SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

Prepared By:

YOUNUS AHAMED SHAIK

 ABOUT SPEAKER
YOUNUS AHAMED SHAIK
Quaification : M.tech(EPS)
Certifiactes : Nebosh IGC,HABC IADT,IOSH & others.
Exprience : HSE officer,HSE inspector ,Site Engineer
Skills : Ms Office ,Graphic Design, Electrical Safety
Languagues: English , Hindi, Telugu , Urdu ,Arabic (intermediate)
The Introductory Statement

Failure to use the SCBA properly can result

in injury or death
Respiratory system extremely vulnerable
Fire departments must have a mask rule
Wear and use SCBA in IDLH atmosphere
SCBA necessary even during exterior
defensive operations
Conditions Requiring Respiratory Protection
•Oxygen deficiency
•High temperatures
•Smoke or by-products of combustion
•Toxic environments

Oxygen-Deficient Environments
•Fire consumes oxygen
•Produces toxic gases
•Displace or dilute oxygen
•Oxygen concentrations below 19.5 percent are
oxygen-deficient atmospheres
•Affects on the human body:
•Muscular impairment
•Mental confusion
•Death
Elevated Temperatures
•Respiratory system sensitive to temperature
•Air temperatures as low as 165°F can cause death within 1 minute
•Inhaling gases causes:
•Pulmonary edema
•Asphyxiation
•Long-term damage
•Temperatures in structure fire reach 1000°F
•One unprotected breath will cause death or severe damage to
respiratory system
Smoke
•Unburned products of combustion, particles of
carbon, tar, associated gases
•Large amounts of gases due to use of plastics
•Inhalation of small amounts may be fatal
•Four causes of damage by smoke:
•Asphyxiation
•Chemical irritation
•Chemical asphyxiation
•Any combination of these
Limitations of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
•Understand limitations to use unit effectively and safely
•Limitations of the SCBA unit itself
•Size, weight, air supply
•Physiological limitations of the user

Effects of Toxic Gases and Toxic Environments

•Combustion produces toxic gases and irritants
•Affect short- and long-term health
•When combustion products combine may form lethal toxins
•Some common gases affect circulatory system
•Commercial occupancies may produce additional toxins
•Requires higher level of protection
Toxic Gases Formed as Products of Combustion
Continuous training with SCBA is one of the keys to
effective firefighting operations.
SCBA Design and Size
SCBA units add weight and bulk to PPE
SCBA cylinder consumed more quickly than length of time rated for:
•Limits advance into building
•More frequent crew rotations
Other concerns:
•Restricted visibility
•Added weight and bulk
•Firefighter’s voice muffled
•Limited air quantity

Limitations of the SCBA User

•Physical, mental, emotional state cause usage problems
•Physical limitations: added weight and bulk
•Physiological limitations
•Lack of confidence in SCBA unit
•Physical stress and anxiety
•Emotional conditions
 Air Supply Management
•Air supply management
Must understand air consumption rates
Individual point of no return
Heads up display
•Various methods of breathing take experimentation on the part of the firefighter
Use normal breaths and exhale slowly
Never hold breath
Controlled breathing is most efficient use of air

Types of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

Two types of SCBA:
•Open-circuit SCBA
Exhaled air is vented to outside atmosphere
Most common
•Closed-circuit SCBA
Exhaled air stays in the system for filtering, cleaning, circulation
Sometimes used for specialized rescue incidents
Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
•Designed and built in accordance with NIOSH and NFPA standards
•Four basic assembly components:
Backpack and harness
Cylinder
Regulator
Face piece assembly
 TYPES OF SCBA

OPEN CIRCUIT SCBA OPERATION CLOSED CIRCUIT SCBA OPERATION

Head Straps Nose Cone

Head Straps

Voice Emitter Regulator Adapter Port

 Air Saver Switch or
Purge Valve the
(Emergency Bypass) Don/Doff Switch

Face Piece Lock Tab

Mechanism

Heads Up Display
(HUD)
Regulator Quick
Disconnect with HUD
Connector
Closed-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
•Not used for firefighting operations
•Most common use: hazardous materials incidents
•Air supplies range from 30 minutes to four hours
•Contain cylinder, filter system, regulator, and valves
•Clean and filter exhaled breath and add oxygen
Air supply duration based on filtering/cleaning and oxygen capacity of unit

Open-Circuit Supplied Air Respirators

•Open-circuit supplied air respirators (SARs)
Also called airline respirators
Remote air supply
•Commonly used for hazardous materials incidents
Confined space rescues
•Long-duration of air supply, mobility, agility
•SCBA escape unit with 5-10 minutes
Inspection and Maintenance of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
•Inspection on daily or regular basis
•Always follow manufacturer’s instructions
•Procedures in this chapter may differ from the recommendation

Daily Maintenance
•SCBA units should be checked daily
•If used during emergency scene or training exercise should be serviced in same manner
•Follow 10-step inspection procedure

