IDEST Oxygen Cleaning Course

Why take this Oxygen Cleaning course?

Any equipment used with high-percentage oxygen demands strict cleanliness to avoid ignition risks. This practical workshop gives you a repeatable, auditable process for oxygen cleaning cylinders and valves to UK best practice and IDEST methodology, so you can protect customers, staff and your operation.

Who it’s for

• Service technicians adding oxygen service capability

• Club equipment officers managing partial-pressure blending or stage cylinders

• Centre owners/managers building in-house cleaning procedures

• Technically minded new starters entering servicing

What you’ll learn

• Standards & responsibilities: IDEST scheme overview; documentation, traceability and safety culture

• Contamination control: sources of hydrocarbons/particulates; clean-area setup; handling & PPE

• Cleaning chemistry & methods: aqueous vs solvent approaches, ultrasonic cleaning, surfactants/degreasers, agitation, dwell and temperature control

• Materials compatibility: cylinder & valve materials; O-rings and seats (e.g., FKM/Viton®/EPDM); oxygen-compatible lubricants; what not to use

• Process steps (end-to-end): disassembly, gross clean, precision clean, rinsing quality, controlled drying, particulate management, inspection and reassembly

• Verification: visual checks, white-wipe tests, optional UV inspection for residues, acceptance criteria

• Labelling & records: oxygen-clean tags, stickers, certificates, batch control and audit readiness

• Workshop safety: antistatic practices, chemical handling, storage, waste & environmental considerations

(Focus is on diving cylinders and valves. Regulator oxygen servicing is outside scope but discussed at a high level.)

Format, duration & locations

• Format: Instructor-led workshop with demonstrations and supervised practice

• Duration: One day (approx. 8 hours)

• Locations: Swindon (serving Berkshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire & Hampshire)

• Group size: Small cohorts to maximise hands-on time

Assessment & certification

• Ongoing knowledge checks plus a practical competency assessment of the full cleaning workflow.

• For formal IDEST accreditation or test-station approvals, candidates must meet current IDEST criteria at an IDEST-recognised facility.

What’s included

• Expert instruction & workshop access

• Cleaning agents (training-grade), ultrasonic cleaner, tools and consumables for practice

• Course handbook, checklists and documentation templates

• Tea/coffee/water

What to bring

• Photo ID for certification

• PPE: safety footwear and eye protection (spares available)

• Optional: your centre’s labels or forms for alignment

Entry requirements

• Minimum age 18

• Comfortable following technical processes; prior servicing experience helpful but not essential

Next steps

Build a complete servicing pathway with: Visual Cylinder Inspection, Hydrostatic Cylinder Inspection, Valve Servicing, and Composite Cylinder Inspection.