SOP 205.01 SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

It is the policy of Ennis Fire Department that all personnel expected or likely to respond to, and function in, areas of atmospheric contamination, will be equipped with, and trained in the proper use and maintenance of the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus [S.C.B.A.]

Each member, where assigned duties include fire suppression shall be accountable for one (1) SCBA, and will check that SCBA for operating condition at the beginning of each shift. The SCBA shall also be checked after each use, and any other time it may be necessary to assure that the SCBA is in a ready state for use.

Company officer shall assign apparatus engineers to check each SCBA on their apparatus. The Engineer shall be responsible for checking the operational performance of each SCBA on their assigned apparatus. If an SCBA is found to be functioning improperly, it shall be taken out of service, and tagged for repair. Each tagged unit shall be inspected, repaired and tagged for service by one of the departments’ SCBA service personnel before returning to service.

All personnel will utilize the provided SCBA when encountering the following emergencies:

IDLH Atmospheres any level

All below grade level spaces

Confined Space

All Interior Fire Operations (Active and Overhaul)

Haz-mat Operations

Any atmosphere, where it may be, or may become contaminated.

Resist the tendency to prematurely remove breathing apparatus during routine fire situations. We all must be aware of the respiratory hazards that exist in ordinary as well as extraordinary fire situations. It is generally true that Carbon Monoxide levels increase during overhaul, due to incomplete combustion of smoldering materials.

Do not remove your S.C.B.A. until the atmosphere has been determined to be safe to operate within. Either use your S.C.B.A. or change the atmosphere.

Company or Command Officers will make the determination as to removal of breathing apparatus in routine situations. In complex situations, particularly when toxic materials are involved the Safety Officer and /or the fireground commander should be consulted.

Ennis Fire Department Personnel may use only Positive Pressure Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

An evaluation of all members of the fire suppression division in the use of the Positive Pressure Self Contained Breathing Apparatus shall be conducted annually, or at any time the Department changes or adds different brands of S.C.B.A.

Each member shall be able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency and compatibility with the S.C.B.A. under conditions comparable to those the members would expect to function under as a job requirement.

Any SCBA that is assigned to an individual user or in-service apparatus shall be inspected at the beginning of each duty period and where an SCBA is not assigned to an individual user or in-service apparatus but is available for immediate use or a duty period, the inspection shall be performed at least weekly and shall include a check of the entire unit for deteriorated components, air tightness of cylinders and valves, gauge comparison, reducing valve and bypass valve operation, and check of the regulator, exhalation valve, and low-air alarm. All other SCBA shall be inspected prior to being placed into service. The inspection shall comply with the minimum requirements of the National Fire Protection Association. The SCBA shall be clean and ready for service. All daily inspections of in-service SCBA assigned to personnel shall be noted as “ok” on the assigned unit check sheet if it passes inspection. If unit fails inspection, remove the complete unit; tag the unit and place the unit in the SCBA maintenance room. Replace the unit with an available for service unit. All available for service units shall be checked weekly, and status noted and signed on the unit tag. The department will conduct complete monthly inspections of all SCBA units by the SCBA technicians.

All bottles used on self-contained breathing apparatus are tested as required by the manufacturer and the Department of Transportation. This Test shall include a Hydro-static” test as required by the type of SCBA bottle. Any bottle at or past current hydro-static test date shall be removed from service until tested. Any SCBA bottle that has reached its service life shall be removed from service and properly disposed of by the SCBA technician in charge of the program.

A complete inspection and performance shall be conducted annually, by the departments’ certified SCBA technicians. This shall include end of service indicators for the complete SCBA unit. Visual and performance test shall be conducted. The performance evaluations and test shall utilize the “Posicheck” machine using the ISI 32 bit software. All units pass or fail records shall be maintained during each annual test. If a unit fails, it shall be taken out of service until repaired and a pass performance test has been recorded.

All records on inspection, repair, performance and etc., pertaining to SCBA units shall be maintained for at least three years.