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How is a scuba regulator typically tested? That is a question that many experience divers wonder about. With prices ranging from $200 to $1600, testing is not just used to assure safety, it is also used as an advertising tool. If one company's brand of diving regulators completely surpasses others in its class, you can be sure that they will let everyone know about it.
So what criteria is used to test a pair of regulators? Below are excerpts from the U.S. Navy and European(CE) standards to evaluate regulator performance. The following four criteria is typically used to evaluate performance.
The effort of breathing at 100 feet. This is a standard test from the Navy to establish a baseline for performance. Essentially, this is the first cut. If it doesn't pass this, the scuba regulator is immediately out of contention.
The effort of breathing at 200 feet. Again coming from the Navy, a supply pressure of 1500 psi, with a breathing rate of 25 breaths per minute and a volume of 2.5 liters per breath.
Positive pressure breathing. Quite often, a regulator can deliver more air than is demanded by the diver. This situation is called `positive pressure breathing' where the regulator forces air into the diver's mouth. Testing for positive pressure breathing is typically done around 165 feet. Also, if a regulator's performance changes very little at this level, it is rated very favorably.
For more information on scuba equipment, please choose from one of the following.
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