------ EXTREMELY URGENT ------- Everybody read this, and check your tanks!

[f2f4]

http://www.68caliber.com/news/industry/story041098.php
http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/sa/70fr-47273.htm

In a DOT advisory published HERE on August 12th, 2005, certain cylinders for use with high pressure air have been de-certified for use.

The tanks, which were manufactured by Global Composites International (GCI), located in Ontario, California. The tanks were found to have an insufficient number of carbon fiber wrappings on them, and evidence cited in the report also suggests that the tanks didn’t undergo the required number of tests mandated by DOT-E 12695.

The report states in part:

DOT recommends that any person possessing a cylinder manufactured by Global Composites International, Inc. (GCI) and marked with exemption number DOT-E 12695 take the cylinder to a qualified refilling station and have the pressure relieved from the cylinder. The cylinder is no longer authorized for use.

Refilling stations and cylinder requalification facilities are advised that DOT-E 12695 has been suspended and these cylinders may not be refilled or requalified for service.

This safety advisory covers all high-pressure DOT exemption
cylinders manufactured by Global Composites International, Inc. and
marked with DOT exemption number DOT-E 12695.

Update: See below, this has been expanded to ALL GCI tanks manufactured in 2004 or later. It seems that DOT-E numbers OTHER then 12695 are affected.


An email from a visitor to (site censored) stated that this situation prevented several tanks from being used at a tournament in Northern California this weekend.

IF you haven't checked your tank, do it NOW. Some people have already reported tank failures.
Your best bet is to call Crossfire, and demand a refund. Or at least a tank replacement.

Even if you do NOT own a Crossfire or MacDev or Ignition tank, check the thing anyway! Sometimes, other companies will use other tanks... and it's better to take 5 seconds of your time, then wind up without an arm.

Originally posted by niteHawk
Just to be clear, since there seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread.

1 - It doesn't matter what reg is on it (Crossfire, MacDev, PE, Whatever). Any/all of them could have the problem bottle.

2 - Having a High Pressure or Low Presure or adjustable reg does NOT matter.

3 - The bottle needs to be made by GCI - it will say GCI on the bottle itself. Note that "Crossfire", "MacDev", "PMS", "NitroDuck", etc are NOT bottle manufactures, they made the reg, so look harder for GCI, SCI, or Carleton. If it says GCI, you have a problem bottle.

UPDATE:
This recall has now been expanded to ALL bottles made by GCI on ALL tank systems, 2k4 and later.

See here for details:
http://www.macdev.net/us/gci.htm
http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=1162376

Such tanks are NOT safe for filling! DON'T RISK YOUR LIFE JUST FOR A COUPLE GAMES!

***UPDATE*** 8/28/05

Ripped from 68Caliber.com

GCI closes down business; releases information on tanks they feel are safe
By GCI

This letter is to update all current and past paintball customers of GCI, Inc. The U.S.
Department of Transportation has begun an investigation into select paintball pressure vessels
manufactured by GCI. One of the allegations is that certain cylinders did not go through proper
hydro testing procedures. As a part of the investigation, DOT has suspended GCI’s
manufacturing exemptions. Many of the concerns raised by the DOT are inaccurate, and our
lawyers are working with DOT to clear up may of the issues. Nevertheless, GCI has decided not
to fight the suspension. Effective August 1, 2005, GCI has permanently closed its business.
The DOT recently published a broad public safety advisory in the federal DOT registrar intended
to protect the public from possible danger. The press release had to be broad because the DOT
has not yet completed its investigation and does not yet have copies of all of the testing data from
GCI’s independent testing agency. In reality, it is only select tanks that need to be recalled, and
our lawyers are presenting the proof that most tanks shipped to our paintball customers were
indeed flawless in terms of manufacturing quality and hydro testing certifications.

Please update all of your customers to whom you have resold any GCI paintball tank. At least
until the DOT amends the safety advisory, all use of GCI tanks must cease immediately. Please
provide us with the names and addresses of all customers to whom you resold GCI tanks. Please
also provide us with a copy of the invoices for each sale and any other documentation you have
identifying the serial numbers on the tanks you have sold. If you are contacted by any of your
customers, please ask them to send you the paintball tank serial number from both the label on
the tank and the neck of the bottle (if visible). Finally, please provide us with the serial numbers
(from both the label and the neck of the tank) for all GCI tanks you still have in your possession.
Please fax us copies at (866) 217-9177 of these records at your earliest convenience. This will
assist GCI in tracking down and retrieving every suspect paintball tank. We have attached a list
of tanks that do NOT need to be recalled for your reference, but please retain the information
requested above regardless if a customer calls you questioning their tank.

