Filling SCUBA Tanks at Fire Station

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

SCBA compressors are commonly spec’d to provide either CGA grade D or L air.
SCUBA typically requires Grade E.

All three are similar with identical requirements for CO and CO2

See for example.
CGA releases NEW 2011 CGA G-7.1 Standards « Safe Air Systems

The major difference is that Grade E limits total hydrocarbons, the others do not. As boulderjohn said, the physiological effects of breathing gas at 1 atmosphere are not the same as breathing at depth.

If your firehouse compressor provides air that qualifies as Grade E, enjoy. If D or L, you’ll need to decide how important hydrocarbon concentrations are to you. Any chance you can get to see their compressor’s air quality test results?
 
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.
I actually find some information to back up this claim that fire station air is actually higher quality than dive shops typically. Here is a quote from an article from a scuba magazing..."The accredited U.S. compressed breathing air laboratories still report a CO failure rate of 3 to 5 percent for "dive" compressed air samples received from around the globe. Air samples for the U.S. fire service air samples have a CO failure rate about one-tenth that of the global dive centers."

---------- Post Merged at 10:21 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:18 PM ----------

SCBA compressors are commonly spec’d to provide either CGA grade D or L air.
SCUBA typically requires Grade E.

All three are similar with identical requirements for CO and CO2

See for example.
CGA releases NEW 2011 CGA G-7.1 Standards « Safe Air Systems

The major difference is that Grade E limits total hydrocarbons, the others do not. As boulderjohn said, the physiological effects of breathing gas at 1 atmosphere are not the same as breathing at depth.

If your firehouse compressor provides air that qualifies as Grade E, enjoy. If D or L, you’ll need to decide how important hydrocarbon concentrations are to you. Any chance you can get to see their compressor’s air quality test results?

I will try to see what grade the air is. I honestly wonder how often dive shops test their air. Apparently PADI has removed the requirements from their shops since they don't want to be left liable if someone gets bad air and the shop has not complied with PADI standards.
 
You won't find anything listing it as a certain grade. By OSHA regulations the quarterly air tests are supposed to be posted at the compressor. It will list the amount of moisture, CO, oil mist and total hydrocarbons. It may give you a specific number, or it may say "less than XXX" with a tested threshold of XXX. so if they are looking for the air to have less than a certain amount, then that may be all it shows.

Is that clear as mud for you?

As long as the air is tested regularly and passes, you will be fine. You're better off than many scuba shops air.
 
Some fire depts. add oxygen to their SCBA air. You'll want to check for that.
 
Some fire depts. add oxygen to their SCBA air. You'll want to check for that.

I have NEVER heard of any dept doing this. Please name one.
 
I bought a SCBA to DIN adapter from NE Scuba supply for $50. I had a DIN to Yoke reg adapter already and can fill either tank. The test results are posted at the compressor and I get Grade E air same as a dive shop. Pressure gauges are an integral part of the filling area. Enjoy the close proximity and I trade services with the FD in exchange.
 
Enjoy the close proximity and I trade services with the FD in exchange.

That's a good point. Don't look at it as "free air". Take the firefighters a few dozen donuts some morning or a tray of cookies or something. If they are a volunteer dept, make sure you attend thier benefit suppers and help them out too.
 
Great thoughts everyone. I've got a guy on it to get the adapters I need. I have also seen two recent air quality reports (they test every 3 months in NY). Specs look great (20.7% O2, <1 ppm CO, <2.7 ppmv hydrocarbon, 2.1 ppmv methane, very low oil and particulate, and a dew point of <-95). I am convinced this will be quality air, and will soon be filling tanks for "free", though I certainly intend to support my local FD more than I have been (just bought a bunch of chicken at their fund-raiser).
 
In my area the fire fighters are all local farmers, state workers and such. We try to help any way we can, with donations and attending the functions or offering services. I have worked in all of the "Big" cities and in this area the locals are down to earth and everyone knows each other within reason. I sure don't miss city living or the BS associated with it. There's nothing like pissing in the middle of the road at night for the heck of it and no cars or street lights. But hey,:D that might just be my take on it.
 
I would only get my tanks filled at a scuba shop, primarily because I don't know if you can use SCBA air while scuba diving. If you can use SCBA, and it is cheaper, by all means use it. I just do not know if it is safe for diving.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

Back
Top Bottom