Catastrophic Tank Rupture

[OutlawCaver]

Yesterday, a high pressure cascade system tank ruptured at a LDS a mile from my house (Panama City Dive Center). No one was injured. I have just returned from inspecting the damage. You won't believe what I saw if I tell you, so I am off to take some pictures and post them. This was a perfect example of an extremely large amount of potential energy being converted to kinetic energy instantaneously. The tank in the sand is 40 feet from the building and was "tossed" over there by the identically sized ruptured tank. The plywood and sheet metal against the wall hides the void where the masonry block was blown into the building. I have no knowledge of the certification or inspection history of the cylinder.

[Kelly Jessop]

Yesterday, a high pressure cascade system tank ruptured at a LDS a mile from my house. No one was injured. I have just returned from inspecting the damage. You won't believe what I saw if I tell you, so I am off to take some pictures and post them. This was a perfect example of an extremely large amount of potential energy being converted to kinetic energy instaneously.

Vince can you share which dive shop???

[Kelly Jessop]

Vince can you share which dive shop???

Never mind
http://www.newsherald.com/news/shop-...ach-takes.html

[FW]

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A 16-foot compressed air tank exploded Saturday afternoon, knocking holes in the roof and east wall of Panama City Dive and Ski Center on Thomas Drive.

The explosion happened shortly before 4 p.m., officials said, and no one was hurt in the incident.

The large tank is used to fill other dive tanks, said Chief David Morrison, of the Bay County Fire Department. When the tank exploded, it sent other tanks shooting out of the building. Both Morrison and Jerry McLendon, a co-owner of the business, said they did not know why the tank exploded.

"It wasn't overfilled," McLendon said. "It had the proper amount of pressure in it."

But, had it ever been inspected? Shops rarely ever inspect, or even hydro bank tanks. If their filters failed sometime in the past, water may have gotten into the bank, and rusted it out over time.

[jdsffa]

Any pics yet

[jbdvr]

Im glad no one was hurt. I dove with them a couple of weeks ago--great shop and friendly staff on the dive boats, a rare combination. I hope they get back up and running soon.

[FW]

Any pics yet

See first post, pix have bee added.

[Caver95]

I bet the guy working pooped himself, I bet I would have.

[Numus]

I bet the guy working pooped himself, I bet I would have.

Hopefully they had a fresh pair of shorts laying around... that would have been one hell of a boom...

[imdown]

I was just there this past Saturday. Kinda freaky!