to vary the fill rate by varying the amount to which the lever valve is opened. Most people found this ok but some people found it a bit difficult and flash filled their systems which can be dangerous and inefficient. Fixed flow rate regulation has been fitted to each fill valve so as to negate this problem.
Pressure systems in the UK are regulated by the pressure equipment directive UK. It is understood from these regulations that it is the responsibility of the manufacturer/importer or person making available on the market to ensure that pressure equipment meets all the relative safety and legislative requirements. It is then owner’s responsibility to ensure that the equipment has been maintained, inspected and tested to upkeep compliance with the regulations. It is a requirement that the user shall not operate a system with out establishing the safe operating limits of that system.
These regulations are vast and detailed and implementation in the paintball industries is difficult and many areas quite "grey" however I would strongly suggest that all players ASSIST any site as best they can to safely provide the facilities needed to play paintball and grow our sport particularly in terms of walk on paintball were are future talent may be sourced.
We are proud to have assisted the following facilities: -
WDP/Bassets Pole-Smartparts Europe-Dragons lair-Holm Bush- Skirmish Bristol- JCS Elsham-YPC/Fatbobs-Northan Quarter-Top Gun-British Army
This shall be my only post on this matter.
The site air available at Elsham is of a completely satisfactory standard to use with paintball markers/regs, the driers/purifiers fitted to the compressors are the same standard as those fitted on most other breathing air compressors, the tubing is stainless steel and the lubricant used is synthetic type. The standard of air delivered from these machines will be of breathable quality providing the correct purifier cartridge is used and within its useable lifespan limits.
The air delivered at the marker fill point on the site (3000psi) I believe would not be of breathable quality because (although the system is almost entirely stainless steel) the short length of flexible pipe between the tap and the filling connector is pricked hydraulic hose that while being adequate for the pressure/fluid would not meet the required standard for breathing as the rubber may liberate toxins. The air at the 4500psi tournament/back up rig has breathable (PTFE lined) fill valve flexible lines so would be ok.
Crap cannot enter the system from the compressor side as on the site system it passes through the compressor filter/purifier then an inline sintered core filter at the "Hale Hamilton reducer" then a core filter prior to the taps. The tournament rig has an automatic water drain between each compression stage then a sintered full flow core filter then an independent water separator then another inline filter, at the outlet each individual tap has a sintered filter at the inlet. Crap gets into your systems by players not having adequate protection on their fill nipples which causes crap to blow back into your reg when you fill, also when the fill valve depressurises upon completion of filling a small volume of air is blown back into the valve vent, some of this may then be blown into the reg of the next person to fill.
It is possible to vary the fill rate by varying the amount to which the lever valve is opened. Most people found this ok but some people found it a bit difficult and flash filled their systems which can be dangerous and inefficient. Fixed flow rate regulation has been fitted to each fill valve so as to negate this problem.
Pressure systems in the UK are regulated by the pressure equipment directive UK. It is understood from these regulations that it is the responsibility of the manufacturer/importer or person making available on the market to ensure that pressure equipment meets all the relative safety and legislative requirements. It is then owner’s responsibility to ensure that the equipment has been maintained, inspected and tested to upkeep compliance with the regulations. It is a requirement that the user shall not operate a system with out establishing the safe operating limits of that system.
These regulations are vast and detailed and implementation in the paintball industries is difficult and many areas quite "grey" however I would strongly suggest that all players ASSIST any site as best they can to safely provide the facilities needed to play paintball and grow our sport particularly in terms of walk on paintball were are future talent may be sourced.
We are proud to have assisted the following facilities: -
WDP/Bassets Pole-Smartparts Europe-Dragons lair-Holm Bush- Skirmish Bristol- JCS Elsham-YPC/Fatbobs-Northan Quarter-Top Gun-British Army
