Advantages
Ultrasonic testing is a way of testing high pressure gas cylinders without causing any damage to the cylinder or cylinder coating.
Most cylinders are ultrasonic tested by the cylinder manufacturer during production in order to check for flaws in the material, flaws that are not revealed by the visual or hydrostatic test as these flaws can be tiny cracks in the surface invisible to the naked eye and to small to have an effect on the cylinder strength, but ower time it may grow due to stress from pressure and temperature changes.
Ten-year service
.1 perform a hydrostatic test and internal examination of 10 per cent of the
system's extinguishing agent and pilot cylinders. If one or more cylinders fail,
a total of 50 per cent of the onboard cylinders should be tested. If further
cylinders fail, all cylinders should be tested;
.2 flexible hoses should be replaced at the intervals recommended by the
manufacturer and not exceeding every 10 years; and
.3 if permitted by the Administration, visual inspection and NDT (non-destructive
testing) of halon cylinders may be performed in lieu of hydrostatic testing.
Most cylinders used for Clean Agent fire supression systems are designed and manufactured under UN regulations and are approved according to ADR, DOT, IMDG and RID in order to be transported world wide. ADR are refering to a large number of standards of how and when these cylinders have to be designed, tested and serviced.
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