Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) are one of the most important items of personal protective equipment used by firefighters and rescue personnel. SCBA allow firefighters to enter hazardous environments to perform essential interior operations including offensive fire attack, victim search, rescue and removal, ventilation, and overhaul. They are also used at non-fire incidents involving hazardous materials and confined spaces where there is a threat of toxic fumes or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. There have been several well-documented incidents during the past 10 years where SCBA failure may have been a contributing factor in the deaths or injuries of firefighters1. These incidents, coupled with a recognition of the importance of self-contained breathing apparatus to firefighter safety, prompted the United States Fire Administration to undertake this study to address any operations trends associated with SCBA failure incidents, and to identify potential problems requiring correction or further study.

Two seasoned fire officers take an in-depth look into the causes of line of duty deaths in residential building fires, and offer incident recommendations. This book is designed to provide firefighters and fire officers “street proven” tips, techniques, and company-level drills that address and overcome the 25 most common errors that occur at residential building fires.

As part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, the Technology Evaluation Branch agreed to examine and evaluate three Scott 4500 psi, 30-minute, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The branch also agreed to photograph a set of protective clothing to document its condition, but any further analysis or evaluation of the clothing should be done by an entity with the appropriate experience and capability. This SCBA status investigation was assigned NIOSH task number 14292. The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy was advised that NIOSH would provide a written report of the inspections and any applicable test results. Three complete respirators were provided. The SCBA designated as Unit #1 was the unit being worn by the victim of a fatal incident at the fire academy. It and the protective clothing worn by the victim were delivered to the NIOSH facility in Bruceton, Pennsylvania on October 28, 2005. Two additional facepieces were received on November 10, 2005; these were reportedly from the stock of equipment in use at the fire academy. On December 7, 2005, two sets of backframes, pneumatics, and cylinders were received. These were matched with the two facepieces and designated as Units #2 and #3. All of the equipment was taken to the Firefighter SCBA Evaluation Lab in building 108 and stored under lock until the time of the evaluation.