Self-contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs) Lessons Learned Report

The Science and Technology Directorate’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) partnered with the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), a life-saving piece of personal protective equipment and a substantial financial investment for fire departments nationwide. Recent technological advancements in SCBAs promise to enhance safety, communication, situational awareness, and the overall mission effectiveness of fire response teams. NUSTL’s evaluation involved rigorous testing of SCBAs available in the current marketplace to analyze their capabilities, including new electronic safety features that facilitate information transmission between SCBAs and incident command.

This report provides fire departments across the country with guidance to inform the procurement and deployment of SCBAs. The SCBA Lessons Learned Report encapsulates the key observations and insights from FDNY’s and NUSTL’s collaborative efforts, providing critical information for other fire departments in assessing their SCBA needs. It offers a generalized assessment approach that can be adapted to help departments define their requirements and evaluate potential SCBA acquisitions effectively.