Trust all my readers are safe and doing well. Slowly but steadily we all are recovering but the threat of the pandemic has not vanished. We need to be careful and not let our guard down at any cost. This blog is a conclusion of the complete firefighter. In the first part we had basically dressed up the firefighter for facing the Hazardous condition called Elevated Temperature. Here we shall equip him to deal with Oxygen deficiency and Smoke Conditions. In some places the firefighters are called to rescue persons trapped in confined spaces. Without further ado let us get started.
In any fire ground operation when the fire is in the Fully Developed or Fully Involved stage it is very deadly. The heat and smoke emitted from the fire has often taken the lives of firemen and the threat of back draft is ever present. Any human has to breathe air to live and a fireman too needs to breathe if he has to bring the fire under control. But in fire ground operations there is always a thick blanket of smoke that makes breathing next to impossible and the noxious gases like Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide and a lot of other gases which can kill within minutes. A firefighter needs a device which can help him breathe and help him to fight the fire. That apparatus is called SCBA. Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. The SCBA helps the firefighter to breathe air so that he can breathe easy and still do his job of firefighting and Rescue. Let us see how the apparatus is made and how it works.
A SCBA typically has 3 main components,
1. A cylinder under pressure
2. A pressure regulator
3. Inhalation connection
All connected together and mounted on a back plate with harness and straps.
The Cylinder: The cylinder is made of either Steel, Aluminium or Carbon composite (Carbon fibre) material. Initially the cylinders were made of steel as it was durable and could withstand high pressure, but they were heavy and impeded movement. With the advances in technology now the material is Carbon Composite and considerably lighter. The pressure ranges from 2,216 to 5,500 psi or 154 to 376 atmospheres (BAR). The cylinder is filled with breathable air and to the neck of the cylinder is fitted a valve to open and release the air for breathing. The cylinders comes in various sizes like 4ltrs, 6ltrs and 6.8ltrs. The modern fire fighters mostly use 6ltr or 6.8ltrs. The cylinders have to tested hydrostatically once in 5 years. These cylinders are commonly called air bottles.
Pressure Regulator or Demand Valve: The demand valve supplies air to the wearer on demand. It has a bypass facility and a reset button. The demand valve is connected to the facemask through bayonet fitting. A reducer reduces the pressure from 300 BAR to 6 – 11 BAR. It will also have a pressure gauge to indicate the pressure and will have an alarm whistle to indicate to the wearer that the air is getting exhausted. Hence a trained firefighter will not use the air in the cylinder unless necessary.
Inhalation Connection: The modern breathing apparatus have a full face polycarbonate mask to which the demand valve is connected to help the firefighter breathe easy. It contains an inner mask and head straps.
There are 2 different types of SCBA which are positive pressure and negative pressure, but modern firefighters use positive pressure only. The air in the apparatus can last only for a certain amount of time and the calculation of time is as under.
The above calculations are as per standard formula and will vary from individual users and conditions.
Breathing through an SCBA is not as easy as breathing normally. Hence the wearer needs to be physically, medically and mentally fit. Usually the firefighters need to wear the fire suit and SCBA while practicing and during drills.
The wearing of an SCBA is called Donning and some of the donning methods are.
- Over the head.
- Coat Method.
- Seat mounted method.
The only problem faced by firefighters while wearing it they cannot communicate effectively. Hence firefighters design specific signals to communicate.
When the firefighter is dressed in fireman suit and he has the breathing apparatus with him then he is complete in all respects and can save numerous lives. Trust this article of mine will underline the importance of protecting our firefighters.
The Fire and Rescue Services Act says that a Fire suit and SCBA are compulsory in organizations which have the internal fire hydrant system so that the trained people can fight the fire safely till the time the firefighters arrive. What is a Fire hydrant and how it is used in firefighting we shall discuss in the subsequent blogs.
For technical specifications of SCBA, visit www.ushafire.com and www.resguardo.com
Till then stay safe and be safe.
