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#36
filling and VIP Legal requirements in Ontario Canada ??
scubashaz - 5/15/2015 8:04 PM
Category: Training
Replies: 8

Hello fellow divers, I’ve started working at a dive shop. I’m having trouble finding answers or getting straight answers from people on the legal requirements on filling tanks and doing an inspection on them. I’ve been told there aren’t any laws on being certified to fill tanks and the VIP course and license isn’t necessary. If anyone has the proper info, or can direct me to the info, i’d really appreciate it. thanks
#12114
Eric_R - 5/16/2015 11:51 AM
#12114
#1600
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lerpy - 5/18/2015 7:41 AM
I would hope the dive shop would have that information for you. As for air fills you do not need a license but obviously should be properly trained and understand tanks sizes and filling limits. Anything beyon air you require a mixing course of various levels depending on what you are mixing, if it is banked then again you do not need to license to fill, the course is for mixing. There is a course to do VIP, and some training guidence from a professional again for understanding what you are looking for a common flaws in various makes of tanks. Regardless of the law I would suggest having this so that you are repitable, as well it is your name on it, if a tank blows that I inspect I want to be 100% confident that I did it properly.

Can I ask what shop this is? If you are having trouble getting answers from the shop staff then you might want to move on to another shop that is more repitable.
#36
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scubashaz - 5/18/2015 6:19 PM
Thanks for the info Eric and Lerpy. according to the owner. i just need company training on filling. Apparently the course for VIP is a money grab he says. the tanks are filled off banks; high and low pressure. i’m not comfortable doing VIP but ill fill tanks with the training ive had. The company is in southern Ontario but thats all the info ill give. not near you Lerpy. i’m only here four four months so i dont think the owner wants to pay for the course. Just to confirm this Lerpy, I DO need a license to fill from banks with normal air?
#36
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scubashaz - 5/18/2015 6:21 PM
i re-read that i DO NOT need a license to fill from banks. thanks again.
#1600
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lerpy - 5/19/2015 7:48 AM
No training needed filling from banks, just knowing what you are doing and paying attention and not over filling. I have done lots of fills or air and banked Nitrox, and if you go to a place like Amigo’s you fill yourself as a customer. My biggest advice would be don’t let a customer pressure you into overfilling, some like to push the lbs up. On an aluminum tank, 3200-3400 max, on steele 3800 max. In cave country and I have seen them go up over 4000, thats getting pretty high, just a couple of weeks ago when I was down there a disk blew on a tank that was being filled. If you have not experienced that it is a hell of a noise and scares the crap out of you, at least it does to me.

Good luck with the job, it will be great experience, you learn a lot about diving working around it. I have learned a lot working around shops and on boats.
#36
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scubashaz - 5/19/2015 3:19 PM
i’ve read some horror stories about over filling ill only fill to what you recommend. you seem to know your stuff. the owner has told me about burst disks going. i havn’t experienced it yet. hope i don’t lol. im looking for as much experience as possible, it’s a good opportunity. thanks again. take it easy eh
#20384
LatitudeAdjustment - 5/20/2015 7:29 AM
Be careful, I have an old 14cu ft pony that is rated at 2015 psi. Tank monkeys are always "doing me a favor" and topping it off to 3000+ without reading the tank stamp! At 3000psi it has a nice ring to it, someday it’s going to be a boom!