The Essentials of Fire
Fighting
Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus
Developed by Captain Mark E. Davis & Captain David Polikoff
Edited and updated in 2007 by Lt. Larry Murray
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
Student Performance
Objective
The student shall demonstrate the proper
inspection and use of an SCBA as part of
the personal protective envelope, while
wearing full-protective clothing, to a practical
test accuracy of 100%.
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Overview
• Common Hazardous • Scott 4.5 & Air-Pack
Atmospheres Fifty
• Gas Toxicity • Donning & Doffing
• SCBA Limitations • Inspection &
• Types of Breathing Maintenance
Apparatus
• Emergency
• SCBA Wearer
Procedures
Requirements
• SCBA Parts ID • Cleaning & Refilling
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© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
Elevated Temperature
• Rapid inhalation of
heated air 120 + can
cause acute
hypotension
• edema in lungs,
asphyxiation
• possible pneumonia
/ death
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Smoke
• Suspended particles of
carbon, tar, and dust
• provides location for
condensation of
gaseous products
• may be simply irritating
- possibly fatal
• larger smoke particles
filtered by nasal hair
and mucous
membranes
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Toxic Gases
• direct damage to lungs
• passes into blood stream to impair O2
carrying capacity
• synergistic effect
• severity depends on: nature of
combustible, rate of heating,
temperature of evolved gases, O2
concentration
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Oxygen Deficiency
• 1st. Noticeable signsign
1st. Noticeable is isfaster
faster breathing
breathing
• 17 % muscular impairment
17 % muscular impairment
• 12 % dizziness, headache,
12 % dizziness, headache, fatigue
fatigue
• 9 % unconsciousness
9 % unconsciousness
• 6 % death
6 % death
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Gas Toxicity
• Carbon Monoxide • Nitrogen Dioxide
• Carbon Dioxide • Phosgene
• Hydrogen Chloride • Ammonia
• Hydrogen Cyanide • Chlorine
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© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
Toxic Atmospheres
TOXIC GAS SENSIBILITY IDLH CAUSED BY MISC.
Carbon Dioxide Colorless, 40,000 ppm Free-Burning End products of
(CO2) Odorless complete combustion of
carboniferous mat.
Carbon Monoxide Colorless, 1200 ppm Incomplete Cause of most fire
(CO) Odorless Combustion related deaths
Hydrogen Chloride Colorless to 50 ppm Burning plastics Irritates eyes and
(HCl) slightly yellowish, respiratory tract
pungent odor
Hydrogen Cyanide Colorless, bitter 50 ppm Burning of wool, Chemical asphyxiant
(HCN) almond odor nylon, foam rubber hampers resp. at the
cellular level
Nitrogen Dioxide Reddish brown, 20 ppm Given off around Irritates nose and throat
(NO2) pungent, acrid silos or grain bins
odor
Phosgene Colorless odor of 2 ppm Produced when Forms Hydrochloric
(COCl2) musty hay, tastless refrigerants such acid in the lungs
as freon contact
flame
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Types of Breathing Apparatus
• Open -Circuit Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA)
• Compressed breathing air is supplied to the
user’s respiratory system from a cylinder
carried on the user’s back. Exhaled air is
released to the atmosphere.
• SCBA is the most common type of respiratory
protection used in the fire service.
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Types of Breathing Apparatus
Open Circuit Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA)
SCOTT AVIATION MSA DRAEGER
The three brands of SCBA most commonly used in the USA.
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Types of Breathing Apparatus
Open Circuit Supplied Air
Breathing Apparatus
(SABA)
Compressed breathing air
is supplied from a
remote location using a 5-minute
long air hose, Exhaled Escape Cylinder
air is released to the
atmosphere.
Reserved for special
rescue and hazardous
materials operations –
not used for fire attack.
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Types of Breathing Apparatus
Closed-Circuit Breathing Apparatus
(Rebreather)
• A rebreather does not use compressed air.
Instead, the user’s exhaled air is chemically
scrubbed of CO² and a small amount of 0² is
added from a cylinder contained in the unit.
• Rebreather’s commonly have long durations
of use which are advantageous in extended
rescue operations such as mine rescue.
Rebreathers are not used for fire attack
operations.
