*Mark's Meter*

Chances are, if you are using a refrigerant cylinder made in 1992 or earlier, it needs to be retested this year.   Failure to do so could result in a maximum fine of $25,000 per occurrence.
Inspection costs range from $12 for a 30-lb. cylinder (excluding shipping costs) to around $200 for a 1000-lb. tank.  Some HVACR contractors may have only a couple of the cylinders on hand, while national service networks may have thousands.

Use of refrigerant cylinders for recovery didn't become widespread until 1992, when the Clean Air Act mandated their use.  Those cylinders will need their first five-year inspections this year.
Although the need for cylinder testing has been published for some time, some contractors still aren't aware of the need for inspection.  If you fall into this category--or if you've just been putting off the inevitable--there are resources to help you find a DOT-certified test facility.
For example, Refron, Inc. of Long Island City, NY, has issued a directory of cylinder retest facilities.  The directory lists names and contact information for various companies that provide retest services for refrigerant recovery cylinders.

Some offer inspections only, while others offer additional services, such as pickup and delivery, repainting, and valve replacement.  In most cases, the tanks must be empty or at atmospheric pressure.

Bill Hathorn of Full Circle, Inc., Refrigerant Management Division, Fort Worth, TX, said his company typically takes in skid-loads from distributors, which brings the cost per test down to about $15 for a 30-lb. cylinder.

Some contractors ship directly to Full Circle, which has branches in major metropolitan hubs like Chicago, New York, and Seattle.  There is a sliding scale for other services, available as needed.
Hathorn said most contractors he's talked to are aware of the need, and he expects the number of cylinders to be tested to increase.  He also said that, regulations or not, there is a real need for retesting and refurbishing.

"We see alot of cylinders come in with broken automatic cut-off arms or dip tubes that need to be replaced," he said.  Without the automatic cut-off, a cylinder could be accidentally loaded past the 80% maximum recommended fill point, creating a potential hazard (even if it's only the overflow plug popping out and hitting you in the eye).

--From Refrigeration Service and Contracting, August, 1997, Volume 65, No. 8--