SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS
YOU NEED FRESH AIR WHETHER AT WORK OR
AT HOME
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND UNDERWATER
BREATHING APPARATUS
We all know what a SCUBA diving
apparatus is and in many movies we see the Divers wearing this gear and go
underwater in search of Pearls or in case of accidents searching or undertaking
rescue work for survivors. Here the Cylinder uses regenerated Oxygen for breathing. These are the Closed-Circuit Self-Contained
breathing apparatus (CC-SCBA) devices are described as an apparatus of the type
in which the exhaled breath is rebreathed by the wearer after the carbon
dioxide has been effectively removed and oxygen concentration restored to
suitable levels.
Little do many know that similar Apparatus is worn by Industrial Rescuers and Fire Fighters who instead of water enter Smoke Environments in search of survivors who may have either become unconscious or may have collapsed in case of Fire Breaking out in the Building, Market place, Industry and other places where sudden Fire erupts?
So what is this and how and where it is used?
It’s what is known as an Open-circuit industrial breathing sets which are filled with filtered, compressed
air, rather than pure oxygen.
A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), also known as
open-circuit rescue or firefighter SCBA and sometimes referred to as
a compressed air breathing apparatus (CABA) or simply breathing
apparatus (BA),which is a device worn to provide breathable air in an
atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to life or health. They are
typically used in firefighting and industry.
The term self-contained means that the SCBA is not dependent on a remote supply of breathing gas (e.g., through a long hose). It has a full face mask, regulator, air cylinder, cylinder pressure gauge, remote pressure gauge (sometimes with an integrated PASS device), and a harness with adjustable shoulder straps and waist belt which lets it be worn on the back. The air is supplied through the cylinder which usually comes in one of three standard sizes: 4 litres, 6 litres, or 6.8 litres.
History of Evolution of SCBA-Excerpts
The earliest use of any form of BA was noted in
historical texts. One of the earliest attempts was a primitive device – an
animal bladder filled with air to assist a diver who, weighted by a stone, sank
to the bottom of a river. The main limitation of this system was the extremely
short duration of decent due to the small amount of stored air available.
In 1818, a farmer’s barn caught fire in Whitstable
in the UK, the farmer tried to extinguish the fire using a small hand-operated
water pump, to no avail. John Deane, who was just 18 years of age, removed the
helmet from an old suit of armour and placed it on the farmer’s head, attaching
the hose previously used for pumping water to the helmet. Deane then used the
same hand-operated pump to supply air instead of water to the helmet, and the
farmer was able to enter the barn and lead his horses to safety.
LONDON FIRE BRIGADE-1936
In 1879, the notable invention of a regenerative
breathing apparatus by a British marine engineer, Henry Fleuss, who managed to
create an effective system in a mine rescue operation at Killingworth Colliery.
Even though BA had been in use within the London
Fire Brigade since 1913, it was not until 1943 that the Brigade started to
consider formalising such use.
[Published: 01st Aug 2008 in Health and Safety
Middle East] [Authored by Pat McLoughlin has more than 27 years’ experience in
health and safety. He was with ROSPA for six years before forming British
Safety Services in the Sultanate of Oman, with his business partner Steve
Burke.]
Open circuit SCBAs use either "positive
pressure" or "negative pressure" operation.
Leading companies in the Self Contained
Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Market are: 3M
Co., Avon Rubber Plc, DEZEGA, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Honeywell
International Inc., Jiaxing Rongsheng Lifesaving Equipment Co. Ltd., MSA Safety
Inc., Oceanco Inc., and Spasciani Spa.
In India the main players are MSA, Scott Safety, Draeger, Honeywell,
Sure Safety, Venus, etc. to name a few major players.
Important Note:
Care and maintenance of your SCBA unit are vital
steps to staying safe in the hazardous environments you face in your important
job. The best Valentine’s Day present that you can give to your loved
ones is coming home to them safe and sound.
[Jaclyn Krah, MA
Ms. Krah is a Health Communication Specialist in the NIOSH National
Personal Protective Technology Laboratory.]
The global self-contained breathing apparatus
market size has the potential to grow by USD 243.79 million at CAGR Of 4.28%
during 2020-2024, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate during the
forecast period.
There are 3 main types of Breathing
Apparatus – Escape, Self-Contained and Airline.
Escape sets: An Emergency escape equipment,
allowing between 10 and 15 minutes of breathable air helps escape to a safe place
and is normally used in areas where regular BA sets cannot be accommodated due
to size constraints as in confined spaces and work is carried out using
Airlines and an Escape set is worn by the user to move out in emergency
situations.
Confined spaces work, for example:
Silos / Sewers / Ships holds /Storage tanks / ISO
containers etc.
Work activities requiring Respiratory
Protection include;
Welding / Sand/grit blasting / Boiler/tank
inspections / Cleaning using solvents /Ship tank cleaning/inspection / Spraying
/Chemical/nuclear material handling / Dusts etc.
Conformity to suitable standards:
All BA and associated equipment and rescue
gear to suitable internationally recognised quality standards like EN, NFPA,
BIS, ISO etc.
What’s important here is to note that Air (A
mix of Oxygen and other gases) and not only oxygen is important for staying
alive. Oxygen only is administered in Medical Emergencies under Medical
Supervision but at the same time there are certain non-medical situations which
may require External Air support system to either work or Rescue or combat
emergencies. SCBA is the answer to such situations and proper use of SCBA needs
to be understood so that it supports life.
The Industries which use these products are;
Fire Brigades
Airports
Railways
All Industries
Defence & Para Military
Police
Disaster Management Authorities etc.
The Government needs to be stringent in
implementing its recommendations for proper use with the Industry and with Fire
departments but it is for the individual and the organization which needs to
implement the use of the right product which is properly tested and certified
for the right application. Use of Carbon Composite Air storage cylinders make
these equipment Light in weight and comfortable to use by all where required.
Pandemics or no Pandemics Fire is here to stay
and so is smoke as a result of Fire so
SCBA is also here to stay but what is important is the right purchase of
the product and proper training to use it in emergent times.
Click here for ‘Saviour’ Self Contained Breathing
Apparatus and other Respiratory Protective Equipment(RPE)
‘THE MOST DEPENDENT SCBA FROM SURE SAFETY-‘BECAUSE
WE WANT YOU TO BREATHE FREELY’
- Protection is required for working in Environments which are either hazardous or devoid of sufficient oxygen; this is necessary while working in Confined Spaces, Hazardous Areas or during Fire Fighting operations. Here dependable, light weight Breathing system & ease of use is a must. Saviour Lightweight Breathing Apparatus suffices the need.
