New Lighter SCBA's

[guitarman314]

  Does anybody know if FDNY is looking into this?  http://www.firegeezer.com/2008/10/26/new-lighter-scba-coming-updated/

 

[tl-ff]

Probably not looking at them and in no time soon. Anything that gets issued usually has been in the market for years. The department is more reactive than it is proactive.

 

[Bulldog]

Another consideration for FDNY is the cost.  I'm sure they won't be cheap, especially when they're first introduced and with the budget crisis I'm sure a mass change of cylinders wouldn't come to the top of the list.  You might see a few for the rescues or something like that for testing.

One interesting point to consider is they probably won't have to be hydro tested.  There is a certain volume below which ASME doesn't require testing and I'm sure these are well below that volume.  That would be a potential cost savings.  I do wonder about the long-term durability of this system, especially the flexible connections between the cylinders.

 

[guitarman314]

Here's an article from the April '09 issue of Fire Apparatus & Equipment magazine:    http://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus-magazine/articles/482621-SCBA-Makers-Join-Project-For-Flexible-Flat-Air-Pack