Respiratory Protection, SOLAS
Type 1 v Type 2 SCBA
Any SCBA supplied for use in Europe must comply with the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC).
In practice this usually means that the SCBA must comply with the requirements of the European Standard EN 137:2006. This includes detailed requirements for the performance of the SCBA, the marking required, and the information to be provided to the user.
Two classes of SCBA are recognised,
- Type 1 for industrial use, and
- Type 2 for firefighting.
Any SCBA conforming to Type 2 will have been verified to reliably operate and protect the user from -30Ā Ā°C to +60Ā Ā°C under a wide range of severe simulated operational conditions.
From a more practical point of view the difference between a Type 1 and a Type 2 SCBA lies primarily in the material used ofr the harness. Type 2 has a higher resistance to direct flames as it is made of para-aramid materials. Type 1 is generally fire resistant as well but to a lower degree.
