SCBA

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kristofer DeMauro on March 12, 2008 at 7:18am

Bob,

Owasso Fire made the transition a few years ago from the MSA, low pressure, to a SCOTT Fifty, 4500 psi. We use the composite bottles, built-in PASS, on mask voice amps. Have had good luck with them. Our only issue has been the high pressure hose that leads to the guage on the shoulder leaking on a few. The base pack comes with a bell or whistle for a low air alarm. It is worth the cost to upgrade to the system that caused the mask to vibrate when the air is low. A draw back is the built-in PASS. It can't be turned off. Great for real fires, a drag for training. When firefighters are wearing the pack and it is on, they end up kinda hopping around so that the alarm will not activate. We have never had a problem with the pack during an incident. Hope it helps.

Permalink Reply by Bob Shovald on March 12, 2008 at 7:46pm

Thanks,
This is the stuff I need
Bob

Permalink Reply by Tim Rhudy on March 13, 2008 at 9:25pm

I would go with a Scott fifty 4500psi. We use them and have no big problems. I would suggest that you stay away from the HUD (heads up display). The electrical wiring going from the batter pack to the display is cracking on all of our packs. Scott is working on the problem. When they get it fixed, I would go with the HUD over the bell. The bell uses air. Good luck

Permalink Reply by Michael Osiecki on March 15, 2008 at 10:24am

We use the Scott 50's great pak and make sure you buy scott bottles not the look alikes...

Permalink Reply by Todd McKee on March 16, 2008 at 11:47pm

Hi SIr!
My Ohio Department currently uses SCOTT 4500 with inergrated pass devices and on screen display. We do not have a bell but our face peice vibrates for a low pressure alarm. Have not had any issues with them. We love them!

Permalink Reply by Michael Osiecki on March 17, 2008 at 3:15pm

Bob,

Check out the New NPFA standard on SCBA should be out the Month of March.

Permalink Reply by Timothy Overly on March 17, 2008 at 4:18pm

Don't you know that NFPA stands for No Free Publications Allowed?? ;-)LOL

Permalink Reply by David Rhodes on March 23, 2008 at 3:02pm

My personal recommendation would be the Scott 50 or new 75. The carbon fiber cylinder will decrease weight however your typical structure size and air need should determin your cylinder size. We use the 4500psi 30 min cylinder for our standard response but carry 4500psi 1 hour cylinders on specialty units and on our Air Truck so they are available if the need is there. The electronic issues with the Scott (and all others) should be cleared up with the new generation electronics. The heads up display and the viberalert are the most common. The great thing about the vibralert is that the air used to run it is not wasted. It is dumped in the mask and there is no question if your low air alarm is sounding. Any external alarms (whistles and bells) that use air are actually wasting the air. It is not much air but it might be the air you need to get out. The Scott also uses a dual redundant 1st stage regulator that is essentially 2 separate systems. One works when the pressure is below 1/4 of capacity and the other between 1/4 and full so it is used everytime. However, if one side fails the other will take over and you will go into alarm even if you have 3000 psi you will know there is a problem. No other SCBA offers this feature and claim all regulators will fail in the open position. This is true but you won't know that it happen and I have always wondered (what if it doesn't?) Good luck!