How to choose your ideal SCBA?

By Regina Jenatschke, Product Marketing Manager, MSA Europe

A SCBA is used for all operations in hazardous atmospheres and fire fighting. The ideal SCBA will meet the demands of any application in which it’s used.

“Following the purchase of an MSA breathing apparatus, the customer continues to benefit from the customisable system - worldwide, the only one of its kind - as almost every component can be retrofitted”

The wide ranging and extensive use of SCBAs by the emergency services means that the equipment has to be versatile. SCBAs are not only used for fire fighting but also in various economic sectors such as agriculture, the chemical industry, waste management, offshore oil rigs and oil refineries. This means the selection of the ideal SCBA that meets your needs is even more complex. A completely standardized product can’t hope to meet the varied demands of every application or to be as economical as it needs to be.

To find the ideal SCBA, users should be aware of their own particular requirements concerning:
• operating time
• frequency of use
• extreme exposure to flame and heat (e.g. due to frequent fire fighter training)
• comfort levels
• the range of options required (like 2nd man attachment, Quick-Fill and so on)
• the particular electronic features required, e.g. for monitoring pressure, Telemetry,

Head-Up-Display

Some examples & recommendations for Users:
If the SCBA is required for applications involving lengthy periods of operation and/or frequent use, a very robust and comfortable solution is recommended. The user should consider which particular features he requires in order to meet the specific requirements of the application for which the SCBA is to be used, e.g. if the SCBA needs to be attached to an air line, or worn with a chemical suit. If the user wants to monitor pressure status, have a motion alarm and wants to receive evacuation notification he should look for a SCBA featuring an integrated telemetry system.

In addition to these considerations, the user should think about the system upgrades
that may be required for future use. If flexibility is a priority, a modular system is
recommended, to allow retro-fitting - e.g. a more comfortable shoulder strap or electronic
monitoring aids can be added at a later stage, once a larger budget becomes available.
Moreover the user should consider the cost of maintenance and of replacing components
over the course of the SCBA’s service life. The simple construction of the components, e.g. the pressure reducer, ensures easy maintenance. This means buying fewer high quality components, which may well prove to be ultimately the most economical solution.

When considering where to buy the appropriate SCBA, the purchaser should also think about the additional equipment that will be used with the SCBA – lung-governed demand valves, masks, helmets and the SCBA monitoring system. To ensure an integrated safety solution it is recommended to purchase everything from a single supplier who offers the full range of high quality personal protective equipment.

Luckily MSA offers users the unique possibility of configuring a customised SCBA, according to individual requirements and personal preferences. Using an interactive configurator, the customers can create their own breathing apparatus simply and intuitively, according to their individual requirements. Users compare and choose from a selection of backplates, harnesses, pneumatic systems and monitoring electronic components. More than 4000 configurations are possible, all approved according to EN137:2006 [2]. [ Link: http://www.msa-scba.com/ ]

Another clever innovation of the Configurator is the option of three “presets” that are based on MSA’s experience of the most common applications. The AirGo Pro is ideal for maintenance and emergency situations for plant, sub-surface or offshore use. The AirGo Compact, on the other hand, is for emergency response and escape operations in the budget range, and features a lung-governed demand valve fixed to a medium pressure line. Finally, the AirMaXX offers maximum comfort and technical sophistication.

Following the purchase of an MSA breathing apparatus, the customer continues to benefit from the customisable system – worldwide, the only one of its kind – as almost every component can be retrofitted.

Since the launch of the Configurator and the modular system, what has been the feedback so far? “Freedom of choice is the aspect that firefighters all around the world have appreciated the most. The system asks six application-related questions, and from that point it provides the optimum device.”

In addition MSA offers a comprehensive product portfolio including state-of-the-art lung-governed demand valves, masks, helmets and monitoring systems. MSA products are designed to ensure the integrated system compatibility. MSA’s own software integrates perfectly into our range of hardware.

Author:
Regina Jenatschke
Product Marketing Manager
MSA EUROPE
T: +49 [30] 68 86 - 0
F: +49 [30] 68 86 - 1558
E: contact@msa-europe.com
www.msa-europe.com