DOT Bottles

[Mark]

Ok not definative by anymeans but at least some people "are" trying to sort out this cluster f**k

Below is a copy of an email forwarded to me in reply regarding the usage of DOT bottles within the UK

Hello,

You have our 6151 paintball tank which is a 68 cubic inch, 4500 psi, carbon
fiber tank that was manufactured in May of 2000. The DOT-E11194 is our
exemption number assigned to us by the United States Department of
Transportation (DOT). The specification that the tank was designed is
similar to that of your UK, HSE specification (Health Safety Executive).
Even thought the DOT and HSE specifications for composite pressure vessels
are similar, there are some differences in requirements, testing and
paperwork documentation. For this reason tanks built to DOT may not be
able to be hydrotested or even filled outside the US. We have heard that
field operators in the UK and in some parts of Europe do fill DOT paintball
tanks but we do not know if this is wide spread or if it's legal. In the
cases where we have sold DOT only tanks in Europe or in the UK we have
clearly stated that the tanks may not be able to be filled or hydrotested
due to each country's specific laws pertaining to composite pressure
vessels.

We are currently in the process of getting some of our paintball tanks
certified to the new European Standard or EN specification. Once certified
these tanks will be recognized throughout Europe and the UK. For know, we
do offer a 6151 HSE tank which we have sold to the paintball company WDP.
You might contact them to see if they have any in stock.

Best Regards

Kevin Kilgore
Business Development Manager
Carleton Technologies Inc,
Pressure Technology Division

 

[SPIKEE]

cheers buddy ... very informative, i think its a safe bet that trying to use a dot bottle in the uk is a major head ache!!!
If you play in the uk its as simple as don't use a dot. no one will fill it or test it if they care about their public liability insurance.

Anyone who will fill it is taking a big risk legally

tough for those who've bought dot bottles, but a lesson a few of us have had to learn the hard way, ie turning up to a tourney only to be refused air fills (quite rightly)