Seshadri Varadarajan.
SCBA equipment. Nicely explained
Thanks NS. You are so helpful.
Great information sir. Good work
Thanks Bala
Very informative article! I am glad that modern day technological advancements have made is safer for firefighters to do their job while not endangering their own.
Thank you Subhadra.
Sir Fire fighting very very important to this information in a SCPA self breathing apparatus thank you sir
Thanks Rajesh
yet another nice story on fire fighter. you’ve neatly pointed out the intricacies of breathing apparatus. Eagerly awaiting for other props
Thank you sir
Well explained need of Fire 🔥 Fighting
Thanks Prassana
Extremely good information. Was great to learn about SCBA. A critical and life saving device. Great insights as always Shesha.
Thank You Venkatesh. You have been so supportive
Very informative Sesha. Explained technical aspects and usage of SCBA very well. Keep writing.
Thank you MS
Thank you for this article sir. Great to know these details.
Thank you Abi
Nicely explained Sheshadri, good job .
Thank you sir
Good to see all the technical details behind safety equipments. These layers of safety to keep the firefighters safe are essential. Hope to see more innovations in these equipments that make breathing a little easy while still continuing to provide same or even higher levels of safety for them.
Thank you Smriti
Hi Sheshadri
Does the new breathing apparatus comes with any communication systems ?
As far as i know, previously we don’ have (atleast i dont know) and any thing like that ?
Thanks
Meghanath
Hello Meghanath. Thanks for the comment. There are certain SCBA sets in the market today through which one can communicate. But during fire ground operations how much they help i have no idea. Will get back to you on this. Nice to hear from you and being supportive
Thanks Sheshadri. I think if the fire fighters are in enclosed spaces , definitely they to need to communicate to the command center. (like e.g. they need more help, they need to be rescued etc.).
Yes agreed. New technology has evolved and today they can be in communication with command centre.
Thank you sheshadri for taking time , explaining the complex SCBA in simple language, we need to familiarise this product to the field level security, facilities, electricians , sewage workers etc . Quite a lot of precious life’s can be saved by doing so .
I would also request you to write articles in / videos in local languages .
India has to adopt the culture of breathing apparatus and fireman suits .
Thank you so much for the nice words sir. Shall definitely translate in local languages of the articles sir.
Very Informative post .. Keep Rocking Sesha !
Thanks Hari
A very good information for all to understand the technical / technology support available to firefighters. This along with training makes them capable of saving lives. Since this call of emergency does not come too often, the rescue team needs to be always mentally, medically & physically fit and ready for action always. Let’s salute them as well as those who create such safety gears.
Thank you Suresh sir
You are taking lot of efforts in giving details. Great job Sesha. Keep it up
Thank you Sowmya
Keep rocking Sir👍
Fire safety guru keep rocking Sir 👍
Thanks Madam
Excellent job neatly explained proud of you Seshadri sir keep rocking
Thank you so much sir. Appreciate your support and help
One more superb knowledgeable article sir..Covered in-depth knowledge of SCBA.
Thank you Utpal
Well drafted sir.
Thank you Dr. Saravanan.
Very informative and comprehensive info on the SCBA well written and explained in your indomitable style.
We knew only a fraction of info on the real situation faced by the brave Firemen while saving lives and also risking thier own lives.
As Technology and innovation brings in new improvement in Life saving apparatus and methodology, I am sure there will be new innovations in the communications factor too will evolve which will make the Firemen job easier to strategise emergencies during a Save.
All the Best to you and Team Usha who are in a unique valuable segment of Saving lives.
Thanks Nitin
Neatly presented and well understood about an SCBA and its importance for fire fighters in saving their life. Thank you sir.
Thank You George
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Nicely explained sir. Very informative.
Thank you so much sir
Will you talk more on these points?
Yes
Very good info
Thank you so much MR. Kasi Viswanath