1. What is a SCBA set and Why it is a lifesaver ?
Introduction
Safety point of view, SCBA Set is considered as Respiratory PPE. SCBA set is most reliable and crucial PPE under respiratory PPE category.
What Does it means the word of SCBA ?
SCBA set full form is Self Contained Breathing Apparatus , it means it , itself contain the required air for breathing in a cylinder , We need not to take the air from other outside sources or environment. The equipment itself independently use air contain inside the cylinder. That why , the name is SCBA set.
2. What are the parts of SCBA set ?
Generally A SCBA set contain the following Parts:
A full set of SCBA have following Parts:
- Cylinder:- A light Weight Cyilnder made of different type of Material Like Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, Magnet Steel etc. Now a days, Most of cylinders are made of Reinforced carbon composite wrapped with inner MS or SS cylinnder. Carbon composite cyliner provide fire resistance and light weight properties to SCBA set which is user friendly properties.
- Full face Piece Mask:- A full face pieces mask to inhale and cover the face .
- LCDR: it is very crucial parts of SCBA set and it regulate and control the air coming from cyliner as per user requirement. it is actuate by our lungs and as and when required it operated to release the air inside the face mask to breath .
- High pressure Line: it is special line contain the high pressure of air equal to cyilner and regulate by pressure assembly.
- Low Pressure Line: as we know, we can not use the direct high pressure of cylinder , pressure assembly or pressure reduce regulator , reduce the pressure as per our requirement for breath and supply the low pressure air to face mask .
- Back Plate:- To hold the cylinder and entire set on back of personal , it attached to cylinder to carry the cylinder while use. Back plate have shoulder strip to fasten the cylinder , waist strop to fasten the back plate at abdomen area to carry in controlled condition.
- PASS:- Personal Alert Safety System , It is a device to incorporate in SCBA set to alert the other Person when wearer in trouble or trape in inside and there is no movement of wearer because of some self emergency. it sound the alarm and give communiaction to group personal.
- ADSU: Automatic Distress Signal unit also a safety device to alert the group person if wearer face a problem and trap in such a location and alert to evacuate the wearer.
3. Inside the SCBA cylinder: Whats is really, Air or Oxygen?
it is very confusing question for all. So many miths are there about what content is there inside the cyliner . As we know , SCBA set is use for breathing purpose where the surroundig area or workplace does not support for breathing or survival to human . A human being required fresh air to breath for survival. so the cylinder contain the compressed air inside which help wearer to breath easily when work in emeregcny situation or contaminated workplace where life threatening environment present .
4. When and Where A SCBA set can Use?
As We know , SCBA set is respiratory PPE . So obviously it is used as personal Safety or human safety. Basically SCBA set is used in following condition or situations:
- Emeregecny situation or to deal with emergecny
- Fire fighting
- Hazardous or dangerous environment
- Oxygen rich environment
- Oxygen deficient environment
- Confined space
- Arson and Sabotage.
- Environments contain life threatening gases.
- Work with highly toxic gases environment
5.How can we calcluate the use duration of One SCBA set?
The Most important things to be kept in mind when before use of SCBA set for any purpose is to ensure whether or not the same have a required air and how many time one can use it for intended purpose. To resolve this, one should have some knowledge to calculate the use duration of that SCBA set to safely complete the assigned task in emergency. generally following formula to be used to calculate the use duration of SCBA set with Safety margin consideration. Total Duration of SCABS set for use (A) = Water capacity of cylinder x pressure in gauge(bar)/40, Subtract 10 from result and You will get Actual duration of use with safety margin. Here 10 minutes is considered as safety margin to evacuate the person from vulnerable site or location. For Example, if a SCBA set cylinder have a water capacity of 6 Liter and gauge show the pressure 300 bar then, as per formula above, 6 x 300 / 40 =1800/40=45 minutes total duration, if we subs tract 10 form 45 minutes, then we get 35 Minutes of use duration of that SCBA set. Here 40 denotes the, A healthy person can consume 40-liter air in one minute