On July 11, 1996 a member of the Roxbury Township, Morris County, Fire Department, Firefighter Paul Label, age 29, was in the process of recharging an aluminum 2216 psi SCBA cylinder from the department’s cascade system at about 2038 hours, when it failed catastrophically resulting in serious injuries to Mr. Label.
On October 8, 1996 a similar failure of an aluminum 2216 psi SCBA cylinder resulted in injuries to Firefighter Eric Jensen, age 23 of the Neshanic Volunteer Fire Company of Branchburg Township, Somerset County. In this case as with the Roxbury incident, Jensen was in the process of recharging the cylinder from the department’s cascade system at about 1930 hours, when it failed catastrophically.
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FIREFIGHTER KILLED IN SCBA CYLINDER EXPLOSION
On Sunday, March 13, 1993, Firefighter Dennis Rodd of the Coram, New York, Fire Department suffered a fatal injury when the high pressure (4500 psi) self-contained breathing apparatus cylinder exploded. Rodd, a 47-year-old with 13 years of department service, had filled the cylinder and sat it aside when the explosion occurred.
As a result, the Suffolk County, New York, Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services issued the following notice:
SUBJECT: Failure of a high-pressure (4500 psi) self-contained breathing apparatus cylinder.
CAUSE: Unknown at this time. Presently under investigation by the Suffolk County Police and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
INCIDENT: On Saturday, March 13, 1993, Firefighter Dennis Rodd of the Coram Fire Department suffered a fatal injury.
The injury appears to be the result of a catastrophic failure of a high-pressure SCBA air cylinder during a
refilling operation.
CYLINDER: DOT E-7235, flat bottom, hoop wrapped, composite fiberglass and aluminum cylinder with a normal fill pressure of 4500 psi.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: All departments using this type of cylinder should inventory same to ensure compliance with the following regulations and recommendations:
1. U.S. DOT has advised that composite cylinders of this type are manufactured under an exemption which required hydrostatic testing every three years and limits the service life to 15 years.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Respiratory User Notice dated May 7, 1985, which states, “The cylinder without a neck ring cannot be used as part of an MESHA/NIOSH-approved self contained breathing apparatus after September 1, 1986. Do not pressurize a 4500 psi/DOT-E 7235 cylinder above 4000 psi until after the neck ring is installed.”
If a composite air cylinder of this type is found not to be in compliance, it should removed from service, depleted of air, and the valve closed. Once the cylinder is made safe, you should contact either the local vendor servicing the self contained breathing apparatus you use or the manufacturer of the unit itself.