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Nfpa Air Mask Requirements

The National Fire Protection Association has several requirements for self-contained breathing apparatuses. These standards help ensure that fire fighters are safe from heat and smoke inhalation.

  1. CBRN Rules

    • All SCBAs are required to comply with regulations regarding chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, or CBRN, agents. NFPA standard require that all SCBAs be CBRN compliant. SCBA must be equipped with an air-purifying respirator, escape respirator and powered respirator that protect against CBRN agents.

    Voice Communication

    • SCBA must have an electronic voice communication system that is clear at 10 feet and a mechanical diaphragm that can be heard clearly at 5 feet.

    Underwater

    • All SCBAs must be watertight and functional after being exposed to six cycles of heat at 350 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes and submerged in water to a depth of 1.5 meters.

    Durability

    • The SCBA must be tested for durability if it includes a personal alert safety system, which sounds an alarm if the SCBA is inactive for a certain period. For this test, the SCBA is exposed to three hours of tumbling in a cage, which is meant to ensure the circuitry will function in a similar real world situation.

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