Cleaning and Disinfecting the SCBA
WARNING!
| • | Do NOT use cleaning substances that can or might attack any part of the SCBA. |
| • | Do NOT use alcohol, which can cause deterioration of rubber parts. |
| • | Do NOT use cleaning products that contain hydrocarbons or solvents such as nitro-thinner. |
| • | Do NOT use radiant heat such as the sun or radiators to dry cleaned parts. |
| • | When a drying cabinet is used, make sure the temperature is not more than 140°F (60°C). |
| • | Make sure to rinse components thoroughly. The residue from cleaning agents can cause skin irritation. |
| • | Make sure there is no water, moisture, or dampness on or in the facepiece and regulator before returning the SCBA to service. Any moisture on or in the facepiece or regulator can freeze and result in a malfunction of the SCBA. |
| • | When an SCBA facepiece is shared between individuals, ensure facepieces are cleaned and disinfected between users. |
| • | Failure to clean and decontaminate the SCBA correctly after each use can cause overexposure to contamination and result in illness, disease, or death. |
Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
To prevent exposure to possible contamination that may be present after firefighting activities, a designated person or the user must clean the SCBA after each use. ANSI Z88.5, Practices for Respiratory Protection for the Fire Service, recommends that users be trained in the cleaning procedure.
NFPA 1852, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, may be referred to for additional guidance on cleaning, care, and disinfection requirements to be established in a respiratory protection program.
MSA recommends the use of Confidence Plus Germicidal Cleaner (P/N 10009971), which cleans and disinfects components in one operation; retains its germicidal efficiency in hard water to inhibit the growth of bacteria; and will not deteriorate rubber, plastic, glass, or metal parts. Refer to the label to prepare the Confidence Plus Germicidal Cleaner.
If the Confidence Plus Germicidal Cleaner is not used, wash components in a mild cleaning solution and make sure to rinse them thoroughly. Submerge the facepiece in a germicide solution for the manufacturer's recommended time.
Soiled or contaminated SCBA may be subjected to advanced cleaning. As part of advanced cleaning, all SCBA softgoods may be removed for washing. For guidance on SCBA advanced cleaning procedures, refer to G1 SCBA Cleaning Instruction Manual P/N 10207585.