I was just reviewing a safety sheet for a flammable product that is being stored in bulk at a premises and it advises that: 'Fire-fighting personnel are to be equipped with autonomous insulating breathing apparatus.'

I have never come across that phase before and have determined (guessed) the 'autonomous' part of the description means 'self-contained' which is fair enough. But what on earth does 'insulating' mean in relation to BA?

I have asked some Fire Service friends (as the phrase is directed at thme) and they dont have a clue!

I assume this is probably new-speak for some established BA characteristic or component, if so can somebody translate it for me please as Google has not been very helpful? Or perhaps the phrase relates to the global nature of the MSDS and means something somewhere else in the world?

Thanks

Google indicates in the UK we typically name the device Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

The autonomous refers to the fact the wearer is not tethered to a fixed air supply but have their own supply from a cylinder.

The insulating means the wearer is not exposed to the atmosphere in which they find themself e.g. a filter respirator would not protect the wearer from a low oxygen environment.

It may also refer to what is commonly called an "Escape Set".

The use of the term will be down to where in the world the SDS was authored (but given this is an unfamiliar term for the EU/UK market be wary of the rest of the document content).

Messey

Does that mean that you have solved the mystery by means other than your and Roundtuit's reasoned speculation?

If, so enlighten us!!