NFPA SCBA Alert

[ny10570 745]

This seems like an obvious one to me, but apparently it needs to be said...

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/CodesStandards/SCBA_Alert_070212.pdf

Exposure to high temperature environments, which

firefighters can encounter during fires they are

attempting to extinguish, can result in the thermal

degradation or melting of a Self- Contained Breathing

Apparatus (SCBA) facepiece lens, resulting in

elimination of the protection meant for the user’s

respiratory system and exposing the user to products

of combustion and super heated air.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

It does seem blatantly obvious, almost insultingly so, to conduct an entire study that tells us "inspect your SCBA, if its broken, don't wear it."

But then again, if they had to do this study and found it contributed to LODDs, it must not be obvious to everyone.

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Instead of alerting to the danger of melting face pieces, why not spend the money, time and effort developing one that is more resistant to intense heat and flame?

[61MACKBR1 222]

Survivair's Panther HUD Industrial SCBA has all of the latest technology related to dealing with intense heat and temperatures

Instead of alerting to the danger of melting face pieces, why not spend the money, time and effort developing one that is more resistant to intense heat and flame?

[antiquefirelt 994]

Survivair's Panther HUD Industrial SCBA has all of the latest technology related to dealing with intense heat and temperatures

Now if they could just change the shape of their mask and make it fit a Scott 4.5 and they'd have a decent pack! OK, maybe that's harsh, hopefully they've come a long way in 20 years, but there was a reason they were referred to as Surprise Air...

[ex-commish 490]

"Instead of alerting to the danger of melting face pieces, why not spend the money, time and effort developing one that is more resistant to intense heat and flame? "

There you go again Cap making sense again...

[drgripsthrowawaytowel 72]

Instead of alerting to the danger of melting face pieces, why not spend the money, time and effort developing one that is more resistant to intense heat and flame?

one would think that the NFPA would have already recommend that face pieces be able to withstand the high heat of a structural fire. Has any research been done to figure out at what temperature most face pieces are failing at? If they're failing before flashover point, there's a serious issue.