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  • SCBA Comparison

    Looking for any existing OBJECTIVE studies comparing the current MSA, Scott and Dreager SCBA products.

    Thanks
    LDRTRK

  • #2
    I know our Dept did such a study last year in volving I believe Scott, Survivair, Draeger, MSA and I think one other. I have no idea if they would give it to you however
    A'int No Rocket Scientist's in The Firehall

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    • #3
      Which one did they choose ?

      We can all learn from each other by sharing items such as studies and topical reports !

      LDRTRK

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      • #4
        I can not give you a study report but I can tell you my own personal opinion from having used both of them.

        I grew up on Scotts.....then....When I went career I was transitioned into MSA.... My volunteer department stuck with scotts and has the Scott AP50 30 minute bottles.

        When I moved to Florida my volunteer department had MSA.

        My current career job has the NEW MSA Face mounted regulator. I think that these are a very big improvement over the old MSA and even their first face mounted regulator and especially over the @#$%@$# Dragon Fly regulator and alarm. They are relatively user friendly, but one unit takes 1 9 Volt and 4 AAA Batteries, which wear out very very faxt, even if you use the Duracell Copper Tops that are recommended. The heads up display is nice and easy to see. The pressure gauge and alarm are easy to access and read, except with in a Level A Haz Mat Suit. They have also addressed some issues of fit and comfort and the unit over all is very good.

        Having also used the newer version of the Scott SCBA, I will say that if I had my choice, I would stick with the SCOTT. I think it is more comfortable, lighter and very user friendly. I have worn them in Level A Suits and find it very easy to get my hand out of the sleeve and read my gauge. My girlfriend, who was an MSA user for many years has also grown to love the SCOTT SCBA over the MSA.

        With that being said, I will close in saying that you have to have an SCBA that works for your department and meets the cost restrictions. Either MSA or Scott is a good buy and a very trustworthy, dependable and durable pack.

        The other I will not comment on.
        09-11 .. 343 "All Gave Some..Some Gave ALL" God Bless..R.I.P.
        ------------------------------
        IACOJ Minister of Southern Comfort
        "Purple Hydrant" Recipient (3 Times)
        BMI Investigator
        ------------------------------
        The comments, opinions, and positions expressed here are mine. They are expressed respectfully, in the spirit of safety and progress. They do not reflect the opinions or positions of my employer or my department.

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        • #5
          Thanks Stan

          Thanks for the input Stan. The "new" department I joined is researching options and is considering all three packs. I must say that the Dreager is pretty nice. There's naturally a tendency to shy away from it since it is not one of the Big 2, i.e. Scott or MSA. The Dreager does seem to be the most state-of-art pack with the firmware driven status display which provides some neat functions including temp and (I've been told) remaining stay time based on your air consumption rate. The harness is also very comfortable. The mask is nice with a large field-of-view, internal LEDS , and a friendly regulator connection.

          LDRTRK, a.k.a. JAPFPE
          Last edited by LDRTRK; 09-19-2003, 08:17 PM.

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          • #6
            Our guys, who put the sets through their evolutions did not find a great deal of difference between the top three, Scott Survivair or MSA. Most said they liked the Scott slightly better (a predjudice perhaps due to the fact our Dept has been using Scott for over 30 years)However Survivair won the contract ,throwing in several extra features and still coming in well below the Scott quote.
            A'int No Rocket Scientist's in The Firehall

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            • #7
              I've been in Scotts all my career so I'm prejudiced.However I can say with absolute confidence that these packs are firefighterproof.My personal pak is an old wire frame 4.5 and it just goes and goes.A nother VERY important consideration is your dealer/service provider.We have an EXCELLENT SP,IPS out of Mass.who has gone out of their way to take care of our needs.I've seen the level of care used in the bench testing and when they come off the bench I know that packs ready to go.T.C.

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              • #8
                We started out with Scotts and changed to ISI and never looked back.
                The big city dept in our area has MSA, Dreager and Scotts. They just recieved grant money to upgrade and they have picked ISI with the new heads-up display in the mask. I think the main reason they went to ISI is ISI is what most of our county uses.
                Vintage Firefighter:
                "The older I get the braver I was!"

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                • #9
                  but one unit takes 1 9 Volt and 4 AAA Batteries, which wear out very very faxt, even if you use the Duracell Copper Tops that are recommended
                  Energizer is far superior to Duracell!

                  They just recieved grant money to upgrade and they have picked ISI with the new heads-up display in the mask.
                  What? Heads Up Display? Do you have a website for ISI by chance? I'd really like to check it out. I thought HUDs only came with multi-billion dollar aircraft!
                  Last edited by be58d2003; 09-19-2003, 09:41 PM.

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                  • #10
                    http://www.intsafety.com/

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                    • #11
                      Indepent testing

                      Intertek Testing does the UL type testing for SCBA at the facility they have near me. They use local firefighters in the testing process. Her is the url for their US region.



                      I'm not sure where you'd go from there, but it's a start. I can dig a little more if you'd like

                      I will pass along a paraphrase of the opinion of a former member who worked there (full time, not just for the SCBA stuff) and was involved in the SCBA testing: The Big 2 (Scott & MSA) are the big 2 for a reason. He only mentioned one other by name, Draeger, and I got the impression from him that Draeger made a good first impression but didn't do well in the long run.
                      Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.

                      Anything found in my posts is soley my opinion and not representative of any other individual or entity.

                      You know that thing inside your helmet? Use it wisely and you'll be just fine.

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                      • #12
                        Quote "a paraphrase of the opinion of a former member who worked there"

                        I'm not quite sure what that means. However, all SCBA's go throught the same testing and either pass (ie NFPA 1981- 2002 certified) or don't.

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                        • #13
                          I would check and see what your neighboring depts are using. Compatability between M/A depts should not be overlooked as a factor in what you choose to buy. Personally I teethed on Scott and have always found them to be reliable.

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                          • #14
                            SCBA Compatibility

                            I believe this issue regarding compatibility is overplayed. I am interested in what departments wear, but I'm not going to have that dictate what we should use based on our SOP's. It's interesting to here these web sites comments. They are all personal and variable.
                            I have noticed that "Survivair" was not mentioned here. From my understanding they are one of the top three in SCBA manufacture. They are extremely dominent on the west coat. Cities like LA City and LA County use them as well as the City of Montreal some 1800 ff's.

                            I was given a demo recently, and I was impressed with their commeon sense approach to the 2002 requirements.

                            Just my opinion.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I have used MSA and Survivair before with other Depts, Scott is prefered with my Dept, but personally with the various new sets I find most of them excellent.
                              A'int No Rocket Scientist's in The Firehall

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