The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) officially consolidated several legacy respiratory and PPE standards—including NFPA 1981 (open-circuit SCBA) and NFPA 1982 (PASS devices)—into a single unified standard: NFPA 1970. The 2025 edition mandates three (3) primary mechanical and electronic upgrades for all new structural firefighting SCBAs:
- Changed EOSTI alarm set point
- Mandatory Removable Soft Goods
- Wireless Radio Connection Indicators
Adjusted EOSTI (i.e., Low-Air Alarm) Thresholds: The End-of-Service-Time Indicator (EOSTI) alarm set point has been updated. For standard 4,500 psi operating systems, the low-air alarm must now trigger at 31% remaining cylinder volume (compared to the previous 35% threshold). This change incorporates a refined mathematical correction factor accounting for air compressibility at high pressures.
Mandatory Removable Soft Goods: To target firefighter cancer risks and toxic chemical absorption, all soft goods—including shoulder straps, lumbar pads, and emergency breathing pouches—must be engineered for rapid, toolless removal by the user to facilitate industrial washing and decontamination.
Wireless Radio Connection Indicators: SCBAs equipped with Bluetooth or telemetry systems must now feature a dedicated visual indicator (on the control module or inside the facepiece Heads-Up Display) confirming an active wireless connection between the breathing apparatus and the user’s tactical radio.