What SCBA do you use and Why?

ptvolly

I tried search and came up empty...

What SCBA does your department use and why? What issues/problems/likes/dislikes do you have with it as an end user?

I'm on a commitee for my department to review and assess new SCBA's for our department. We currently have Survivair Panther's, and we were initially very happy with them. Over the past year or so we have started having multiple problems/failures with various components, and all of our composite bottles are getting close to hydro, so our Chief has decided to look into purchasing all new systems (assuming the township approves next years budget).
I'd say we are willing to look at any and all manufacturers, but I don't think our Chief is too thrilled with Survivair at this point. I went ahead and put a poll on this, but would really like actual input about what you use also!
Thanks for your Opinions!!

Robert Neer

ISI Vikings... Love ours. only problem so far is mask cracking around regulator. Never had a failure, just small cracks on the seams. Its nice having the regulator built in. Push the button down, and your on air. pull it off and your on outside. Very easy to use.

eastfire510

My new dpeartment uses Survivair packs. My last one used scotts so its a bit of a transition for me. One thing i like about Survivair is that the PASS turns on with your air. Also with our packs we have a display inside the regulator to show how much air is left in the tank.

The down sides to these packs (to me) is the PASS device. I dont really think its that loud, compaired to the superpass they are pretty quiet. Also you have to shake the PASS pretty hard somtimes for it to shut off.

All in all i like the Survivair system.

grfd711

[quote:1a6c92e745=\"eastfire510\"]One thing i like about Survivair is that the PASS turns on with your air. Also with our packs we have a display inside the regulator to show how much air is left in the tank.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 00:53 Post subject: Re:

[quote:8dcec9c274=\"grfd711\"][quote:8dcec9c274=\"eastfire510\"]One thing i like about Survivair is that the PASS turns on with your air. Also with our packs we have a display inside the regulator to show how much air is left in the tank.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 01:15 Post subject:

Yes, integrated PASS device is a NFPA standard now. I belive the HUD is also a requirement. Eastfire- sounds like you are currently using the Panther's like we have now. I can't compare db of the pass to anything else, but that has been one of our problems. We have ones that will go off after only 3-5 seconds of no movement, and ones that movement will NOT turn off (have to manually silence).

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 01:16 Post subject:

SCOTT. The easiest to use. I have used Draeger, Viking, and Scott. I'll take a Scott, hands down, any day. It fits well, works well, and is easy to use!

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 01:22 Post subject: Re:

[quote:4a9b199f19=\"BLSBoy\"]SCOTT. The easiest to use... I'll take a Scott, hands down, any day. It fits well, works well, and is easy to use!

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 01:52 Post subject:

My department is Drager right now. I've always liked them. Never had a problem with them. Unfortunately thought one of the members wrote a grant and now we are switching everything over to Scott. Not Happy. The new Drager pack is SICK. The pack can adjust to the size of the person, integrated PASS, Heads-up display is tiny and inside the mask (everyone else is outside the mask and huge) (oh. and the mask looks ballin'), one short high pressure hose line (the rest low pressure), two battery systems (in case one fails), LEDs to alert which way a person is facing when the PASS goes off, life-time warranty (life of the pack is about 15 years now-a-days), oh... and the best part... when everything fails, the valve fails OPEN so you get air... Scott fails closed, but there is a mechanism consisting of 50 pieces that opens another valve. Drager says with their new pack your yearly maintenance consists of changing batteries and an O ring. I would definitely check out the new Drager pack... the thing sells itself. I didn't even mention everything the pack has to offer. I was literally swearing when I saw the new pack and realized we weren't getting it.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 07:32 Post subject:

Which air pack: Dr�ger Why: because that's what my department has. I like the Dr�gers, althought it's really all I've ever used. They are user friendly and even our probies can operate them. Ours tend to eat batteries (for the HUDs) quite a bit. Seems like the longer they sit, the more the batteries get run down.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 07:38 Post subject:

Scott. That's what all the surrounding departments in the area uses (including Houston), which allows greater versatility and interoperability operations during mutual aid calls, etc.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 08:39 Post subject:

Our department uses Scott SCBAs as with most of the surrounding departments. I am personally fond of Drager myself. The pack has a very sleek design that contours to the wearer, offering an exceptional level of comfort when you wear it.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 11:12 Post subject:

Scott. I've used Scott, Survivair, and even the old US Navy OBA (oxygen breathing apparatus---chemical). Scott air packs are simple, easy to use, and RELIABLE. Not saying that the other packs will leave you gasping for air, but holy hell can a Scott pack take a beating. They can take any kind of abuse you throw at them. Survivair was good. Comfortable. Operated just like a Scott. Liked how the reg would snap into the facepiece at any angle and would rotate freely. The reg seemed flimsy though---cheap plastic.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 11:19 Post subject:

We got new Scott airpacks last year. That's what we've always had, and all the depts. in our county use them, so they're great when we run mutual aid. That order was the first time we've had the composite tanks and I couldn't believe the weight difference.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 13:47 Post subject: Re:

