Breathing Apparatus

[Outline] An Inhaler is indispensable to protect a firefighters respiration from smoke, toxic gas, and oxygen-deficit air at a disaster site. Types of inhalers include air and oxygen breathing apparatuses as well as an air-line respirator. Of them, the air breathing apparatus is easy to handle, very safe, and the most popular. In the breathing apparatus, a necessary amount of air is fed from the cylinder during inspiration, and discharged to the outside during exhalation. The following describes a pressure-demand breathing apparatus. [Name and function of each part] (2)

(10)

(1) (4)

(11)

(5) (6)

(12)

(9) (8) (1) Face piece Cover your face with this piece and tighten the rubber strap. (7) (3) (13)

(2)

Exhalation valve This valve is closed during inspiration and opened during exhalation.

(3)

Pressure reducing valve This valve reduces the pressure of air in the cylinder to about 0.6 MPa (medium-pressure air).

(4)

Pressure-demand valve This valve reduces the medium-pressure of air (about 0.6 MPa) to near atmospheric pressure and functions during breathing. It maintains the inside pressure of the face piece a little higher than the atmospheric pressure, which prevents the open air from entering the face piece.

(5)

Positive-pressure locking knob Use this knob to manually turn the pressure-demand valve ON or OFF.

(6)

Bypass valve This valve can supply air directly to the face piece without the pressure-demand valve. Use it when the pressure-demand valve is out of order.

(7)

Alarm An alarm sounds when the pressure of the air cylinder drops to 3 MPa.

(8)

Pressure indicator This indicator shows the pressure of the air cylinder.

(9)

Medium-pressure hose Medium-pressure air (about 0.6 MPa) is fed from the pressure reducing valve to the pressure-demand valve via this hose.

(10) Rescue mask This is a mask for supplying air to other persons, such as survivors. (11) Air cylinder This cylinder is filled with pressurized air (at a maximum pressure of 29.4 MPa). (12) Cylinder valve This is a valve for opening or closing the air cylinder.

(13) Harness This harness allows you to shoulder this breathing apparatus. [System diagram] System diagram (A1)
Air cylinder
* Indicates an optional part.

*
Alarm Pressure indicator Air pipe for indicator Rescue mask or fitting for air-line fitting Positive-pressure locking knob
Open air

Cylinder valve

Pressure indicator

Pressure reducing valve Mediumpressure hose Pressure-demand valve

Positive-pressure exhalation valve

Medium-pressure relief valve

Open air

Bypass valve

Inspiration Exhalation

Face piece

Source: Website of Shigematsu Works Co., Ltd.

[Precautions in operation] 1. Carefully don the face piece; do not to catch your hair or beard between your face and the piece, or the air tightness may be compromised. (You are recommended to shave your beard.) 2. 3. 4. 5. Do not open the cylinder valve quickly. Tighten the strap of each part to eliminate slack. Wear the face piece just before using it and do not consume air when unnecessary. Take deep, slow breaths rather than shallow, quick breaths, in order to reduce your air consumption and extend the continuous operation time. Keep the positive-pressure locking knob ON during use. 3

6.

7.

To make the correct decision to escape during action, always check the remaining air volume by viewing the pressure indicator rather than relying on only an alarm.

[About the air cylinder]

Material Capacity Maximum pressure Air volume Weight (cylinder only) Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and aluminum alloy 6.8 liters 29.4 MPa About 2,000 liters 4.0 kg

[Determining the continuous operation time] Continuous operation time (minutes) =

Cylinderpressure(MPa) Margin (MPa) Cylindercapacity() 10

Respirator volume ) per minute y (

where The margin is 3 MPa, which is a pressure necessary to escape. The respiratory volume per minute is 40, 60, and 80 liters for light, middle, and heavy work respectively. Example:

25MPa 3MPa 6.8 10

Continuous operation time (minutes) =
60

= 24.93 minutes

[Other inhalers] 1. Circulating oxygen breathing apparatus

2.

Air-line respirator