Fire Department Services
Firefighters involved with interior structural firefighting rely on the air in their SCBA as their life line due to the unknown and Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere they work in. For this reason both OSHA and NFPA have imposed special respiratory and operational requirements for interior structural firefighting. In addition to specific Respiratory Protection Program requirements the quality of the breathing air in the SCBA must meet a least Grade D (Grade E if also used for SCUBA) criteria. The required characteristics that should be monitored, per NFPA, on a quarterly basis are:
GRADE D & GRADE E AIR QUALITY SPECIFICATIONS
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Compressed breathing air sample collection is a critical aspect and relates to the data quality produced in the laboratory. Sensitive laboratory instrumentation cannot reconstitute the integrity of a sample improperly collected. AQL has developed the AQL TEST KIT as an easy and economical means of collecting samples from a compressed breathing air source that meets the requirements of CGA/ANSI G-7.1-1997.
Contact AQL to start your Breathing Air Testing Program today.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM
A written Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) the addresses all aspects of the Fire Departments respiratory procedures is required by OSHA and NFPA. In addition to addressing Breathing Air Quality requirements the RPP documents policy and procedures for such topics as:
- SELECTION OF RESPIRATORS
- MEDICAL EVALUATIONS
- FIT TESTING PROCEDURES
- PROPER USE OF SCBA
- SCBA WRITTEN STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
- TRAINING
- SCBA IN SERVICE INSPECTION
- MAINTENANCE
- PROGRAM EVALUATION
- RECORD KEEPING
Air Quality Laboratories, Inc. (AQL), 961 Doral Drive, Bartlett, IL 60103-3030. Tel: 630-830-4018; Fax: 630-830-4185.