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Compressed Breathing Air

This work is the result of research undertaken at McGill University

Compressed breathing air is used by firefighters, underwater divers, armed-forces personnel, oil-field workers, emergency response teams and industrial workers who may be exposed to toxic or oxygen-deficient environments.

All users of SCUBA and SCBA equipment should acquire the basic knowledge necessary to identify important characteristics of safe and un-safe sources of compressed breathing air.

A good appreciation of the scientific, technical and toxicological principles underlying the production of safe, high quality breathing air is necessary for those who operate and evaluate compressed breathing air systems. This should include comprehensive knowledge of the practical applications of these principles and the ability to determine necessary corrective measures.

Activities

Training and Education

Having uncovered alarming deficiencies in the production and regulation of compressed breathing air, we have worked since 1993 to bring the problem to the attention of regulators and users through communications, seminars, publications and courses. Much work has been done to fill the current void in written material and training opportunities available on the subject. Combining a strong academic background in chemistry, industrial hygiene and teaching with the practical real-world knowledge acquired through extensive consulting experience, we have developed standard operating procedures and a QA/QC program to cover all of the steps involved in production, storage, distribution and testing. This program has been shown to result in high quality, reliable compressed breathing air.

Testing

Development of sampling and analytical methods for testing and certification of compressed breathing air.

Contamination

Identification of the sources of contamination of various hazardous substances found in compressed breathing air and the control of these hazards.
Abstract ¦ Sommaire (Français)

Toxicity

Development of computer algorithms used to estimate COHb levels at various exercise levels when exposed to different concentrations of CO in contaminated breathing air used by firefighters or by SCUBA divers.

Safety

Sources and hazards of water vapour found in compressed breathing air and management of this difficult to control contaminant.
High-pressure systems ¦ Low-pressure supplied air systems

Standards

Proposals (including action levels) for revision of current standards regulating compressed breathing air.

SOP's

Development of standard operating procedures for the production, purification, storage and distribution of compressed breathing air.

QA/QC

Implementation of quality assurance and quality control programs for compressed breathing air.

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Updated October 13, 1997