[quote:fc3b3b69a2=\"brewmeister\"]Scott. That's what all the surrounding departments in the area uses (including Houston), which allows greater versatility and interoperability operations during mutual aid calls, etc.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 14:57 Post subject:

I pretty much used every brand out there, but I'm a Scott person. I like the Scott for the ease of service, comfortable harness (important for me with my neck problems), customer support. Granted they have had a problem with the HUD strain relief, but they have come out with a repair kit. That being said, with the next amount of grant monies, we plan on purchasing more of the same, just with 45min bottles vs the 30's.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 15:24 Post subject:

We have Scotts... Always have. Almost every Agency and Dept in my county has them accept for Freehold Boro Fire Dept.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 15:49 Post subject:

I have been using Survivair on my dept, the only packs we have but they are the older packs with the steel tanks, so gives your back a nice workout.. hoping we will get new ones soon..

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 17:08 Post subject:

Oh, and FDNY uses Scott... That must mean they're the BEST!

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 18:04 Post subject:

Scott here, just starting to switch the tanks over to carbon, boy are those nice

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 19:12 Post subject:

Thanks for the replys guys- keep 'em coming! I figured Scott would be the most common. Usually the more there are the more chance for issues or problems (not sayin' their bad, just the way numbers work). I figured MSA would be more popular too though. I'm not sure on their cost, but on paper their new packs are impressive. LOL @ brewmeister! I was waiting for someone to through that out there!

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 19:39 Post subject:

My department uses Scott. We have used them for about 3 years now, and they are fantastic. They only issue we have is the wires that connect to the rear of the pressure regulator for the head's up display pulls out. We demoed the scotts and the msa and hated the msa's due to all the junk on the pack. If you are looking to purchase packs by something with that has a metal frame. The plastic frames will break if you are using them to rescue a down firefighter. I have survivair at work, and hate them because of the plastic frame.

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 20:11 Post subject:

Scott.. a couple reasons: 1. Had it, we were very happy when we got our grant to buy all new packs. We went with 4500 PSI system with 45MIN/4500 PSI bottles, very happy with them, especially because we can use our old 30MIN/2216 PSI bottles with them, we bought labels for the bottles that are color coded just in case because we kept some of the 2216 PSI packs in service for training and units that rarely have riding personnel that will need them (i.e. ambulance/brush truck) 2. Compatibility - most other departments use them, including for example, when we go to HazMat incidents and the HazMat trailer only has radios with mics that only fit Scott. 3. Our only feature complaint that we have ever had was that the Scott RIT pack does not have vibralert on the low pressure regulator. We have only had a couple small issues, most because when we got the new stuff Scott and MSA were the only ones that had met the new NFPA requirements for things like HUD and integrated PASS. The thing about the new NFPA requirements that bugs me though is - yeah it is nice to have the buddy breather in case (the RIT connection is great.. all SHOULD have it) but first, with the HUD, it creates electronic connections that break easily, second, it is really short - you have to hug your buddy the entire time, and finally - have you ever tried to use that during a live burn (or even a real situation, which is more hectic)??? It is near impossible to disconnect and reconnect that in a timely fashion. I know the departments that have had MSA have had many problems with them. Mostly relate to the PASS alarm system which seams to get clogged so the mechanical motion sensors never work, or aren't sensitive enough to tell the difference between moving or standing still. Pimp, that is interesting how your gear has your full name. \"B Green\" or even \"Green\" not enough? Then again my Chief likes gear with everything written out. We use our unit numbers instead of last name on removable strips so we can pass them as we need to as people come and go. We were watching a video and then we saw a guy walk across the screen and his gear said \"Such and Such Department\" then the second line said \"Department Chaplain.\" Cheif goes, \"See.. now you know he is useless on the fireground\"

Posted: Sat 15-Nov-2008 23:49 Post subject:

DO NOT get Survive air, we have the newer packs, nothing but problems since the day we got them, we have 4 out of service currently and 3 or 4 bottles out of service for leaking(we only have about 20 packs and about 30 bottles) Just last weak had a structure fire , the little leds in my mask show 3/4 and I run out of freaking air fighting a basement fire. GARBAGE! Go with Scott packs, they are the best, never had a problem when I was on my other dept.

Posted: Sun 16-Nov-2008 01:03 Post subject:

I prefer Scott. They are definitely easy to use and maintain. They only thing I don't like is the waist belt, it' kind of hard to tighten both straps without cinching up your coat. And there has been a big problem with cracks forming around the mask/regulator interface on the AV2000 masks. This is caused by the regulator being turned before it is fully inserted into the mask. It can be easy to do if you're not paying attention. Not sure if this has affected he AV3000 masks or not. My old department uses all MSA. They are definitely sweet. I especially like the chest strap, it provides A LOT of stability to the pack and makes it more comfortable to wear. However, the mask mounted regulator is harder to fit and snap in than the Scotts. One huge downside to the MSA's are the constant changes. Each truck they order gets spec'ed with the current model MSA SCBA. There are five different models within the department, the most current being the Firehawk, and none of them are compatible. They all use a different style of regulator, this requires each pack being paired with a compatible mask. This throws out any possibility of each member having their own, fit tested, mask.

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