Incorrect pressure-rated manifold fitted to diver’s bail-out
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 December 2003
- Generated on 5 November 2025
- IMCA SF 13/03
- 1 minute read
A Member has reported an incident in which a manifold rated to 232 bar was fitted to a twin cylinder 300 bar bail-out.
What happened?
The manifold in question had no pressure rating markings, as shown in the first picture below. The correct manifold is easily identifiable as it has its pressure rating marked clearly about the DIN female connection, as shown in the second picture.
Pressure rating of 300bar marked on manifold
No pressure rating marked
Swipe to see next image
Recommendations and actions taken:
The company has reminded its personnel that the fitting of correct pressure items is crucial in ensuring that a system conforms to safe design criteria and has instigated the following actions:
- All bail-out assemblies are to be checked by dive technicians to ensure correctly rated manifolds are fitted.
- Vessel-held stocks of bail-out manifolds are to be checked to ensure that only correctly rated and marked manifolds are in stock. Any unmarked manifolds which are identified are to be quarantined and sent back to the company’s equipment department
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.