46 S.O.G. 

SECTION: Equipment

SUBJECT: Respiratory Breathing Air System

REVISED: 05/2002

To establish procedures for the use of:

A. Air compressor.

B. High-pressure storage system.

C. Cascade Systems.

A. Only those individuals who have been trained in the operational procedures of the respiratory breathing air system may operate said equipment.

B. All personnel operating the respiratory breathing air system shall be responsible for seeing that these guidelines are followed.

A. The Fire Chief will be responsible for insuring that he/she or person(s) designated by him/her:

1. Conduct(s) periodic training and qualifying of personnel.

2. Conducts required periodic maintenance.

B. Each Officer-In-Charge will be responsible for seeing that the air system is operated by qualified personnel, only.

C. Air system operators will be responsible for the following:

1. Filling pressures.

2. Condition of bottles as outlined in this SOP.

3. Maintaining air system record log.

4. Filling out a defective equipment form should the air system need repair and proper notification of such to the Officer-In-Charge.

A. Filling SCBA Cylinders from Cascade System

1. Place bottle(s) in cradle in fill station

2. Attach fill line to bottle(s)

3. Make sure relief knob is closed

4. Open tank valve on bottle(s) to be filled

5. Open fill valve on fill station

6. Open Cascade valves on fill station that controls air coming from Cascade system

7. Fill bottle(s) by increasing pressure using cascade bottles in sequence (bottle #1 should be used first, bottle #2 second, etc.).

8. After bottle is full, shut off tank valve.

9. Shut off valve on fill station.

10. Decrease pressure in line with relief knob until pressure is zero (0) before disconnecting fill line from bottle(s).

11. Close all valves (do not over tighten)

12. Cascade bottle should be checked and filled anytime 2 or more bottles drop below 1000 psi.

B. Filling SCBA Cylinders from Air Compressor

1. Check all valves to be sure they are closed

2. Open compressor valve on fill station

3. Start compressor by pressing “Start” button

4. Place bottle(s) in cradle in fill station

5. Attach fill line to bottle(s)

6. Make sure relief knob is closed

7. Open tank valve on bottle(s) to be filled

8. Open fill valve on fill station.

9. Fill bottle(s) by using variable regulator.

10. After bottle is full, shut off tank valve

11. Decrease pressure in line with pressure relief knob until pressure is zero (0) before disconnecting fill line from bottle(s)

12. Close all valves (do not over tighten)

13. Return compressor switch to “Off” position

14. Drain fill station and fill lines to zero (0) (not to include compressor)

C. Refilling cascade system

1. Open storage cylinder valve that needs refilling

2. Open cascade and compressor valves on fill station

3. Open valve on compressor

4. Start compressor by pressing “Start” button

5. When system is full (4,500 psi) compressor will shut off automatically

6. Shut off storage cylinder valve

7. Drain hoses and fill station to zero (0)

8. Close all valves

D. Refilling 46-6-1

1. Connect hose to compressor (found under counter)

2. Open all valves that correspond to cascade bottles being filled

3. Connect hose to fill station on 46-6-1

4. Make sure relief knob is closed

5. Open fill valve on fill station

6. Turn compressor on by pressing “Start” button

7. After bottles are full, close all valves and use relief knob to decrease pressure in fill line to zero (0) before disconnecting.

8. Shut off compressor

9. Restore all fill lines to respective positions

E. Tank Inspection

1. All tanks that are filled must:

a. have closed valves if pressure is zero (0)

b. have valid hydrostatic test date

c. have company I.D. number

d. be in good state of repair (visual)

F. General

1. Filling pressures

a. Cascade system bottles - 4500 psi

b. SCBA cylinders (yellow) - 2100-2200 psi

c. SCBA cylinders (green) - 4500 psi

2. Air System Log

a. completed anytime compressor is used (i.e., filling Cascade systems, SCBA bottles)

b. cascade system is used to fill bottles

c. log not necessary to be completed when cylinders are filled from cascade system at fires or training exercises

3. Safety

Proper pressures must be adhered to in order to prevent over-pressurizing a cylinder.