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Types of Breathing Apparatus
Closed – Circuit
Breathing Apparatus
A Bio Marine 240® is one
example of a modern,
closed-circuit breathing
apparatus.
This unit is rated for a 4-hour
Use.
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© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
Montgomery County SCBA
• Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
- Uses the Cairns SCBA
• All other MCFRS stations use the Scott
4.5 SCBA or the Scott 50 Pak.
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Scott 4.5 SCBA
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Face piece Face piece Head Net © 2002 MCFRTA
Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
Donning Switch
Shoulder Straps
Low Press. Airlines
Regulator
E.B.S.S.
Purge Valve
Schrader Fitting High Pressure
Airlines
Pressure Reducer PASS Control
Assembly Console Assembly
Remote Pressure
Cylinder Strap Gauge
Waist Straps
Cylinder
PASS Sensor SI6581
Module Assembly Cylinder Valve
Cylinder Gauge
High Pressure Coupling
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SCOTT AIR-PACK FIFTY
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Pressure Reducer
TRI-SLIDE BUCKLE
DS-UP & REGULATOR
UICK DISCONNECT Shoulder Strap
Cylinder
RACHUTE BUCKLE
CONTROL C
RIC UAC
SYSTEM
CONNECTOR EBSS
PASS Sensor Modu
Assembly and Batte
UP DISPLAY Pack
ULATOR
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AV3000 FACE PIECE
Regulator Protection Cup
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HARNESS
• Constructed of a lightweight
aircraft aluminum alloy, the
back frame follows the shape
of the user’s back.
• The back frame places the
bulk of the SCBA’s weight on
the user’s hips, where wrap-
around wings provide
comfortable hip support.
• Results in a design intended
to minimize shoulder fatigue
and give the user maximum
freedom of movement.
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CONTROL CONSOLE
Featuring Automatic Activation
Of PASS Device
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HEADS-UP REGULATOR
QUICK DISCONNECT
When Reconnecting, Make Sure You Align The HEADS-UP Display Plug
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CBRN REGULATOR
Donning Switch Heads-Up Display
Facepiece Lock
Purge Valve
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HEADS-UP DISPLAY
FULL GREEN LOW BATTERY
¾ GREEN LIGHT WARNING
LIGHT (RED)
½ YELLOW
LIGHT
(FLASHING
SLOWLY)
¼ RED
LIGHT
(FLASHING
RAPIDLY)
2 GREEN LIGHTS = FULL CYLINDER
ONE GREEN LIGHT = 3/4 CYLINDER
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County YELLOW
Fire/Rescue Training = 1/2
Academy CYLINDER
- Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
ONE FLASHING RED = 1/4 CYLINDER
Scott 4.5 AV2000 Face Piece
Polycarbonate Lens
PBI/Kevlar 4-point Harness
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Scott AV2000® Face Piece
We use three sizes of face pieces:
Small has a green rubber seal.
Large has a black rubber seal.
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AV 3000 FACE PIECE
Sleek Low Profile Improves Downward And Peripheral Vision
Six-point Quad Adjustment Head Harness
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Communications
AV 3000 FACE PIECE
LOANER
UNIT
RED WEBBING INDICATES UNIT FACE PIECE
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BLUE WEBBING Training Academy
INDICATES - Recruit Fire
LOANER FACE Fighter Training Program
PIECE
AV3000 FACEPIECE
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RIC UAC CONNECTION
RIC UAC
RELIEF VALVE
UNIVERAL AIR CONNECTION
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RIC UAC
CONNECTION
RIC PAK
UNIVERAL AIR CONNECTION
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RIC UAC CONNECTION
AIR-PAK respirators in
compliance with NFPA
1981 are fitted with a
Rapid Intervention Crew
Universal Air Connection
System which permits
emergency
replenishment of an
approved SCBA
breathing air supply
cylinder on a user’s
respirator from an
approved air supply
source while in use.