Once we have provided the DOT with all of the relevant documentation, we hope to have the
DOT reissue an update to the press release stating that only the suspect tanks need to be recalled.
The above requested information will greatly assist us in resolving this issue immediately.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this will cause you and your customers. We
appreciate your past patronage and hope the best in your business ventures in the future.



Global Composites International

GOOD CYLINDERS WITH HYDRO DATA IN HAND

DEM 101
A0401 – A0590
A0201 – A0375

DEM 102
A0489 – A598
A0201 – A0372
A0401 – A0488

DEM 112
A0226 – A0308
A0606 – A0715
A0716 – A0757
A0758 – A0969
A1002 – A1145

DEM 151
B10333 – B10391
A0002 – A0071
A0078 – A0188
A0201 – A0400
B10449 – B10559
B10720 – B10769
B10790 – B10845
B10849 – B10909

DEM 154
B10001 – B10191; B10201 – B10347, B10401 – B10574
A00001 – A00200; A00201 – A00397; A00401 – B00583
A00601 – A00800; A00801 – A01000; A01001 – B01183
A01201 – A01400; A01401 – A01600; A01601 – B01800
A01801 – A01977; A02001 – A02053; A02055 – B02195
A02201 – A02348; A02401 – 02440 B10577 – B11164

DEM 157
A0001 – A0196
B10001 – B10124
B10202 – B10241
B10402 – B10413


RECALL CYLINDERS
MODEL SERIAL NUMBERS

151
B10560 – 10571 12
B10574 – 10589 16
B10774 – 10789 16
B10590 – 10653 64
B10654 – 10717 64
--------------------------
172 TO BE RECALLED

157
B10125 – B10127, B10129, B10131 – B10134
B10137 – B10140, B10143 – B10147, B10149, B10151,
B10153 – B10155, B10160
B10162, B10163, B10166, B10168, B10169
B10172, B10173, B10175 – B10179
B10182 – B10185, B10187, B10191
B10193 – B10197, B10242, B10244
B10247 – B10249, B10252 – B10256, B10258
B10260 – B10264, B10267, B10268
B10270 – B10273, B10275 – B10308
---------------------------------------------------------------
91 TO BE RECALLED

Here's some more info, courtesy of PBN:

Originally Posted by Tonto

I was just called by my inside source at aci (maker of my tank). The dot-e has sued GCI while we have all been wondering what we are going to do about out bad tanks. There is a press release (supposably) in pb2x on page 15 but i dont have that magaize. Anyways if you have a bad tank you are suppose to fax your information to the fax below. They are requried to replace the tank but i dont know if they will charge anything (better not). if anyone has any different information please post but i thought i would get the fax number out for anyone who cares.


GCI

866-217-9177 fax number
Name, address, and phone number
Serial number on tank
Serial number on neck of bottle (if there is one)
any other information on tank.

[TonkPils480]

wait, so these are crossfire tanks?

[f2f4]

Not Crossfire, GCI.
Crossfire uses GCI tanks, though, but some other companies do too.

Your best bet is to check your tank, regardless. It only takes a few seconds to do.

[EEric22]

Wow thanks for the info.

[TonkPils480]

well im fine anyway, thanks for the post

[Mr Murderdoll89]

I didn't know this was such a serious matter, I need to check my dad's tank asap. Thanks for the heads up Eff

[Six Feet Under]

My tank was made by SCI but it's a few years old and I'm planning on getting a new 68\4500 sometime soon, even though they're rising in cost. Is this malfunction only affecting newer tanks?

[f2f4]

For the most part, newer. I don't mean on the bleeding edge, just-out-last-week tanks, but newer ones in general.

[Downfall08]

Mines ok. Thanks for the warning eff

[mokalman]

Mine's poifectly fine.

[John Sullivan]

I'm planning on buying hpa in the next month. If I buy a tank could it have this defect or whatever?

[Everlight389]

Probably not, as stores aren't allowed to sell "red flagged tanks".

And yeah, mine was fine

[Forest Spyder]

It sounds like the Carbon Fiber related industries are still having problems meeting demand. It's a shame that as a result stuff like this happens.

[Ebonclaw]

I thought Crossfire used Carleton tanks......

[Six Feet Under]

So did I, Ebon...

[Cheungman]

my crossfire was made by carleton

manufactured by Pressure Technology Division

[coolrazer]

Whew, I'm safe.

[Spinach]

Yay for steel tanks

[can'tthink of1]

So how exactly are you supposed to tell if your tank is the unsafe one?

I know Crossfire has used Carleton and SCI bottle, never seen any with GCI bottles.

Apparently Macdev LegionAirs use GCI bottles, and so Conquests might too.

[k00leo]

yay for plain, ol', stupid, unreliable c02!


Im Finaly kinda (even tho i am) not regreting useing c02.