McLean, VA – The Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) is pleased to announce that the first certifications have been issued to the new NFPA criteria for fire service SCBA, NFPA 1981, Standard for Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services, 2002 Edition.
The independent testing of SCBA used in the fire and emergency services continues to be conducted at SEI’s contract testing laboratory, Intertek Testing Services (ITS), Cortland, NY. The staff at SEI and ITS closely monitored the progress of the new standard through participation on the Respiratory Protection Technical Committee of the NFPA, and are well-equipped for testing to the new standard.
The revised NFPA 1981 standard has an effective date of August 8, 2002 and supersedes all other editions. This standard was updated as part of the NFPA 5-year revision cycle process. The major testing revisions for the new standard include the introduction of a new breathing machine for testing air flow rates, and new test methods for both the vibration test and the communications test.
This 2002 edition of the standard includes requirements for the SCBA to have at least one heads up display (HUD) to provide visual displays of alert signals and information, and the inclusion of a Rapid intervention Crew Universal Air Connection (RIC UAC) which will permit the replenishment of a breathing air cylinder of an SCBA user from an independent rescue breathing air supply source, while the SCBA victim remains trapped or unable to be removed from the hazardous atmosphere.
SEI has issued certifications to the 2002 edition of NFPA 1981 for the following models:
SCBA Only
Model Name & Number
ISI: Viking Series, Model No’s. 300011, 300012, 300013, 300014
MSA: Ultralite 4500 w/MMR Air Mask, Custom 4500 w/MMR Air Mask
Scott Health & Safety: AirPak 2.2/3.0/4.5
Survivair: Panther
SCBA with Integrated Non-Removable PASS
ISI: Viking Series, Model No’s. 300011, 300012, 300013, 300014 with Integrated ISI PASS
MSA: Ultralite 4500 w/MMR Air Mask w/ICM 2000 or ICM 2000+, Custom 4500 w/MMR Air Mask w/ICM 2000 or ICM 2000+
Scott Health & Safety: AirPak 2.2/3.0/4.5 with Pak Alert SE or Pak Alert 1000
Survivair: Panther w/Compass PASS
SCBA with Integrated Removable PASS
ISI: Viking Series, Model No’s. 300011, 300012, 300013, 300014 with DuoPASS II or T-PASS
Additional certifications are expected to be issued by the end of this year.
In addition to initial compliance testing of all SCBA models, manufacturers who participate in the SEI certification program must pass a rigorous quality assurance audit of their manufacturing facility and operate in accordance with ISO 9001. Also, all products carrying the SEI label are required to be re-certified annually. This means that all products must be re-tested annually, and the manufacturing facility must continue to successfully meet all SEI quality assurance requirements during follow-up audits.
Information about SEI’s certification program and the most current version of the SEI Certified Product List, can be accessed on SEI’s Web site, www.SEInet.org. The bulk of the SEI home page includes the SEI Certified Product List which provides certified product model names and numbers, manufacturer’s names, addresses, and contact numbers.
A copy of the SEI Certified Product List may also be obtained free of charge by writing to SEI, 1307 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA 22101. Requests may also be sent by Fax: 703-442-5756 or by e-mail at: info@SEInet.org.
