1. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
Basic SCBA
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

2. Introduction
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

3. Introduction (cont’d.)
Any inhaled toxic gas can directly cause disease of the lung tissue
One in 12 firefighters is injured in the line of duty each year
Smoke inhalation accounts for 18 percent of fatalities
21 percent of fireground injuries

4. Conditions Requiring Respiratory Protection
Oxygen deficiency
High temperatures
Smoke or by-products of combustion
Toxic environments

5. 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

6. Table 7-1 Effects of Hypoxia (Reduced Oxygen)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Table 7-2 Toxic Gases Formed as Products of Combustion

11. Legal Requirements for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Use
Common sense: Use SCBA on every fire scene
Start to finish
Regulations developed for SCBA use
Organizations established regulations and standards

12. Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1910.134
Establishes standards for all entries into IDLH atmospheres
April 1998 revision contains requirements related to interior structural firefighting
Defines interior structural firefighting as IDLH
Requires the use of SCBA
Requirements for complete respiratory protection program
Regular medical evaluation

13. NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program
Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) must adopt the standard for the fire department
Three additional standards:
NFPA 1404: minimum requirements for protection programs
NFPA 1981: design and performance criteria
NFPA 1982: standards on PASS

14. 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

15. Figure 7-7 Continuous training with SCBA is one of the keys to effective firefighting operations.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Figure 7-11 An example of an air consumption test.

20. 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

21. 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

22. Figure The four components of the open-circuit SCBA are the backpack/harness, cylinder, regulator, and face piece assemblies.

23. Head Harness
Head Straps
Nose Cone
Voice Emitter
Head Straps
Regulator Adapter Port

24. Air Saver Switch or the Don/Doff Switch
Heads Up Display (HUD)
Purge Valve
(Emergency Bypass)
Face Piece Lock Tab Mechanism
Regulator Quick Disconnect with HUD Connector
Air Saver Switch or the
Don/Doff Switch

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Figure Firefighters must perform regular checks of SCBA to ensure the unit’s ability to operate.

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Operation and Emergency Procedures
Fire departments must establish respiratory protection programs
Firefighters must be proficient in the safe use of SCBA
Donning and doffing procedures
Individual limitations
Limitations of SCBA unit

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. Figure Firefighters may have to get beneath an obstacle to facilitate their escape, which may also require them to lower their profile.

44. 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

45. Figure 7-32 Emergency procedures check.

46. 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

47. 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

48. (A)
(B)
Figure (A) A cascade system is one of the systems available to service SCBA cylinders. These may be fixed or mobile units. (B)

49. 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

50. 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.

51. Summary
The firefighter must be familiar and comfortable with the use, emergency procedures, inspection, and maintenance of an SCBA.
The firefighter must be proficient in the proper and rapid procedures for donning and doffing SCBA.