Arctic Compressor

Choosing the Right SCBA Compressor: The Ultimate Checklist

Selecting the ideal Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) compressor for your specific needs is an important decision that deserves careful consideration. Understanding your unique requirements is essential when it comes to breathing air systems and choosing the right air compressor plays a crucial role in ensuring safety and efficiency.

To make an informed decision, it’s helpful to gather some key information beforehand:

Familiarize yourself with the types, sizes, and capacities of SCBAs you’ll be refilling
Consider the number of SCBAs you typically need to refill
Estimate how frequently you perform SCBA refills

Considering these factors, you’ll be prepared to choose a compressor that perfectly aligns with your operational needs. This approach ensures that you select a system that meets your current requirements and also allows for future growth.

Investing time in this decision-making process can lead to long-term benefits regarding safety, efficiency, and overall satisfaction with your SCBA compressor system.

Understanding Your Breathing Air Needs

Whether you’re a firefighter, a scuba diver, or an industrial worker, you require a reliable breathing air system that provides the highest quality breathing air. Our solutions are meticulously designed and tested to meet the demands of various applications., from firefighting to industrial use in confined spaces.

We offer a diverse range of products in a variety of models, including stationary SCBA compressors, containment fill stations, and our latest product – the ALL POWER Mobile Air Trailer.

Our focus and commitment is delivering breathing air that meets the highest quality standards, ensuring safety and protection in every application.

5 Important Factors to Consider when determining the size of the SCBA compressor you need

1. SCBA Cylinder Pressures

The first consideration is the pressure rating of your SCBA cylinders. Standard pressure ratings include 2216 Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI), 4500 PSI, or 5500 PSI. Knowing your cylinder pressure ratings will greatly impact the compressor model you select.

Always Select a Compressor with a Higher Pressure

Arctic Compressor currently offers compressor models capable of delivering a maximum pressure of either 5,000 PSI or 6,000 PSI. It’s essential to make sure you select an SCBA compressor that is rated for a maximum pressure that is higher than the pressure rating of the cylinders you will be filling for the following reasons:

SCBA Upgrades
Even if you’re filling lower-pressure SCBA cylinders currently, it’s wise to plan for future upgrades. Compressors last upwards of 20 years with proper maintenance and operation, so it’s essential to account for your future state.
Neighboring Departments and Stations
In mutual aid situations, you may be asked to fill other departments’ cylinders with a higher pressure rating than yours.
Bring Pressure Down, But Not Up
You can always lower the pressure with your Containment Fill Station regulator before filling your SCBA cylinders. However, a fill station cannot create more pressure than provided from the compressor or storage cylinders.

2. SCBA Cylinder Volumes

The second consideration is the volume of the cylinders that you are filling. Standard SCBA volumes include 30, 45, 60, or 75 minutes which each correlate to specific cubic foot capacities.

While the SCBA cylinder volumes are often expressed in minutes and cubic feet (ft³), the charge rate of the compressors are usually reported in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at specific pressures. Knowing the volume of your SCBA cylinders will help you properly spec the three main components that make up your breathing air system:

Compressor
Containment Fill Station
Cascade Air Storage Cylinders (UN/ISO and ASME)

3. Number of SCBA Cylinders Being Filled

The number of cylinders you typically fill is also important when determining your breathing air system requirements. Arctic Compressor currently offers single, double, and triple containment fill station models that allow you to choose how many cylinders you can fill simultaneously.

You’ll want to plan for a worst-case scenario. In a crisis situation, how many cylinders would you need to be filling?

4. Frequency of Filling SCBA Cylinders

Ideally you want to size your compressor large enough to run continuously for only a few hours to meet your breathing air system demands. Undersizing your compressor increases how often it needs to run which consumes more energy and requires more frequent maintenance, thus resulting in higher ownership costs. However, oversizing the compressor can cost the customer more upfront and also cause issues. If the compressor rarely runs, corrosion can become a problem, leading to unnecessary additional expenses for repairs.

5. Efficiency of Filling SCBA Cylinders

Having a compressor that enables your team to fill SCBA cylinders efficiently is important. Consider your situation – how many members do you have that are properly trained to refill cylinders? How long do you want them dedicated to the task? How many cascade air storage cylinders do you have in your cascade system?

Your preferences will significantly influence the compressor you choose to move forward with.

Safety and Certification

Safety is our top priority, and we take it seriously. Our compressors are engineered to meet the strictest safety and breathing standards, including providing CGA Grade E breathing air. In addition, our compressor systems employ advanced moisture removal technology, meeting NFPA 1500 standards.

We offer optional Carbon Monoxide (CO) Monitors specifically designed to meet the unique needs of firefighters. Our systems are built to provide reliable performance, ensuring they meet all required safety certifications. This commitment to safety is reflected in our products, which are designed to protect users and provide peace of mind, knowing that they are using equipment that prioritizes their well-being.

User Experience and Ease of Use

We understand that simplicity is key when it comes to operating breathing air systems. Designed with the operator in mind, Arctic Compressor products ensure ease of use and require minimal training. The user-friendly interface and straightforward operation allow for seamless integration into daily activities.
We recognize that users’ primary focus is on completing tasks efficiently, and our systems are designed to enhance, not complicate the user’s workflow. Our commitment to simplicity ensures that our systems are easy to operate, even for those with limited technical expertise.

Maintenance and Support

Regular maintenance is crucial to ensuring the longevity of breathing air systems. Arctic Compressor products are designed to require minimal maintenance, allowing users to focus on their tasks without worrying about equipment reliability. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing top-tier support, ensuring that any issues are resolved quickly and efficiently. Additionally, we offer a range of maintenance plans to ensure that our systems continue to perform optimally over time, providing peace of mind and consistent performance.

Cost and Warranty Considerations

Cost is an important consideration when purchasing a breathing air system. Arctic Compressor products are designed to provide long-term value, focusing on reliability and durability. We offer competitive pricing and a range of warranty options to ensure that our systems meet your budget and needs. With a commitment to quality and longevity, we ensure that our systems provide a cost-effective solution for your breathing air needs.

The SCBA Compressor as Part of a System

Selecting the right SCBA compressor is the first step in building the right SCBA Refilling System for your needs. It’s important to consider the system as a whole, including the SCBA Compressor, containment fill station, cascade air storage cylinders, and any accessories, to ensure that all aspects of the system work together efficiently and offer the safest and easiest SCBA refilling experience.