Filling SCUBA Tanks at Fire Station

[BigDaddy051570]

Hello Everyone: I live in a very rural area where it is difficult to get air fills. I also live in the north, and it costs me $8 to fill my tank with air. I have lots of friends on the volunteer local fire department, and they have offered to fill my tanks with the same high quality air they use for the fireman SCBA tanks. Does anyone know what adapter, and perhaps more importantly what pressure gauge I need to be able to fill the tank and be able to check the pressure as the tank is being filled? I know they have filled tanks for the State Police Before, but they don't seem to have the adapter for my tank. My tank has a K valve.

 

[j yaeger]

ajtoady knows-send him a message

i filled at fire station fo years!!-not dead yet!!!:cool2:

 

[mrfixitchapman]

Your friends are at North Shore Compressor

SCBA to Scuba Adapter - North Shore Compressor Store

DC

 

[BigDaddy051570]

Your friends are at North Shore Compressor

SCBA to Scuba Adapter - North Shore Compressor Store

DC

Thanks. I have seen this before, but what about a gauge, and how does that attach to measure pressure as tank is filling.

 

[boulderjohn]

I have never filled at a fire station and don't know anything about their air standards for SCBA. Those standards may be perfectly fine for SCUBA as well--I honestly have no idea.

You may be surprised, though, to learn that air in SCBA does not need to be as pure as for SCUBA. That is because of the pressure at depth. The amount of contamination that exists on the surface is multiplied by the ambient pressure we are under when we dive, so an allowable amount of contamination on the surface might be harmful or even fatal at depth.

 

[fire_diver]

Don't worry about the details, its not your compressor. Let the guys who are trained to use it fill your tanks, everything they need (except the adapter) is already there.

 

[BigDaddy051570]

That's true, but I really don't think they would be filling tanks for themselves with contaminated air, and also, I do know the State Police divers fill there, making me think it is very likely safe.

 

[Tom_K]

Used to fill at a fire station for years. You should be fine.

 

[jeasy]

If the police divers fill there they should already have the adapters?

 

[Herb-alaska]

That's true, but I really don't think they would be filling tanks for themselves with contaminated air, and also, I do know the State Police divers fill there, making me think it is very likely safe.

I am a member of our FD dive team and I get some of my air there. I can tell you that our air is better than any dive shop because they have a beautiful compressor, the money and paid staff to service it and the osha requirements to have the air tested.

I would take FD air over any other source any day.

Now to fill Your tank I would think that if they fill for the state police they Have the yoke fill already set up. The gauge that you need is already on the compressor and is a fill stop that is set to the rating of your tank. The only gauge you would possibly need is to check the "quality" of your fill --- did you get it full to rated pressure or did they let it drop a couple hundred pounds while it cooled. You can use your regulator with the pressure gauge or you can buy a 69.00 pressure check which looks like a gauge on a fill yoke adapter.

My dept policy is that no one except for Team Captains or paid staff are allowed to fill tanks. I just drop them off at the compressor room and come back the next day or two and voila they are filled for me. Just a perk for being will to respond and drill when they call.