When buying a high pressure oxygen regulator for your live well oxygen system, always confirm with the seller that the regulator you're buying has passed the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) E-4 Ignition Test and is certified and that it is not a repackaged medical oxygen regulator.

The Oxygen Edgeä regulators are tested and E-4 Certified to be safe from ignition or fire caused by adiabatic compression and other extreme operational conditions. Oxygen regulators sold without E-4 Ignition Test Certification either fail to pass the test or those regulators are not tested at all. Buying and using an oxygen regulator that is not certified results in not knowing if your regulator will prevent compression fires as well as regulators that are E-4 compression test certified

Safety on fishing boats is a matter of your peace of mind when oxygen regulators are exposed to extreme saltwater environments. Many brands of oxygen regulators sold to fishermen for livewell oxygen systems have not passed the E-4 Ignition Test and are not certified. Caution is advised if the regulator is not E-4 Ignition Test Certified. The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) recommends E-4 Ignition Testing for all manufacturers making high-pressure oxygen regulators. Be informed and always confirm with the seller about E-4 Testing and Certification before you purchase any oxygen regulator. The E-4 testing and certification is done only at the manufacturer's level prior to wholesale distribution and branding by companies, distributors and retail stores.

"Rules of the Oxygen Road" - Gas and Cylinder SAFETY

If you DON'T KNOW the rules, it's worth taking a moment and contacting an expert. This isn't air we're dealing with, it's pure oxygen.

Here's a few "rules of the oxygen road" regarding the Gas and the Gas Cylinder:

Never look into your live well with a burning cigarette in your mouth.

Always secure high-pressure gas cylinders (Oxygen, SCUBA, Helium tanks) in your boat well with strong secure straps or brackets during all  transports.  Never leave any high-pressure gas cylinder upright or free standing at any time.

Never secure the oxygen tank in the boats bilge or battery box, anywhere that oil or gasoline can contaminate the equipment.

Steel oxygen tanks require hydrostatic testing every 10 years, aluminum tanks every 5 years. The last hydrostatic test date is stamped into the tank's shoulder.

Always use a clean rag with freshwater to clean oxygen system components. If you need more than water for cleaning, ethanol is oil free... use external on system components only, do not use ethanol internally anywhere within the gas circuit. Use equipment only after all ethanol has completely evaporated. Never expose ethanol vapors or ethanol to oxygen (the gas). Methanol should never be use to clean oxygen equipment, methanol is not oil free.

Always crack (open the oxygen tank valve slowly to blow out dust and foreign material) in the oxygen cylinder valve before connecting the regulator. After connecting the regulator, open the tank valve slowly.

Always use system components that have been degreased, cleaned and specifically certified for pure oxygen service, includes all oxygen supply tubing and fittings.

Never use cleaning solvents, WD-40, isopropyl alcohol (household rubbing alcohol) or any other cleaning products with an oil base.

Never use oil or oil based lubricants on any regulator threads or tank valve threads. If you must use lubricants, use lubricants that are compatible with pure oxygen service.

FIRE SAFETY USING OXYGEN the gas: A fire extinguisher will not extinguish an oxygen enriched [24% O2 or greater] fire. Turn off the oxygen gas source terminating the gas flow or gas production and then put out the fire. If a livewell oxygen system does not deliver enough oxygen for enrichment [< 24% oxygen] the fire hazard is no greater than fire fueled with air.

Livewell oxygen systems that cannot deliver enough oxygen to produce oxygen enrichment, provide >24% O2, are no more effective than an aerator pumping air or livewell water pump pumping water through livewells and bait tanks to keep fish and bait alive. Actually, they can kill bait or fish in bait tanks and livewells quicker than aerators and water pumps.

If an oxygen generator salesman does not stress oxygen gas (fire) safety, the oxygen generator gas production and delivery will not deliver enough oxygen to be a fire  issue.

If an oxygen generator fails to produce or deliver enough oxygen, it's no better than any mechanical aerator or livewell water pump and you already have had expensive negative experiences with air and aeration equipment in the summer trying to keep bait and tournament fish alive and healthy.

Fires fueled with pure oxygen [gas] are very different than fires fueled with air [gas]. It makes no difference if the oxygen fueling the fire comes from a PSA oxygen generator, electrolysis oxygen generator, liquid or compressed oxygen system. The oxygen source must be terminated before the fire can be extinguished if the oxygen generator is capably of oxygen enrichment (>24% oxygen).

Knowing and understanding the gas, oxygen, and oxygen equipment on your boat is necessary in order to be safe. Not knowing and not understanding the gas or your your equipment increases risk on your boat not only for your safety, but everyone's safety. Practicing the "Rules of the Oxygen Road" is necessary to maximize safety. Think safety and be safe when using this gas. This is not air!

Copyright  © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by David A. Kinser, all rights reserved. 

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