What is SCBA?
Scott SCBA is the leading equipment that protects firefighters’ lungs and other vital organs, like the heart and brain, from the smoke, toxic fumes, and carbon monoxide they may encounter while firefighting.
SCBA full form is Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus that is most essential tool for firefighters to enter in the facility that is on fire. If a firefighter don’t have SCBA on while fighting flames, it is like inviting all sorts of trouble. The SCBA is an airtight, self-contained breathing apparatus that protects firefighters from smoke and toxic gases- HAZMAT incidents.
What are two types of SCBA?
It is crucial for firefighters to wear the proper safety equipment, including Scott SCBA. If the firefighter is wearing an SCBA and there is a fire, the firefighter will have the proper breathing apparatus to help them escape the blaze. Without effective breathing apparatus, an employee could die. Here are just some of the different types of SCBA and the pros and cons of each one. There are two types of SCBA, open circuit SCBA and closed circuit SCBA. SCBA training and its maintenance is an essential part of firefighter training.
Open Circuit SCBA
Open circuit Scott SCBA is helpful for more prolonged rescue operations. If you are going to be around an open flame and don’t have the proper gear, it’s a recipe for disaster. That’s why it is essential to find the right gear. The Open Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is a full-body gas mask that protects the wearer from any gas.
Closed Circuit SCBA
In a closed circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, the air is instead compressed into two air cylinders that are worn on the back in a harness. These Cylinders are filled with around 1240 liters of compressed air at 200-atmosphere pressure. Firefighters are often the last to arrive on the scene of a hazardous event. They often come in contact with materials that can cause injury or death. Safety is a top priority for every firefighter. That’s why closed-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is so important for firefighters.
SCBA Time Limit
SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) has a time limit for usage that is usually 40 minutes. This limit is determined by the actual volume of air in the cylinder and usage capacity of individual. The time limit varies depending on the capacity of the cylinder and the level of exertion of the firefighter or user. During any incident, time limit is an important factor for incident commander to ensure the safety of firefighters. Because exceeding the time limit can lead to the absence of air in the cylinder that may put the user’s life at risk. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the SCBA time limit and use it within the recommended time limit.
Calculation formula for SCBA time Limit
WC (kg/ltr) X Pressure (bar) = TV
 TV / 40 (lpm) = TD Less Safety Factor = TD –(WC (ltr) x Whistle (Bar) / 40 lpm) = WD
Operators of SCBA should be able to calculate this on the run using the pressure gauge to establish a running calculation of the expected duration.
The above calculations are useful to estimate the duration of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) usage. Whereas, WC (kg/Ltr) refers to the weight of the cylinder per Liter, and Pressure (bar) refers to the pressure of the air in the cylinder.
Multiplying these values gives the Total Volume (TV) of air in the cylinder on actual basis. Dividing TV by the flow rate of air in liters per minute (40 lpm) gives the Total Duration (TD) of the air supply in minutes. For the safety factor, A safety factor is then subtracted from TD to account for any unexpected events. The result is the Working Duration (WD) of the SCBA.
Operators of SCBA must be proficient in calculating these values on finger tips using the pressure gauge to monitor the air supply in real-time. Proper use of these calculations can prevent the depletion of oxygen and other hazards associated with running out of air while using SCBA.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Tips and Tricks
Just keep practicing as it will improve the quality of work by using SCBA. As a firefighter, you must be well aware of your breathing rate and remind yourself to slow that rate down.
SCBA Mask
The SCBA mask’s seal must be tight enough to ensure no leakage or passage for contaminants to enter. Moreover, it must be comfortable enough to wear for long duration. There are few models which come with additional features, such as voice amplifiers and heads-up displays with purpose to improve communication and safety. The firefighter having beards can face this issue but in rare cases.
Hi, I am John Smit a Captain in Fire Department City of Newyork with over years of experience in the field of Firefighting and HSE. My passion for fire safety started when I was a young boy and witnessed a neighbor’s house go up in flames along with precious lives. Since then, I had dedicated my life to ensuring the safety of buildings, properties, and individuals in case of a fire and medical emergencies.