AS 3848.

2—1999

Australian Standard™
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Filling of portable gas cylinders

Part 2: Filling of portable cylinders

for self-contained underwater
breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and
non-underwater self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA)—
Safe procedures
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee ME/2, Gas Cylinders. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 14 October 1998 and
published on 5 February 1999.

The following interests are represented on Committee ME/2:

A.C.T. WorkCover Authority
Airconditioning and Refrigerant Wholesalers Association
Association of Certification Bodies
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Australian Institute of Pressure Equipment Engineers
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Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association

Boiler and Pressure Vessels Manufacturers Association of Australia
Department of Administrative and Information, S.A.
Department of Defence (Australia)
Department of Minerals and Energy, Qld
Department of Training and Industrial Relations, Qld
Fire Protection Association of Australia
Institute of Metals and Materials Australasia
Institution of Engineers Australia
The Australian Gas Association
Victorian WorkCover Authority
Welding Technology Institute of Australia
WorkCover N.S.W.
Work Health Authority, N.T.

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are
subject to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editions as
necessary. It is important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest
edition, and any amendments thereto.
Full details of all Australian Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The
Australian Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications,
new editions and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
Suggestions for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head office of Standards
Australia, are welcomed. Notification of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard
should be made without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 97486.

 AS 3848.2—1999
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Australian Standard™

Filling of portable gas cylinders

Part 2: Filling of portable cylinders

for self-contained underwater
breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and
non-underwater self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA)—
Safe procedures

Originated in part as AS CB4 Supplement 3 — 1974 and

AS CB4 Supplement 4 — 1974.
Previous editions AS 2704 — 1984 and AS 2705 — 1984.
AS 2704 — 1984 and AS 2705 — 1984 revised, amalgamated
and redesignated, in part, as AS 3848.2 — 1999.

Published by Standards Australia

(Standards Association of Australia)
1 The Crescent, Homebush, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7337 2332 2
 AS 3848.2 — 1999 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia/New Zealand Committee ME/2,
Gas Cylinders, and supersedes AS 2704 — 1984, Portable cylinders for resuscitators and
self-contained breathing apparatus (non-underwater) — Safety guide and AS 2705 — 1984,
Portable cylinders for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) — Safety
guide.
This Standard is the result of a consensus amongst representatives on the Joint Committee
to produce it as an Australian Standard.
The use of privately owned breathing apparatus brings compressed gas cylinders into the
hands of people who may not be familiar with the risks involved in their use and the care
required to maintain them in a safe condition. Inspecting authorities consider it desirable
that recommendations drawing attention to both the dangers associated with compressed
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gas cylinders and practices that will serve to minimize these dangers, be available for
guidance.
Private persons and organizations considering using cylinders as part of underwater
breathing apparatus or non-underwater breathing apparatus, may not be familiar with the
appropriate Australian Standard. Therefore to ensure the safety of themselves and their
members, they should seek guidance in regard to acceptable practice. Furthermore, filling
of cylinders with air is sometimes carried out by firms or diving groups other than the
normal fillers of gas cylinders. Such firms or diving groups should seek guidance on the
necessary precautions to be observed.
While the SAA Gas Cylinders Code (AS 2030.1) covers general requirements for the safe
use of all types of gas cylinder, it does not cover some of the particular problems that
arise through the handling of cylinders by private persons under the special conditions
presented by the use of breathing apparatus. The purpose of this Standard is to provide
such guidance for the safe use of breathing apparatus cylinders.
This Standard has expanded and defined clearly the pressure limitations of the types of
valves used in conjunction with SCUBA and SCBA cylinders. It also defines the
information that shall be marked permanently on the bodies of valves fitted to SCUBA
and SCBA cylinders.
The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and
guidance.
Other authorities and regulations may affect the use of this Standard and users should be
aware of this possibility.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT COMPLIANCE WITH THIS STANDARD MAY NOT
NECESSARILY FULFIL ALL LEGAL OBLIGATIONS.

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 3 AS 3848.2 — 1999

CONTENTS
Page

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH SCUBA AND SCBA CYLINDERS . . . . . 5
1.5 PRECAUTIONS IN THE USE OF CYLINDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

SECTION 2 CYLINDER FILLING AND GAS PURITY

2.1 FILLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
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2.2 FILLING OF SCBA AND SCUBA AIR CYLINDERS BY COMPRESSOR . 7

2.3 FILLING OF SCBA AND SCUBA AIR CYLINDERS BY DECANTING . . 9

SECTION 3 CYLINDERS
3.1 SELECTION OF CYLINDER AND VALVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.2 STORAGE OF CYLINDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.3 INSPECTION AND TESTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.4 MARKING AND IDENTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.5 OWNER’S RECORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

APPENDIX A CYLINDER MARKINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

 AS 3848.2 — 1999 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Filling of portable gas cylinders

Part 2: Filling of portable cylinders for self-contained underwater

breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and non-underwater self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA)—Safe procedures

S E C T I O N 1 S C O P E A N D G E N E R A L

1.1 SCOPE This Standard specifies procedures on safe practices for filling gas
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cylinders for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and non-underwater

self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) where the breathing gas is compressed
atmospheric air. Filling methods recommended are compressing of atmospheric air and
decant filling of compressed atmospheric air.
There are extremely high risks involved in the compressing or decanting of breathing
gases and gas mixtures with more than 22% oxygen and these procedures are outside the
scope of this Standard.
WARNING: SEVERE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS WILL OCCUR IF
OXYGEN-ENRICHED MIXTURES ARE INTRODUCED INTO EQUIPMENT
PREVIOUSLY USED FOR BREATHING AIR. THESE MAY RESULT IN THE
INSTANTANEOUS RELEASE OF EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNTS OF
ENERGY.

1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this

Standard:
AS
1349 Bourdon tube pressure and vacuum gauges
2030 The approval, filling, inspection, testing and maintenance of cylinders for the
storage and transport of compressed gases (known as the SAA Gas Cylinders
Code)
2030.1 Part 1: Cylinders for compressed gases other than acetylene
2299 Occupational diving
2337 Gas cylinder test stations
2337.1 Part 1: General requirements, inspections and tests — Gas cylinders
2337.3 Part 3: Inspection and testing of fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) gas cylinders
2473 Valves for compressed gas cylinders (threaded outlet)
4484 Industrial, medical and refrigerant compressed gas cylinder identification
AS/NZS
1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective devices
1716 Respiratory protection devices
SAA
MP48 Certificated gas cylinder test stations
BS EN
250 Respiratory equipment — Open-circuit self-contained air diving apparatus —
Requirements, testing and marking

COPYRIGHT
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AS 3848.2-1999, Filling of portable gas cylinders

Filling of portable cylinders for self-contained
underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

non-underwater self-contained breathing

apparatus (SCBA) - Safe procedures

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