Club Compressors

[Tucker]

Hi all,

Our club has been given a grant and various members have been given the task of reserching options to spend this grant. I would like to suggest that our club purchases a compressor. Obviously their is arguements for, like not having to rush to the dive shop to get a fill and their is arguements against, where to site the compressor (who would want a steady stream of divers wanting fills at all hours).

What works for your club?
How much are they?
Is it worth second hand?
Do you need insurance if so how much?

cheers Tucker

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi all,

Our club has been given a grant and various members have been given the task of reserching options to spend this grant.

You got a grant without saying how you proposed to spend it? Quick tell me who from, while nobody is listening, please.

I would like to suggest that our club purchases a compressor. Obviously their is arguements for, like not having to rush to the dive shop to get a fill and their is arguements against, where to site the compressor (who would want a steady stream of divers wanting fills at all hours).

What works for your club?
How much are they?
Is it worth second hand?
Do you need insurance if so how much?

cheers Tucker

Tucker

We have a 3 phase compressor and air bank, I understand for some years. Members pay ?35/year for as much air as they like for 4 nominated cylinders and a pony. Another Option is a pre-pay ?10 fill ticket at 17.50. Last option is ?2 a fill. O2 for nitox charged separately.

It is not just capital cost you should be thinking about. Maintenance is important too. Our last service was ?800, with no expensive parts replaced. Bank cylinders for test as well, 4 years IIRC. Also filter changes.

If you don't have a bank, air fills may take some time (check the rate of fill), especially if you have lots of cylinders to fill. And who will do it. Do they have lots of spare time?

Siting. Is it noisy? When will you run it? Consider neighbours etc. If 3 phase, how much for supply/connection. Will inlet be clear of sources of pollution (think car parks, bonfires, chimneys etc)?

How many fills would you get for the grant value at your LDS?
Other bits of kit might be more usefull. If you have a boat, does it have everything it should? VHF/O2 etc?

Just a few points you might consider.

Can't help you on cost/2nd hand/insurance bits.

Adrian

[Steve Walker]

Compressors vary a heck of a lot in price, anywhere from 2k to 20k.
As well as the siting and maintenance issues mentioned by Adrian , having air banks will require increased insurance, I was told by the compressor service engineer that the insurance issue made the idea of an air bank non-viable for my old club.
Others might know better than I, but I imagine you'd need some sort of council permission if your compressor would be sited in a residential area, it could be classed as a "business" situation.
Regards
Steve

[Nick Kay]

They'll probably insist on a "Risk Analysis" and want the place checked out wrt H&S guidelines and probably want/need a check from the local Fire Service...

[Paul Oliver]

Hi

We have our own compressor and are currently looking to upgrade. We do not feel we could do without it as we get through a huge amount of air.

Ours is a reconditioned Fire brigade one - so secondhand is very viable to us.

Ours is at the back of one of our members buisness and for years he has filled bottles on Thurs for the pool session and Sats for the weekend dives. I have been doing it on Sat mornings for the last 2-3 years. I fill about 15 - 30 bottles each weekend and it takes from 1-2 hours, all branch members contribute 10 quid for maintenance in their branch subs for this. We do Nitrox and charge 2 quid a fill for this.

So about 60 of my dives and about 45 pool sessions last year cost me 10 quid in air fills. Which was a lot less than the 7 fills in Weymouth.

We are currently looking to upgrade to a new compressor with better nitrox and a bank, and we are putting a lottery bid together for that.

Ours is a basic set up, i know clubs like Thanet 106 and Eastbourne have far better set-ups.

Noise pollution is a fairly basic subject and i have a calculation chart on disc somewhere from a previouse life/job (i will dig it out if you want). You may well need permission from the Local Planning authority for this but beware they can interperit rules to suit their agenda but most will be straight with you. Also and possibly more importantly Local Planning Commitees (Local Councillors) often ignore the rules to suit their political agenda, so do not be put off by them, pre-consultation though will often avoid later problems. If you want some guidance on planning issues please e-mail me, sorry started to go off on one then.

Inspections can be expensive, we have looked at many options and our latest plan is a contract for 2 inspections per annum, that cover air purity and servicability combined with a servicing plan and filter changing (That may be seperate). I think we are paying about 300 quid for this, but i will check with our Equipment Officer. I know we looked at lots and had several quotes of around 800 quid.

Do not get dragged into HSE requirements if you are not in the catagory.

Bottom line - To us our compressor is critical to the club, on the same level with our diving equipment, boats and Pool facility.

Regards

Paul