Recently there have been announcements warning our industry of potential safety concerns about SCG Valves manufactured in Thailand.  We at Manchester Tank feel there is a need for further clarification as to the application of those concerns.  When looking at issues pertaining to OPD valves in cylinders sized 4# through 40#, one must consider that there are two major components combined into a Valve/OPD combination.  The first component is the brass valve itself, which is readily visible from the exterior of the cylinder.  The second component is the OPD, which is not visible as it is located in the cylinder's interior.  Manchester installs safe and reliable Valve/OPD combinations in all of our cylinders.  However, we do not always use the same manufacturer for the Valve/OPD combination.  Such is the case with the SCG Valve/OPD combination, which has become a source of concern.  We only use the SCG brass valve in combination with a Manchester-approved OPD, supplied to us by another manufacturer.  The SCG brass valves are very reliable and have been used by our Australian Division for many years with good results.  However, we elected not to use the SCG Valve/SCG OPD combination that is currently in question, even though the Valve/OPD combination is U.L. approved.

Manchester Tank has manufactured cylinders using an SCG brass valve in conjunction with a separate Manchester-approved OPD as of April 2003.  The brass valve component has the red label marking in the handwheel as sited on the NPGA safety bulletin.  However, the bulletin, issued as the result of concerns voiced from the industry, failed to suggest that the OPD component is part of the issue.   This is not a criticism of NPGA's issuance of a safety concern.  We strongly support any information brought forth concerning potential safety issues facing our industry .  However, the NPGA had no knowledge of the fact that the SCG brass valves, which Manchester uses, do not include the SCG OPD.  As a result, we feel it is our responsibility to establish that Manchester has a reliable, U.L. approved Valve/OPD combination that uses only the brass valve portion from SCG.   We encourage the various parties involved to take all steps necessary to eliminate any potential safety issues, which may be identified.

Manchester Tank has very stringent valve and OPD certification test standards that exceed U.L. approval requirements.  This criterion, developed and refined throughout our 57-year history, enables us to have confidence in the valve and OPD suppliers that are approved through our processes.  As a result, we stand behind the valves, which we certify, for use in our cylinders.  We strongly back our product with the integrity and reputation that is synonymous with the Manchester Tank name.

We are aware that the SCG Valve with the SCG OPD combination was sold into the U.S. market in imported cylinders, and was also sold to various companies for valve replacements.  However, Manchester did not purchase any of the SCG Valve/OPD combinations for our own use.  We encourage U.L. to test the specific valves referred to in the safety concerns brought forth from the industry. 

Manchester Tank would like to assure our customers, distributors, and industry members that the OPD/Valve combination we installed into our cylinders using the brass SCG valve and a Manchester approved OPD are SAFE, RELIABLE, and FIT FOR USE.  Going forward, the SCG brass valve portion of our Valve/OPD combination we use will have a green label inserted into the handwheel, in order to differentiate our valves from those valves in question.

More information on this issue can also be found on the NPGA web site.