TM 5-4310-387-14
Section VI. UNIT LEVEL CLEANING PROCEDURE FOR
DIVING LIFE SUPPORT AIR SYSTEMS
Paragraph
Page
4-36
General................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 4-78
4-37
Determining System Cleanliness ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 4-78
4-38
Clean Area ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 4-78
4-39
Removing and Installing System Components or Piping ................................ ............................... 4-78
4-40
Pre-Cleaning of Components or Piping ................................ ................................ ........................ 4-79
4-41
Cleaning Method - Non-Ionic Detergent ................................ ................................ ........................ 4-80
4-42
Cleaning Method - Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) ................................ ................................ ............ 4-81
4-43
Cleaning Component Soft Goods ................................ ................................ ................................ . 4-83
4-44
Hydrocarbon Inspection and Analysis ................................ ................................ ........................... 4-85
4-45
Documentation and Record Keeping ................................ ................................ ............................ 4-86
4-36. General. This section covers the cleaning procedures for diving life support air systems. The importance of
maintaining a diver's air breathing system in a clean and operable condition cannot be over emphasized. This procedure
provides basic steps and methods for removing and installing components and piping, and provides the simplified
methods for cleaning small components, pipes and hoses for air systems, and methods for cleaning component soft
goods.
4-37. Determining System Cleanliness . A periodic inspection of the air system will verify system cleanliness. If a
system is suspected of contamination, a hydrocarbon analysis, a particulate sample may be taken or a gas sample may
be drawn to determine the level of system cleanliness. These samples can be coordinated through the U.S. Army Troop
Command, ATTN: AMSTR-M, 4300 Goodfellow Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63120-1798.
4-38. Clean Area. All cleaning for life support air systems to be performed on components and piping shall be cleaned
in a "clean area." This area shall be isolated from oil, grease, paper, lint particles and other airborne contaminates. It
shall be as free as possible of dust and debris. Work benches shall be covered with easily cleaned surfaces such as
stainless steel, synthetic rubber, vinyl linoleum or formica. Floor shall be non-dusting. Walls and ceiling shall be
covered with washable vinyl, latex paint or polyurethane-based paint.
4-39. Removing and Installing System Components or Piping . The following steps are guidelines for the removal
and installation of piping or components from or into a clean system. In general, common sense and clean work habits
must prevail at all times to maintain system cleanliness. Prior to the removal of any pipe or component, appropriate
maintenance forms are to be completed and approved.
a.
Removal. Extreme care shall be used in the removal of any component or pipe from a clean system to avoid
introducing any contamination. To eliminate any chance of contamination, the following steps shall be adhered to:
(1) Secure the system by closing valves and controls both upstreamand downstream of the component or pipe
to be removed. The components shall be tagged to insure that gas is not brought on line.
4-78
