Marine safety service
Breathing Apparatus (SCBA/EEBD)
Annual servicing, cylinder testing and recharging of fire-fighter SCBA and emergency escape breathing devices, plus breathing air compressor quality checks.
Overview
Breathing apparatus (SCBA and EEBD) servicing
Breathing apparatus servicing covers the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in the fire-fighter’s outfits and the emergency escape breathing devices (EEBDs) located around the accommodation and machinery spaces. Both are life-critical and are checked closely during drills, surveys and port state control inspections.
The service includes annual checks of sets and masks, testing of demand valves and warning devices, hydrostatic testing and recharging of cylinders, and air quality testing of onboard breathing air compressors. vslSafety arranges a provider at the vessel’s port with test benches, exchange cylinders and spare parts for the makes on board.
Regulatory requirements and standards
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10 requires fire-fighter’s outfits, each including a breathing apparatus, a lifeline and other equipment. It also requires spare charges: normally two per required set, reduced to one on cargo ships and smaller passenger ships where suitable means for fully recharging cylinders is fitted. Ships constructed on or after 1 July 2014 must carry at least two explosion-proof or intrinsically safe two-way portable radios per fire party.
- FSS Code chapter 3: SCBA cylinders must hold at least 1,200 litres of air, or the apparatus must function for at least 30 minutes, and all cylinders must be interchangeable. Since the amendments in resolution MSC.339(91), sets must have an audible alarm and a visual or other device that warns the user before the air falls to no less than 200 litres. Each set needs a fireproof lifeline of at least 30 m. EEBDs must last at least 10 minutes, include a hood or full face piece, and can be carried hands-free.
- SOLAS regulation II-2/13 sets the number and location of EEBDs in accommodation and machinery spaces, and MSC/Circ.849 gives guidelines on their performance, location, use and care.
- MSC.1/Circ.1432 sets weekly, annual and five-year maintenance, and MSC.1/Circ.1555 addresses spare cylinders for drills.
EEBDs are for escape only. They must not be used for fire-fighting, entering oxygen-deficient voids or tanks, or worn by fire-fighters. Annual servicing may be done by competent crew unless the maker requires an authorised service agent. Hydrostatic testing and recharging need suitable shore facilities.
Inspection and servicing intervals
| Item | Requirement | Interval | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCBA and EEBD cylinder gauges | Confirm correct pressure range | Weekly | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| Fire-fighter’s outfit lockers | Full inventory and serviceable condition | Monthly | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| SCBA face masks and demand valves | Check serviceable condition | Annual | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| Breathing air compressor | Air quality check | Annual | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| EEBDs | Check according to maker’s instructions | Annual | MSC.1/Circ.1432, MSC/Circ.849 |
| Steel SCBA cylinders | Hydrostatic test | 5 years | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| Aluminium and composite cylinders | Test to the satisfaction of the administration; observe maker’s service life | Per flag and maker | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| EEBD cylinders | Hydrostatic test or replacement per maker’s instructions | Per maker | MSC/Circ.849, flag |
What the service includes
- Inventory check of each fire-fighter’s outfit, spare cylinders and EEBDs against the fire control plan
- Visual inspection of harness, backplate, straps, hoses and couplings
- Face mask leak and exhalation valve tests, and inspection of visors and head harnesses
- Bench testing of the pressure reducer and demand valve, including static pressure and flow
- Test of the low-pressure warning whistle activation point and gauge accuracy
- Cylinder visual inspection, hydrostatic testing when due and recharging with clean breathing air
- EEBD checks: cylinder pressure, hood condition, seals and service life or replacement date
- Breathing air compressor air sampling for oil, water, CO and CO2 against a recognised breathing-air standard
Equipment types covered
Providers service open-circuit compressed air SCBA with steel, aluminium or composite cylinders, the constant-flow and demand-type EEBDs used on ships, fire-fighter’s outfit accessories, and the breathing air compressors fitted on larger passenger ships and offshore units. Common makes include Dräger, MSA, Interspiro, Spasciani and Ocenco. Composite cylinders usually have a limited service life marked by the manufacturer and must be withdrawn when it ends, whatever their condition.
