What Is an SCBA Respirator?
If you work in a hazardous environment that may contain oxygen deficiency, smoke, dangerous gases and other airborne contaminants that would be harmful to breathe, you’ll need the protection of a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The SCBA respirator features a facemask that connects to an external source of air, such as a tank or canister of compressed oxygen.
This independent air supply is scba respirator for many industries and job duties, including firefighting, chemical processing, oil drilling, pulp/paper production, and more. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a program that allows it to approve SCBA respirators for use by emergency responders in chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) environments.
The approved SCBA respirator meets a set of standards, including the requirements for tight-fitting faceseals and user seal checks. The user seal check requires a worker to blow in the mouthpiece and check for a full seal against the nose, mouth and jaw, which should feel comfortable and not restrict movement. If a person’s fit test results in an unacceptable seal, the respirator must not be used.
SCBA Respirators: What They Are and When to Use Them
SCBA respirators can be broken down into escape-only and entry-and-escape models. Escape-only SCBAs are often continuous-flow devices that can be donned for emergency protection, while entry-and-escape SCBAs enable untethered mobility within the range of their air supply hose.
The scba respirator is also available in an open- or closed-circuit model, with the latter commonly called a “rebreather.” In the open-circuit type, exhaled air is vented directly into the atmosphere. In the closed-circuit type, on the other hand, the exhaled air is retained, filtered, supplemented and recirculated, which provides a longer-duration supply of oxygen.