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Field guide · Respiratory protection

Cleaning SCBA’s — 7 Steps

Contaminated gear carries the fire home with you. NFPA 1851 asks you to look at your PPE after every use and decide what level of cleaning it needs: a quick clean at the scene every time, and an advanced clean at least once a year or whenever the on-scene clean wasn’t enough. Here is the sequence, step by step.

On-scene clean

Step 1

After every use, before the set leaves the scene.

Advanced clean

Steps 2 to 7

At least once a year, or whenever an on-scene clean doesn’t get it clean.

  1. Step 1

    Clean before you leave the scene

    Stay on air while you do this if you can. Brush or sponge the SCBA with a mild soap-and-water solution to lift off the heavy contamination from overhaul, then rinse it with a low-pressure hose.

    This one step keeps most of the particulate out of the truck and out of the bay. If an on-scene clean doesn't get the set clean, it needs an advanced clean.

    Step 1 is the on-scene clean — done at the scene, every time. Steps 2 to 7 are the advanced clean — at least once a year, or whenever the on-scene clean wasn't enough.

  2. Step 2

    Inspect

    Put on exam gloves and eye protection. Go over the whole set and note any physical damage. Anything you find has to be dealt with before the SCBA goes back in service.

  3. Step 3

    Wash

    Use a soft sponge or a soft-bristle brush with warm water to take the surface dirt off the outside of the SCBA, then rinse it thoroughly. Make sure you get every one of these:

    • Harness — straps and buckles
    • Carrier — band and latch assembly
    • Cylinder — handwheel and gauge
    • Pressure reducer — bell and coupling connection
    • Control, power, battery and speaker modules

  4. Step 4

    Re-inspect

    Once the set has been through the wash, look it over again. Not clean? Go back to step 3 and wash it again.

  5. Step 5

    Dry

    Dry the SCBA somewhere with good airflow, never in direct sunlight. Never machine-dry it — nothing that tumbles or agitates. The set must be completely dry before it returns to service.

  6. Step 6

    Store

    Store clean SCBA in a dry, well-ventilated space, out of direct sunlight and away from indoor lights that give off UV. Keep it out of extreme heat and cold.

  7. Step 7

    Inspect and test

    Before the set goes back on the truck, do the full inspection and the functional test. Clean is not the same as ready.

Always follow the cleaning instructions for your specific SCBA make and model — they take precedence over any general guide. Reference: NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting (nfpa.org). Questions about respiratory protection training? Talk to us.