SCBA cylinder hydrostatic testing
An out-of-date cylinder can't legally be filled. We track your dates, collect the cylinders, send them to a DOT-registered retester, and bring them back labeled and ready for the rack.
What we handle for you
- Date tracking. Send us a list of your cylinders (or let us inventory them on an air check visit) and we'll tell you what's due this year and next, and which cylinders are approaching end of life.
- Pickup and shipping. We collect cylinders on our regional routes, or send you prepaid shipping labels and boxes if you'd rather ship direct.
- Visual inspection first. Every cylinder gets a visual inspection before it ships. Obvious condemnations get flagged to you right away instead of paying for a test they'll fail.
- DOT-registered retest. Only a facility holding a DOT Requalifier Identification Number (RIN) can legally requalify a cylinder. Yours are tested, stamped or labeled with the RIN and date, and returned with the retester's paperwork.
- Return with a report. You get every cylinder back with a one-page summary: serial, manufacture date, new retest date, remaining service life, and any notes.
Retest intervals at a glance
| Cylinder | Retest interval | Service life |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon-fiber composite (4500 psi), standard DOT special permit | Every 5 years | 15 years from manufacture |
| Carbon-fiber composite, extended-life permit (newer cylinders) | Every 5 years | 20 or 30 years from manufacture, as printed on the label |
| Hoop-wrapped fiberglass composite (older low-pressure) | Every 3 years | 15 years from manufacture |
| Aluminum DOT 3AL (2216 psi) | Every 5 years | No DOT life limit while it passes |
Intervals and service life are set by DOT regulations and the cylinder's special permit, both printed on the cylinder label. We go by the label, not a rule of thumb — if yours is different, the label wins. See our standards cheat sheet for the current NFPA and DOT numbers.
Frequently asked
How often do SCBA cylinders need a hydrostatic test?
Carbon-fiber composite cylinders are retested every five years and have a limited service life measured from the date of manufacture. Aluminum cylinders are also retested every five years but have no manufacturer life limit. The retest date and the manufacture date are both on the cylinder label.
Do you test cylinders in-house?
No. Hydrostatic testing has to be done by a DOT-registered retest facility, and we send your cylinders to one. What we do is everything around it: pickup, inspection, tracking, and return, so you don't have to.
How long are the cylinders gone?
Plan on two to three weeks door to door. We stage pickups by region to keep shipping cost down, and we can rotate a few cylinders at a time so you never fill from an empty rack.
What if a cylinder fails or is out of life?
We tell you before anything is condemned, give you the option to see it, and quote a replacement. Condemned cylinders are rendered unusable and documented so they can't find their way back onto a truck.
Can you do SCBA packs and facepieces at the same time?
We can collect packs for annual flow testing and send them to the manufacturer-authorized service center along with the cylinders, and we'll coordinate the return so everything comes back together.
Arrange cylinder testing
Tell us how many cylinders and roughly when they're due. We'll schedule a pickup or send labels.
Request cylinder testingOr call (870) 555-0100
Cylinders out of life?
We stock new and current-hydro used cylinders in 30, 45, and 60-minute sizes.
See cylinders