Owner`s manual

1.2.1 Enriched Air Nitrox Use
Your Aqua Lung regulator has been prepared for use with Enriched Air Nitrox
(EAN) where the percentage of oxygen in the EAN does not exceed 40%. This is
possible because each regulator is built to a high standard of cleanliness using
EAN compatible components and lubricants. In addition, each regulator design
has passed stringent adiabatic compression testing to ensure its safety and
compatibility with increased percentages of oxygen.
If it is your intention to use your new Aqua Lung regulator with Nitrox EAN (O2
not to exceed 40%), it is imperative that you maintain the internal cleanliness of
the regulator (see section on Care and Maintenance). If it is your intent to use
the regulator interchangeably with breathing air, the breathing air should be
oxygen-compatible or “hyperfiltered” whereas the condensed hydrocarbons do
not exceed 0.1 mg/m3. Your local authorized Aqua Lung dealer can help you
determine whether the breathing air that they provide meets this criterion.
Standard compressed breathing air meeting the EN 12021 standard, often
referred to as Grade E in the United States, does not necessarily meet this cri-
terion. Grade E or EN 12021 breathing air may contain a certain level of hydro-
carbons, including traces of compressor oils that while not considered harmful
to breathe, can pose a risk in the presence of elevated oxygen content. Passing
hydrocarbons through a valve and regulator creates a cumulative effect where
the hydrocarbons build up over time along the internal passageways of the
equipment. When these hydrocarbons come in contact with high-pressure oxy-
gen enriched air, they can pose a very real hazard that can lead to combustion.
Therefore, if a regulator has had use with Grade E or EN 12021 breathing air,
it should be returned to an authorized Aqualung dealer for overhaul service
including hydrocarbon cleaning, prior to being put back into nitrox service.
Although second stage components are not exposed to high pressure EAN,
Aqua Lung recommends that the same cleaning procedures be followed for the
complete regulator. This prevents the possibility of cross contamination and
guarantees the cleanliness of the entire regulator.
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