Monthly Maintenance
•Monthly SCBA check contains all elements of the daily check
Adds several checks of mechanics of system
•Irregularities noted and repaired or pull SCBA from service
Annual and Biannual Maintenance
•NIOSH and SCBA manufacturers require different functional tests of
SCBA units
•Only manufacturer’s authorized or trained service personnel shall
conduct these tests
•Firefighters should refer to the instructions for the SCBA units used

General Considerations
•Operational safety checks must be performed
•Conducted on a daily or regular basis
Immediately prior to using the SCBA unit
•If any component does not operate properly or is damaged, unit
taken out of service immediately

FIREFIGHTERS PERFORMING REGULAR CHECKS OF SCBA TO ENSURE

THE UNIT’S ABILITY TO OPERATE.
t
Donning and Doffing Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
•Most common donning procedures:
• Seat-mounted position in the apparatus
• Side compartment on the apparatus
• Storage case
•Refer to manufacturer’s instructions

Storage Case
•Two methods to don unit:
“Over the head”
“Coat”
Choice is a matter of personal preference and training
•Refer to donning instructions for the particular SCBA unit
Seat-Mounted Apparatus
•Allows for quick donning
•Unit readily available for regular inspection
•Three important safety requirements:
Storing of the face piece
Donning the unit while vehicle is moving
Checking the cylinder gauge
•Never don while vehicle is in motion
•Check gauge before response or use the buddy system

Compartment or Side-Mounted Apparatus

Similar to seat-mounted position except firefighter is standing
If mount bracket wrong height, use “coat” method
Follow donning methods for particular mounting style
Donning the SCBA Face Piece
Most SCBA face pieces donned in a similar manner
Difference in style of head straps, regulator location
•Essential to protect firefighter from toxic gases
•Firefighter must be fitted for the face piece to be used with a particular manufacturer’s SCBA
•Prohibit anything that may interfere with proper fit and seal of face piece
Examples: eye glasses, beards, sideburns

Removing/Doffing the SCBA Unit

•Generally to remove SCBA donning procedure is reversed
•If awaiting another assignment, remove face piece
Allow normal breathing, conserve air
•Do not wear the mask without air flowing into it
•Regulator or face piece must not be contaminated
•After assignment complete, report to rehabilitation
Safe Use of SCBA
•Essential to firefighter survival
•SCBA unit and protective equipment add weight and bulk
Increased exertion and loss of body fluids
•Firefighters must be aware of symptoms of heat stress
Be aware of own limitations and abilities

Operating in a Hostile Environment

•General rules:
•Check in with accountability officer when entering or exiting
•Remain low, check the environment and conditions
•Never remove the face piece, maintain an awareness of location
•Ventilate as you advance if it does not spread fire
•Check for outside openings
•Maintain direct contact with other team members
•Never enter a hostile environment alone
Restricted Openings

•Probe tight spot with a tool

•Be sure conditions on other side of obstacle are safe
•Shift pack to left side
•“Swim” through obstacle backwards
•“Forward dive” technique
•Do not remove SCBA unless absolutely necessary

Emergency Procedures
•Emergency procedures exist to assist a firefighter in safe escape from hazard
•Remain calm, rely on training and knowledge
•Never remove the face piece of the SCBA
•Standard emergency check procedure stressed
•If entangled, do not pull forward
•Use wire cutters to cut one wire at a time
•“Swim” method
Firefighters may have to get beneath an obstacle to facilitate their
escape, which may also require them to lower their profile.
Changing SCBA Cylinders
•Cylinders changed after use, following local SOPs
•Cylinder 90 percent full could mean loss of 2-5 minutes of air supply
Could make the difference in successful exit
•Follow 12-step replacement procedure
•Additional steps for two-person SCBA cylinder replacement
Servicing SCBA Cylinders
Cylinder serviced when below full
•Air source must be tested and certified
•All cylinders must have a current hydrostatic test date
•All fill stations must have fragmentation containment devices
•All manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed
•Fill rate may vary
Cascade system
Compressor/purifier system

Lessons Learned
SCBA unit is to a firefighter as a weapon is to a soldier
•No substitute for proper SCBA training
•Continued practice and advanced training necessary
•Prevent failures: thoroughly inspect and test SCBA function as often as possible
•Firefighters must be prepared to go in harm’s way
Be knowledgeable and proficient in use of SCBA
A cascade system is one of the systems available to service SCBA
cylinders. These may be fixed or mobile units
Lessons Learned

•SCBA unit is to a firefighter as a weapon is to a soldier

•No substitute for proper SCBA training
•Continued practice and advanced training necessary
•Prevent failures: thoroughly inspect and test SCBA function as often as
possible
•Firefighters must be prepared to go in harm’s way
Be knowledgeable and proficient in use of SCBA
summary

SCBA is one of the most important items of

PPE that firefighters have available to them.
An increase in safety regulations and
improvements in design and construction
of SCBA have greatly increased their safety
and reliability.
An SCBA has limitations and also increases
the limitations and demands on the
firefighter’s physical conditioning