Some myths about getting a plus/+ rating on a low pressure (LP) steel tank
February 18th, 2008 Filed Under Tips
In researching the REE issue I had in getting a plus/+ rating on the hydro of my LP tank, here are some topics I’d like to clear up from what I learned:
- It is rumored that a hydro place can calculate the REE if it is not stamped on the tank. This used to be true at some shops, but it appears to no longer be true today. Calculating the REE is a complicated process involving complex weights and measures of the tank, and then performing complex engineering calculations. I spoke with one shop owner who used to do this with the help of a computer program. He said that DOT now frowns upon hydro shops doing this calculation, so for the most part it seems no one will do it now because (1) it is complicated, and (2) they don’t want DOT scrutinizing them. I would also think that a hydro shop would have to charge more for the hydro if they were doing the calculation, and for an older thank that higher cost of the hydro might be more than the remaining value of the tank.
- Once a tank falls out of the hydro date, it can be hydro’d again with a plus rating. I read some confusion about this - apparently some people have heard that if you don’t get a tank rehydro’d before the current one expires, then you can’t get a plus/+ rating on it again. My tank is living proof that this is not true - my hydro date expired in 1995 and the next hydro was in 2007.
- If you get a hydro without the plus/+ rating because of the lack of a REE number, then you can go back and get it hydro’d again with the REE and get a + rating. Some believe that once you get a hydro without a + rating, then you cannot ever get a + rating again. Again my tank is proof this is not the case since the first hydro I got after purchasing the tank was without the + rating, then I went back with the REE number and got a new hydro with the + rating. I believe the case of when you cannot get the + rating is if the tank passes the normal pressure test but fails the plus rating test. In that case the steel isn’t going to get any stronger, so you won’t be able to get a + rating on it again.
- Hydro policies are interpreted by the hydro shop, not the dive shop where you drop off and pick up the tank from. Dive shops have arrangements with hydro shops so that the dive shop can keep a working relationship with divers (i.e. keep divers coming in to their store), and also to provide the visual inspection for the tank. It is possible to go to hydro shops directly. You may get a better price, but make sure you know what is happening with regards to the visual inspection….like, do you need a new visual inspection in order to get a new vis sticker on your tank. Your local dive shop is the one who puts the visual inspection on the tank, so if your tank needs a visual, then just go through the dive shop. There is also some debate as to the need to do a visual whenever the valve is unscrewed from the tank. I have heard that whenever the valve comes off, you need a visual before it goes back on, even if your tank just recently got a new visual sticker. If you are looking for hydro places, then look for places that service fire extinguishers.
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