SCI Air Bottle

[oliverpvfd]

Is anyone buying SCBA Bottles direct form SCI? Have you had any problems getting them Hyrotested and valves changed?

[bomberodevil]

We strongly comsidered purchasing from SCI, but in the end, we just didn't want to put something in our system (and on our member's backs) that was not NIOSH or OSHA certified. I am sure that the SCI cylinders are just as good as the OEM cylinders, but they have not been certified with the Scott/MSA/Interspiro/Draeger/Avon-ISI/whatever brand SCBAs. For any savings, for us, it wasn't worth the risk and liability to go outside of NIOSH and OSHA certification. Email me if you want to discuss this further offline.

[Rescue101]

You MIGHT want to take a close look at your bottles.Depending on airpack mfg many are currently using SCI bottles. I KNOW Scott is.Yes they're Scott labeled but they're produced by SCI. Food for thought. T.C.

[Doorbreaker]

Scott has issued a warning about buying the bottles direct. The reason being that the packs are tested and certified to meet the standards with the OEM components and OEM replacement parts. Scott says that using the SCI bottles voids the NIOSH,OSHA and NFPA standards. Yes SCI does make bottles for Scott and others. Yes they carry the same markings as the other EXCEPT the corporate (Scott, Draeger..Names) However they are not considered to be the same under the testing organizations.

If you look at the SCI site they also warn you that using their bottles voids the ratings.

It is the same thing as using a Survive bottle on a Scott pack. Will it fit? Yep. Will it operate? Yep. Will your insurance or Workman's comp or with the company that made the pack stand behind you if you get hurt with the mixed hardware? NOPE...

[bomberodevil]

That's the thing about certification. If the SCBA manufacturer submits their SCBA for testing with a SCI cylinder, then the cylinder is approved within the entire SCBA package. If the SCBA manufacturer submits their SCBA with a Luxfor cylinder, or another brand cylinder, the SCBA is not certified if you purchase a SCI cylinder and use that in the SCBA instead of the Luxfor cylinder.

SCI cannot purchase a Scott or MSA SCBA and submit them, with their cylinder, for testing and certification. The SCBA must be submitted for testing by the manufacturer.

The SCI cylinders have the same DOT certification as the other cylinder manufacturers, but unless the SCBA manufacturer submits the SCI cylinder with their SCBA pack for testing, you cannot use the SCI (or any other after-market cylinder) for your airpack and maintain NFPA and NIOSH certification. This, in turn, leaves you and your department open for liability issues.

[Rescue101]

I understand the Philly lawyer keeping his job.Do you understand what a crock of **** this arguement actually is? I'm not talking about our debate,I'm talking about the Federal doublespeak. MY FEELING: (not legal)If Luxfer or SCI makes the bottles for ALL mfgs,it shouldn't make a **** who's bottle you use. But that would lower the price and make it WAY too easy. T.C.

[JTFIRE80]

Here's something I found the other day. Could save some $ in the long run for companies.

http://www.scifireandsafety.com/products/30year.asp

[Rescue101]

ONLY if you can get the "approved for xxx"stamp on them.Otherwise you have a Non Compliant bottle.See Philly lawyer reference above. T.C.