Common defects and PSC deficiencies
- SCBA or EEBD cylinder pressure below the minimum shown on the gauge
- Low-pressure warning alarm not working or not fitted
- Spare charges missing, empty or used in drills and not refilled
- Face mask straps perished, visors scratched or exhalation valves sticking
- Cylinders overdue for hydrostatic testing or beyond their service life
- EEBDs missing from machinery space levels or accommodation positions shown on the plan
- No record of breathing air compressor air quality testing
Fire drills, which usually involve donning SCBA, were one of the two weakest areas in the 2023 Paris and Tokyo MoU campaign on fire safety.
Certificates and documents you receive
- Service certificate for each SCBA set and EEBD, listing serial numbers and test results
- Hydrostatic test certificates and new test marks on the cylinders
- Refill records for cylinders recharged
- Breathing air quality test report for the onboard compressor
How to prepare the vessel
Send a list of SCBA sets, spare cylinders and EEBDs with maker, model, cylinder type and test dates. Collect sets at a central point, but leave enough serviceable apparatus in place for an emergency while others are being serviced, and plan exchange cylinders where many are due for testing. SCBA used for enclosed space entry can be checked together with gas detection equipment, and chemical and gas-tight suits on tankers and gas carriers.
Information needed for a quotation
- Vessel name, IMO number, flag, class and ship type
- Port, ETA and ETD
- Number of SCBA sets, spare cylinders and EEBDs, with maker and model
- Cylinder material (steel, aluminium or composite), size and last test dates
- Whether a breathing air compressor is fitted and needs an air quality test
- Last service date and any outstanding findings
- Whether new cylinders, masks or EEBDs should be supplied
vslSafety coordinates a suitable provider at the vessel’s port. Cylinder testing can also be arranged through cylinder hydrostatic testing and recharging.
Frequently asked questions
How often must SCBA cylinders be hydrostatically tested?
MSC.1/Circ.1432 recommends hydrostatic testing of steel SCBA cylinders at least every five years. Aluminium and composite cylinders are to be tested to the satisfaction of the flag administration, which usually follows the cylinder standard and maker’s instructions. Composite cylinders normally also have a fixed service life. The test date should be marked permanently on the cylinder and recorded in the maintenance plan.
How long does an EEBD last and when must it be replaced?
An EEBD must provide at least ten minutes of breathing air under the FSS Code. Its service life, and whether its cylinder needs hydrostatic testing or replacement, depend on the maker. Some small units have a fixed life without hydrostatic testing. Where the maker gives no instructions, some flags, such as the Marshall Islands, require hydrostatic testing at intervals not exceeding five years.
How many spare cylinders must be carried for SCBA?
SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10 requires two spare charges for each required breathing apparatus. Cargo ships, and passenger ships carrying not more than 36 passengers, need only one spare charge per set if they have a suitable means of fully recharging cylinders free from contamination. Ships should also carry enough spare cylinders to replace those used in drills, as addressed in MSC.1/Circ.1555.
Can an EEBD be used to enter an enclosed space?
No. EEBDs are for escape only and must not be used for fire-fighting, for entering oxygen-deficient voids or tanks, or by fire-fighters. Entry into an enclosed space with a known or suspected hazardous atmosphere needs a self-contained breathing apparatus, a gas test, a permit and a rescue plan. Crew should be trained on this difference in drills.
Does the onboard breathing air compressor need testing?
Yes. MSC.1/Circ.1432 recommends an annual check of air quality from any breathing apparatus air recharging system on board. A sample is taken from the compressor outlet and checked for contaminants such as oil, water, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide against a recognised breathing-air standard, and filters should be changed on the maker’s schedule.
