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January, 2001 - Buying Cylinders from Individuals It is not uncommon to find a good buy on a compressed gas cylinder at a yard sale, flea market, or from an individual advertising in a newspaper. Similarly, people sometimes inherit cylinders found on grandpa's farm. According to the US Department of Transportation, a cylinder cannot be filled for commerce unless by or with the consent of the cylinder owner. Although this rule may not appear to have a safety aspect, actually it does. It is presumed that a cylinder owner should have knowledge of a cylinder's history, either directly or from the prior owner: how the cylinder was used and in what service(s), and the anticipated uses of the cylinder. A compressed gas cylinder must be safe to fill with the intended gas. Your distributor must ensure that the cylinder is properly stamped with marking to indicate it was made according to US DOT (or Canadian) specifications or a current exemption, and that it has been requalified for use by an approved retest facility. The cylinder must be free from internal contamination, excessive corrosion, pitting or other defects which may compromise safety, and properly valved to include an appropriate pressure relief device. Buyer Beware. Feel confident that your seller can pass clear title, and try to learn something of the cylinder's history. Carefully examine cylinders for altered markings and obvious or hidden damage (be suspicious of new paint).
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© 2000 Prest-O-Sales & Service, Inc.
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