SCBA 2216 or 4500psi

[DWC]

We are a small rural volunteer department looking at updating or SCBA system. We are currently using Scott 2.2's with a four bottle (4500psi) fill system. What are the advantages/disadvantages of moving to a 4500psi system with a four bottle (6000psi) fill system? We know the new bottles will be lighter and duration can be increased to 45 or 60 mins, but will the new four bottle 6000psi fill system provide us with the same capacity to fill spare bottles. Also, if we go with the higher pressure we will have to purchase a new compressor to fill the cascade bottles. Is the change worth it?

[FireOne]

Its your choice. The department I am on looked at 4500 fiberglass lightweight bottles. Remember on these types of bottles they have a shelf life of 15 years and then their done. The company I work for switched over to all 4500 lightweight bottles approx. 15 years ago. This year we had to purchase all new bottles. It adds up quickly when your looking at 40 - 50 air packs.
Our department went with 4500 bottles to fill our 2216 packs. A three bottle 4500 system equals a six bottle 2216 system. When we went to this size of system, our old compressor does fill them in the manual position. We wish that we had purchased a new compressor.

[JohnM]

We did almost exactly what you are talking about. The thing I see different is that we went from 2216 30 min bottles to 4500 30 minute bottles. The new bottles are smaller, but the weight is almost the same as the old bottles. I can't feel a difference between the old and new bottles on my back. I wanted to go to 3000 psi bottles for about the same weight, and get a 40 minute bottle. I don't know if Scott does this, we are an MSA department. Well anyway, we made the change. Got new packs, new 6000 psi cascade system. We are now at the same point as before but have spent many tens of thousands of dollars! And once our system gets below 4500 psi, can't fully fill anything on the fireground from our ladder or rescue cascade systems. Then have to top them off again in the station, so have to sometimes fill bottles twice! I guess you can see I was against the idea. The MSA dealer and the air compressor company really liked it however.Good Luck!

[AntiqueFireLt]

We've just completed our transition from Scott 2.2's to 4.5's. We love them. Lightweight, low profile, whats not to like! You don't even notice your wearing a pack 1-2 hrs. later while overhauling. No more sore necks and backs. We converted 29 SCBA and got 29 new carbon fiber bottles, 58 Kevlar (reconditioned)and an 8 bottle 6ooopsi cascade system for under $25K. I'd definitely make the switch! True about the 15 year shelf life, but a good replacement plan should cover you. Ours calls for us to buy 6 cylinders a year. This also staggers the end of life dates.

This is the only opinion to have, if you're me! If not, get your own, this ones mine!