Propane tank replacement options?

What gets registered? Both Canada and the United States use the ASME Section VIII-1 code for pressure vessel construction but Canada has a CSA B51 standard that provides a more restrictive definition of what a PRESSURE VESSEL is. Canada also registers FITTINGS – items that in other countries would be considered too small to need registering. Likewise we also register many PIPING SYSTEMS in Canada. All vessels, fittings and piping systems need to be built under appropriate quality control programs.

Reading the Canadian CSA B51 there is a clause stating that type 3 and 4 pressure vessels are required to be recertified every 20 years. Steel motorhome ASME pressure vessels are type 1 tanks which only require a visible inspection so keep clean and painted.

RLS7201 wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
The key word "MOUNTED" means that it should not NEED recertification.
Only luggable tanks need that.

You are absolutely correct for USA standards.
You are absolutely incorrect for Canadian standards.

I can not fill my 28 year old ASME tank in Canada.

Richard

I have no trouble with my 1986 ASME tank, there is a lot of confusion, nobody seems to bother reading gov't regulations. My tank is painted, no rust anywhere.

wa8yxm wrote:
The key word "MOUNTED" means that it should not NEED recertification.
Only luggable tanks need that.

You are absolutely correct for USA standards.
You are absolutely incorrect for Canadian standards.

I can not fill my 28 year old ASME tank in Canada.

Richard

The key word "MOUNTED" means that it should not NEED recertification.
Only luggable tanks need that.

ASME PROPANE TANK REFURBISHING
We offer a turn key ASME Propane Tank Re-certification Service in Western Canada that includes transporting, inspecting, sandblasting, painting, purging, and the installation of new valves and fittings. Once complete, these tanks are ready to return to the customer and put back into service.

Tanks are required in Canada to be refurbished and inspected every 20 years. Using our services to refurbish your tanks, your increasing their life span, and giving them the ability to last beyond future re-certification periods.

This is from Impact industrial services. I am NOT affiliated with them. Doug

mcewena wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
USA ASME tanks are not required for certification. Are you POSITIVE, that Canada requires ASME certification and not just DOT portable tanks which DO require recertification? Doug

I’m positive that some fill stations won’t fill my tank. That’s what matters in the long run.

Canadian regulations are hard to pin down but I talked to a local propane recertifier and he said he probably wouldn’t pass mine due to the rust so I know I’m on borrowed time with it.

I got a similar opinion on the tank in my old C from the nice folks at my local supplier, then another customer walked over to me and told me to contact a company that does propane taxis and delivery trucks.

Those people removed my tank, sand blasted it, repainted it, and reinstalled it with new brackets.

I then went to a different branch of the same company I had been to previously, they commented how good my tank looked and happily blessed it.

It turns out an ASME tank is built from thick enough steel that almost no amount of rust it too much.

Grit dog wrote:
I’d run er til she pukes.
You don’t appear to know definitively if it’s rusted enough to be compromised soon. That’s step 1.
If it’s not like half rusted through, give it a Rustoleum rebuild and find a place that isn’t so nosy to get it filled.
JMO

It’s rusted enough that an industry professional won’t recertify it, that implies to me it’s not just cosmetic. I’m giving him the curiosity of knowing his job.

I’d run er til she pukes.
You don’t appear to know definitively if it’s rusted enough to be compromised soon. That’s step 1.
If it’s not like half rusted through, give it a Rustoleum rebuild and find a place that isn’t so nosy to get it filled.
JMO

Gary45 wrote:

mcewena wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
USA ASME tanks are not required for certification. Are you POSITIVE, that Canada requires ASME certification and not just DOT portable tanks which DO require recertification? Doug

I’m positive that some fill stations won’t fill my tank. That’s what matters in the long run.

Canadian regulations are hard to pin down but I talked to a local propane recertifier and he said he probably wouldn’t pass mine due to the rust so I know I’m on borrowed time with it.

Clean it up and paint it, they do not want to see rust. ASME tanks do not need to be certified in Canada. My motorhome 1986, tank is clean and painted.

Yep, if it's just a little surface rust, shouldn't be an issue to clean and paint...and suddenly they won't care.

An alternative: If you have someplace to store a 20# BBQ tank, just get a secondary connection plumbed in. If a place gives you a hassle, switch to the 20# until you can find a place where they don't hassle you. We've found that with older 30# tanks...a small number of places get picky but most don't care but so long as you have an option to get by for a couple weeks, the next place will typically fill the tank.

Gary45 wrote:

mcewena wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
USA ASME tanks are not required for certification. Are you POSITIVE, that Canada requires ASME certification and not just DOT portable tanks which DO require recertification? Doug

I’m positive that some fill stations won’t fill my tank. That’s what matters in the long run.

Canadian regulations are hard to pin down but I talked to a local propane recertifier and he said he probably wouldn’t pass mine due to the rust so I know I’m on borrowed time with it.

Clean it up and paint it, they do not want to see rust. ASME tanks do not need to be certified in Canada. My motorhome 1986, tank is clean and painted.

Yeah that’s probably he cheapest and easiest option.