SCBA Donning Times/Techniques

[bpevans]

Let's hear some of the record times out there for donning SCBAs.

We have two tests, one from street cloths to fully geared up and on air, the other test you get to start with turnouts already on (minus whatever you don't want on - usually helmet and gloves with the hood pulled down).

Our department goal is to have everyone pass the second version of the test (already in turnouts) in 1 minute or less, and then push everyone to 45 seconds. My personal goal is under 30 seconds. The best I've done with our new SCBA's (Scott 3.0 w/ mask mounted regulator) is 48 seconds - not bad for practicing only once/twice a month.

We also have a few rules - tank must be fully on, shield down, all skin covered, and throat strap in place.

For those who have their department's record time, please share your techniques for speed.

[Rescue101]

Any firefighter in the Maine Fire Training program must dress from street clothes to burn building ready in no more than 2min 5 seconds with hood.This includes all PPE,Air pack on,tank pressure announced,all safety checks done,gloved and ready to go.This is the maximum acceptable time to pass the course.T.C.

[jaybird210]

One mintue is the IL state standard also (starting with turnouts on as you described).

University of Illinois Fire Service Institute puts on a "Smoke Divers" class once or twice every year. Graduates must be ready in under 45 secs, and I have heard times as fast as 25 secs.

[Weruj1]

Hey Pardner .......I aint trying to bust on ya .........but who sets that ? I am not sure if we have a statewide standard on this here in Ohio........hmmmmmmmmmm

[Fire304]

Originally posted by Rescue101
This includes all PPE,Air pack on,tank pressure announced,all safety checks done,gloved and ready to go.

You forgot PASS activated, damn I forgot it too. Oh well, try again. Thank God for Scott 5.0's

When I first took Mod 2 (SCBA) I had hooks and snaps and Scott 2.0's, just barely made it under 2 minutes. New gear has velcro and zippers and our packs are Scott 5.0's with air activated PASS, my time is consistantly 1min 15secs from street clothes to fully geared up. A couple of the young pups in the FD got real close to 1 minute in our last time trials.

[firefighter26]

We do the odd time trial now and again.

We start with turn out gear, and helmet on. Gloves in your pocket, no hood. The SCBA, mask, and hoods are stored as found in the cabinet(s) on the Engine/Rescue.

Time is called when you are on air, and you put your hands up above your head. Then, someone comes over and checks you out to make sure all your straps are done up properly, and that all your equipment checks out (Bottle on, PASS on, Airlines free, etc)

We don't have any established time limits, but everyone tries to beat everyone else.

My best time, to date, has been 37 seconds, but I am usually hovering around 45-60 seconds on an average day.

I remember the very first time I put an SCBA on.... I was well over 5 minutes, and I had every strap twisted up....

[Stingray69ZL1]

When I went through Fire School we had to do it from turnouts on to fully on air in 30 seconds for Scott, 45 for MSA(Don't ask me why) in order to get full credit on that part of the practical exam. I found this incredibly hard, my best time was 28 seconds, but the intructors claimed the record for that academy was 12 seconds, I ave a hard time believing it...

[mcaldwell]

Our Captain and Training Officer has the dept record at 47 seconds from basic turnouts, to full gear with air/PASS on. He also does it with the gear fully packed up in a closed carry case on the floor. The rest of the guys get to work out of the truck compartments.

The rest of us are all around 50-60 seconds. We make 1:30 our basic qualifying time for all rookies.

[backdraft663]

Originally posted by Weruj1
Hey Pardner .......I aint trying to bust on ya .........but who sets that ? I am not sure if we have a statewide standard on this here in Ohio........hmmmmmmmmmm

I believe it is 2 Minutes, I sat in on a basic FF class and they all had to get it all on and be on air within 2 minutes if not they wouldnt pass the class.

[Weruj1]

ok Backdaft .........I know in the basic classes I helped teach we mayeb said you have X minutes to get turned out but I dont know of a state standard ..........I will be doing some checking. The only place I could really imagine one is in the straight 240 class.........

[jaybird210]

Originally posted by ChickenDance
Hey Pardner .......I aint trying to bust on ya .........but who sets that ?

I am here to help you my friend. For us, it is the Illinois State Fire Marshall. From the Objectives for IL OSFM FFII, Practical section 2-4.12.1: "Don and activate SCBA, within one minute, according to manufacturer's recommendations."

It really isn't that difficult, once you practice a little. The class I am currently teaching all did it by the second night of SCBA practicals. This, unfortunately, was not due to my superior teaching skills, but rather to the fact that they practiced.

[FightingDevil]

Originally posted by jaybird210


... "Don and activate SCBA, within one minute, according to manufacturer's recommendations." ...

PA FFI is the same. 1 minute. Turnouts on only...you may have your helmet and gloves out on the floor and hood around your neck, but that's it. Everyone in my FFI class made it and I had a LOT of white hats in my class-- 2 dept chiefs, 2 asst/batallion chiefs, 2 capts!!!

At least there's integrated PASS...but you do have to check the bottle level when you turn it on. A tough instructor might ask you to tell him the number without looking at the integrated PASS/gauge! Need to have the chin strap fastened, too!! As my deputy chief says: 'You never see a helmet with a chin, do you?!"

[Rescue101]

304,Hehe, is not the pass one of the basic safety checks?What about the Scott intergrated pass?Air on, pass on!Catch me sleeping did we?NOT!I didn't lay it out step for step but feel free.I'm pretty comfortable with the passing results though.T.C.

[Fire304]

Originally posted by Rescue101
Catch me sleeping did we?NOT!

I guess I have to get up a little earlier in the morning, eh? Hehehe, Its just that I've forgotten the damn thing enought times too

Devil, per the Maine standard we have to check bottle pressure when we turn it on, call out the pressure, then verify the octopus gauge matches and call out the verification.

[firemanpat29]

I dont know what floridas standard is, but I take my time,
check myself and my partner then we go in. I dont see the
need to play superman changing in a phone booth. Do it
right, check your team, assemble your tools,then go play

[engine23ccvfd]

One of the NFPA standards states the apparatus should leave the station within one minute of the alarm bell (for the paid guys)....now we all know we are not sitting around in our bunker gear and it takes 1.5 minutes or so to pack up w/SCBA but I have yet to see someone pack up completely wearing a seatbelt.....So how do you reolve the conflicting standards?

[bpevans]

The guys leaving from the station usually have jump seats with the SCBA built in, right? They can don the SCBA on the way and only need to take care of dressing before getting on the apparatus.

[fallujahff]

Here in NC it's a minute and a half from street clothes

BUT

We don't emphasize speed--we emphasize correctness!

want the newguys learning how to do it right and they will get speed with practice (repetition).

[Fire304]

Originally posted by engine23ccvfd
...So how do you reolve the conflicting standards?

Usually SCBA are either in seats of in high side compartments and are donned at the scene. The only issue is to get into your bunkers before jumping in the truck.

[E229Lt]

Back in 1976 I held the record of 28 seconds from box to donned and functioning. (All safety checks included)

This, of course, was the old style Scott, breast clip, un-connected dragonfly facepiece, chest mounted regulator, threaded waist strap.

Even the boxes were made of some prehistoric material...not plastic, with metal clips and everything.