There is no other risky occupation like firefighting and rescuing people from hostile environments particularly when the breathing air gets poisoned. In order to reduce exposure to this danger and execute their mission successfully, firefighters use special equipment, one of which is the self contained breathing apparatus, widely known as firefighter SCBA. The term self contained is used to signify that it independent from remote air supply.
The basic components of a firefighter SCBA include a high pressure tank of breathing air, the insulated connecting pipes and a pressure regulator. The modern ones are more efficient with many additional features the most common being a face mask and lighter tank. The general design must allow for shoulder-carrying of victims with no hindrance. It must also allow for uninterrupted air flow no matter the environmental conditions.
Given the important role it plays in keeping the users safe, there are specific requirements that must be met by suppliers. In Europe for instance, the suppliers must comply with the requirements of Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC). These are extensions of European Standard EN 137: 2006 standards which detail the performance requirements, safety markings and the required information to be given to users.
In the United States and Canada, the situation is not different. The requirements are almost similar. The guidelines to be met are those of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA Standard 1981) which are usually revised after every five years. The 1981 NFPA label is normally an indication of a compliant device. The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) also give certification particularly in the areas of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological environment.
When specifically designed for firefighting, emphasis is put on heat and flame resistance more than cost. The flame resistant materials that are also light in weight are normally exotic making these devices generally expensive. The modern equipment has PASS (Personal Alert Safety System) or Automatic Distress Signal Unit (ADSU) device in addition to the primary components. This is meant to emit distinctive alarm tone used for location. They get activated automatically when they sense no movement for between 15-30 seconds.
The success on the use and overall rescue mission depends on how well the user is familiar with this important device. In fact, continuous drill is always recommended as the device can make a difference between life and death. For a successful drill, the near fatalities and other past failures that involved the equipment use forms the starting point during training.
The most important and common drills that should be considered include the SCBA check where the operational readiness is examined, the consumption drill targeting to determine the period a particular bottle will last for a given user and the last-breath drill that is more concerned with confidence and accuracy.
The rescue operation is simply impossible without firefighter SCBA. This device makes the difference between life and death both to the users and victims alike. For this reason, every firefighter must be engaged in continuous training and drilling in order to be able to operate it accurately when the need arise,
The basic components of a firefighter SCBA include a high pressure tank of breathing air, the insulated connecting pipes and a pressure regulator. The modern ones are more efficient with many additional features the most common being a face mask and lighter tank. The general design must allow for shoulder-carrying of victims with no hindrance. It must also allow for uninterrupted air flow no matter the environmental conditions.
Given the important role it plays in keeping the users safe, there are specific requirements that must be met by suppliers. In Europe for instance, the suppliers must comply with the requirements of Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC). These are extensions of European Standard EN 137: 2006 standards which detail the performance requirements, safety markings and the required information to be given to users.
In the United States and Canada, the situation is not different. The requirements are almost similar. The guidelines to be met are those of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA Standard 1981) which are usually revised after every five years. The 1981 NFPA label is normally an indication of a compliant device. The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) also give certification particularly in the areas of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological environment.
When specifically designed for firefighting, emphasis is put on heat and flame resistance more than cost. The flame resistant materials that are also light in weight are normally exotic making these devices generally expensive. The modern equipment has PASS (Personal Alert Safety System) or Automatic Distress Signal Unit (ADSU) device in addition to the primary components. This is meant to emit distinctive alarm tone used for location. They get activated automatically when they sense no movement for between 15-30 seconds.
The success on the use and overall rescue mission depends on how well the user is familiar with this important device. In fact, continuous drill is always recommended as the device can make a difference between life and death. For a successful drill, the near fatalities and other past failures that involved the equipment use forms the starting point during training.
The most important and common drills that should be considered include the SCBA check where the operational readiness is examined, the consumption drill targeting to determine the period a particular bottle will last for a given user and the last-breath drill that is more concerned with confidence and accuracy.
The rescue operation is simply impossible without firefighter SCBA. This device makes the difference between life and death both to the users and victims alike. For this reason, every firefighter must be engaged in continuous training and drilling in order to be able to operate it accurately when the need arise,
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