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45-Minute Cylinder
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SCBA Cylinder
Kevlar Wrapped Aluminum 30-Minute Cylinder
Fiberglass Wrapped Aluminum 30-Minute Cylinder
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SCBA Cylinder
Carbon Fiber/ Kevlar
Wrapped Aluminum
Cylinder
All MCFRS companies are transitioning to
these 45-minute cylinders
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SCBA Cylinder Valve
Cylinder Valve Knob
High Pressure
Connection
Cylinder Gauge
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SCBA Cylinder Information
Month
Cylinder Pressure
Year
All Cylinders Must Have a Current Hydrostatic Test Label
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Scott SCBA Important Data
• Maximum cylinder pressure is 4500 psi
• SCBA operating pressure is 100 psi
• 30-minute cylinders hold 45 cu ft of air
• 45-minute cylinders hold 66 cu ft of air
• 60-minute cylinders hold 87 cu ft of air
• VibraAlert activates at ¼-cylinder capacity
• Hydrostatic test needed every 3-years on
composite cylinders.
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Scott SCBA Important Data
• MOSH NIOSH certified
• Weight 30 min. 21 lbs..
• Weight 45 min. 27 lbs..
• Weight 60 min. 32 lbs..
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SCBA Inspection
• Daily Inspection
– Cylinder is full (>4000psi), VibraAlert®
functions, purge valve and donning switch
operate properly, face piece is in good
condition, PASS device operates properly.
• Monthly Inspection
– Check all components for deterioration,
clean and disinfect the regulator.
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SCBA Maintenance
• Preventive Maintenance & Repair
– SCBA Repair Shop 240-777-2221
– SCBA repair technicians are Scott certified and
are the only personnel authorized to repair
MCFRS SCBA.
– Annual preventive maintenance is performed on
all MCFRS
– SCBA repairs are made on an as needed basis by
completing a repair tag and forwarding the item to
the repair shop.
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SCBA Repair Request Form
Must be completed for all SCBA repairs
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SCBA Donning & Doffing
• Donning
– PPE in-place
– Check unit
– Don
• Doffing
– Face Piece Removal
– Harness
– Replace Cylinder
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SCBA Donning
1 2
3 4
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Donning the Face Piece
1 2
3 4
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Doffing the SCBA
• When doffing (removing) the SCBA and
face piece, simply reverse the donning
order.
• Restore the unit to its original condition
ensuring that all straps are extended.
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Replacing the Cylinder
1 2
3 4
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SCBA Emergency Procedures
• Face Piece Failure
• Breathing Regulator Malfunction
• Pressure Reducer Malfunction
• Air Depletion
You will learn these procedures in the practical sessions.
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Emergency Breathing Support
System (EBSS)
EBSS May Save Your Life!
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SCBA Cleaning
• SCBA unit
– Mild soap and water using a scrub brush.
– Do not submerse components in water!
– Do not submerse an integrated PASS in water!
• Face piece
– Mild soap and water using a soft cloth.
– Can use an approved disinfectant if needed.
• Breathing regulator
– Multi-wash solution
– 6 sprays, wait 10-minutes,
– Rinse with spray bottle of clean water
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Refilling SCBA Cylinders
• Cylinders are refilled based upon the principle of air
moving from high pressure to low pressure.
• Cylinders are refilled using either a storage bank of
larger cylinders (cascade system) or a breathing air
compressor system, or a combination of both.
• All safety guidelines must be followed in order to
prevent injuries should a cylinder rupture during
refilling operations.
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Refilling
SCBA Cylinders
Storage Breathing
Tanks Air
Compressor
Shielded
Fill
Station
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Refilling SCBA Cylinders
A typical fill station
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Refilling SCBA Cylinders
Air 16
MCFRS operates three, mobile air units capable of refilling
SCBA cylinders at the emergency scene.
Air 33 from Station 33, Air 16 from Station 16 and Air
1 from Rescue Co 1
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Review
• Common Hazardous • SCBA Limitations
Atmospheres • Scott 4.5 SCBA
• Gas Toxicity • Inspection &
• Types of Breathing Maintenance
Apparatus • Donning & Doffing
• SCBA Wearer • Emergency
Requirements Procedures
• Cleaning & Refilling
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
This program was developed by the
Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy
© 2007
No part may be used or copied without the
expressed written consent of the Training Officer.
© 2007 Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy - Recruit Fire Fighter Training Program
All of the color drawings for this presentation
were developed and:
© Copyright 1998, Board of Regents, Oklahoma State University
All Rights Reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced
without prior written permission from the publisher.
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