The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has finally approved plastic-lined, full composite high pressure gas cylinders for use in SCBA’s (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) and SCUBA sets. This marks a big step forward in DOT’s traditionally cautious approach toward embracing new technology for high pressure gas cylinders. Congratulations to ABB Power Technologies and Interspiro for achieving this feat after more than 15 years of persistent effort and investment.
Design specifications for the ABB / Interspiro Spirolite cylinders can be found at this web site: Spirolite specifications
ABB was granted DOT Special Permit DOT-SP14209 by the US Department of Transportation. Approval, construction, and testing is based on ISO11119:3, the ISO standard for fully-wrapped composite cylinders with non-load bearing liners – also known as “Type 4 composite cylinders” or “full composite cylinders.” After being granted the DOT special permit, ABB has been approved as a foreign manufacturer by the DOT. Now firefighters in North America have access to Interspiro’s and ABB’s innovative products.
The complete DOT approval process took approximately 2 years. But in fact it was much longer than that. In 1992 (approximately), ABB and Interspiro started manufacturing these cylinders in Sweden for European use. They also applied to the DOT in the early 1990’s, but had no luck with approvals. The adoption of ISO standards by DOT paved the way for ABB to finally gain approval. This is a great story that persistence and patience can finally win in the end.
Quite a few companies have now developed and qualified safe, cost effective Type 4 cylinders for high pressure gases; including CNG (compressed natural gas), SCBA breathing apparatus, and even for hydrogen. These companies include ABB Powersystems, Lincoln Composites, Quantum Technologies, Ullit, and others. The technology for plastic liners and Type 4 composite cylinders dates back to the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. When built and tested properly, these cylinders have been proven to be safe and reliable.
If your company is interested in developing or building plastic-lined Type 4 composite cylinders, you can contact any of the companies named above. Or you could contact my company, Hansho Composites Corporation, led by Shaun Hogan, for engineering and technology training in this area. Hansho also is expert and experienced in guiding companies through the US DOT approval process.
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