There have been several well-documented incidents during the past 10 years where SCBA failure may have been a contributing factor in the deaths or injuries of firefighters¹. These incidents, coupled with a recognition of the importance of self-contained breathing apparatus to firefighter safety, prompted the United States Fire Administration to undertake this study to address any operations trends associated with SCBA failure incidents, and to identify potential problems requiring correction or further study.
1 Several of these incidents have been investigated and published as part of the United States Fire Administration’s Major Fires Technical Report Series. Of particular note are the reports entitled: Three Firefighter Fatalities in Training Exercise Milford, MI; Three Firefighters Die in Pittsburgh House Fire; and Sodium Explosion Critically Burns Firefighters Newton, MA.
Catastrophic failures of SCBA are characterized by the sudden and unexpected failure of any component that would subsequently expose the user to a hazardous environment, or introduce a major complication hindering the ability to escape from the environment. Failures of this nature are relatively uncommon occurrences, especially considering the very large number of route uses of SCBA by firefighters and rescue personnel each day. Although catastrophic failures of SCBA are rare, the evidence suggests that “low-order” failures of SCBA are more common. Examples of low-order failures include freeflowing or improperly connected regulators, improperly tightened or connected hoses, inadequate face-to-facepiece seal resulting in air leakage, or blown O-rings during cylinder changes. These problems are often attributable to operator error or inadequate preventive maintenance. Although these failures may not directly result in firefighter death or injury, they are a concern because they may reduce efficiency or hamper the coordination required for safe and successful operations. For example, a low-order failure may result in delayed ventilation by a truck crew, thus slowing the advance of the engine company which is attacking the fire.
Standards and testing procedures have been changed over time to address problems which led to failures and to ensure that SCBA are more durable and reliable. Nonetheless, firefighters must realize that catastrophic failures of SCBA are still possible. There are limits to the physical and environmental
punishment that SCBA can endure. Regular inspection, upgrade, and preventive maintenance will lessen the potential for catastrophic failures of SCBA. The report identifies a variety of issues and operational aspects of SCBA failures, particularly those related to maintenance and user training. Suggestions for addressing these issues are included throughout the report.
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