SCBA tank for OBA - questions (1 Viewer)

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Kaoscruizer

Kaoscruizer

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Feb 13, 2006
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Hey guys .. just wondering if anyone has converted a steel SCBA tank for CO2? The tank must be able to withstand the pressure since the breathing air they fill them with is around the 2200 PSI mark.

I have scoured the web looking for info on this conversion to no avail. I am hoping you fire fighters out there might be able to shed some light on this subject since most of you have access to the SCBA tanks and have probably thought up something for using them as OBA.

thanks!
 
Pressure isn't so much the issue as the fittings.

IIRC the fittings won't be the same, and there aren't any standard adapters (that I could find in a quick search). You could build your own hose to adapt, but then you get into the question if you did it right, and even that may not be very easy.

Plus you then get into a rating/insurance thing. If the tank fails for some reason (like in an accident), it won't look good. I doubt it'd fail as I've heard of the SCBA tanks having things dropped on them (firefighters tend to be hard on their equipment), but they also regularly test and inspect them.

In this case I don't think that the time, effort, cost to convert it, and risk is worth the couple bucks you'll save to get a purpose designed CO2 tank.

If you're seriously interested I could ask my pops, but I don't know that Canada uses the same SCBA equipment as the US.


/me edits

Oh yeah, and finding someone who will fill it will likely be a problem. I doubt any commercial places will touch it.
 
Thanks for raining on my parade Gabe! .. I figured there would be issues, but I assumed that if I converted the fittings and had it hydrostatically tested in that format that I would be fine.

I REFUSE to pay $100 for a bloody CO2 tank!
 
Different valve threads. CGA specifies what threads go on what valves to mate to cylinders. Tanks are hydro-ed base on material. May be ok to be used a an air tank for and on board compressor. Steel tanks havn't been used for SCBA's in the US in a LONG time. I've got an old Scott IIA cylinder that I was going to tinker with but havn't bothered (use to use it with an escape pack regulator to air up tires).
Same SCBA's used in Cananda, only difference is that they require CSA certification which most manufactures label their's with both CSA and NFPA/NIOSH certs.
 
When I was trying to fill a Laser Argon tank with C02 for OBA, I was given the story (by every shop I went to) that they wouldn't put anything into a tank other than what it was labeled to contain and, further, that the fittings wouldn't work out in any case. Even to fill a CO2 tank, it had to be stamped with the tare (empty) weight, so that they would know how much to add. Good luck trying to fight the system!
 
Our local fire department ditched these things years ago .. I just happened to have one kicking around. I knew that if it was possible, someone on here would have done it by now. Off to the bin it goes ..

thanks guys!
 
gotmud said:
Go walk around a volunteer department, you find plenty! :D
Click to expand...

Its a shame volly's are still using steel. It use to kill me to see some of the trade in equipment one of the manufactures I worked for would destroy. Most was better than alot of volunteer departments had. its insane that anyone would have to fight a fire wearing a pressure demand pack.

NaterGator said:
:lol: x2 what??! I have 2 120cu ft 3500 psi steel tanks I use regularly for nitrox dives. People definitely still regularly use steel tanks for breathing!
Click to expand...

That boyancy thing! Al cylinders will eventually follow steel for SCBA's. The cylinder is the best way for manufactures to cut their weight limit required for certification while adding new features/electronics. I should have gone into SCUBA design!
 
I've always used SCUBA tanks for my OBA. I still use an aluminum 80; 80 cubic feet of air will fill multiple sets of 35s very easily.
 
Kaoscruizer said:
Our local fire department ditched these things years ago .. I just happened to have one kicking around. I knew that if it was possible, someone on here would have done it by now. Off to the bin it goes ..

thanks guys!
Click to expand...

They tossed them out for a reason. Most SCBA cylinders have a 15 year service life.

If you are going to put a HP cylinder in the back of your truck make sure it is within Hydro requirements and a professional technical visual cylinder inspection was completed.


PSI / PCI

LandCrusher80
 
By ditched I mean that they no longer used them in favor of newer aluminum bottles. I had them re-certified and then had them bench flow tested annually for use as breathing apparatus for workers in our foundry. They are good for as long as they pass both of the above mentioned tests. In Canada, there is nothing in place from an age standpoint that kicks them out of service.
 
I used a 4500psi Scott Bottle for a while with a air chisel regulator, found it to work ok but never filled as many tires as a 20Lb CO2 tank, all of which can be sourced cheaply if you know where to look.
 
Ok Calstyl .. fill me in dude. Where do I look for a cheap 20 lb. CO2 tank? Everything I have found on CL is still too pricey. I am all ears!
 
Welding supply shops, rent a tank, or as I do with a 10Lb bottle lease it, when its empty I pick up a new one, I also own a alloy tank thats out for Hydro right now. You can buy your own tank and have it filled at a welding supply or compressed gas vendor, cost me 23$ for my personal tank. The regulators are easy to find in catalogs and welding shops or equipment auctions in farm country. Add in your adapters and fittings and mount the damn thing, 100$ total. I have a Poly Performance set up and after seeing what I could of bought for half the money, I know people are getting ripped off by offroad vendors.
 
I took your advice .. called up a buddy that owns a fire safety business, got the 20 pounder for free and a deal on the fill up! I think he is trying to source a fixed regulator for me right now. Thanks!
 
SCBA tanks Dave .. NOT SCUBA tanks. Big difference.

:D
 
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