BA

Question 1

What is the approved ratio for Biogaurd disinfectant?

Answer 1

1:80 (concentrate)
1:3 (pre-diluted) → needs further dilution to 1:20

Question 2

How long do you submerge BA facemasks for when disinfecting them?

Answer 2

No longer than 10mins

Question 3

What should a BA Operator or team do if they become entrapped? (4)

Answer 3

• Manually activate the alarm on their control module then make their way as close to the nearest point of entry as possible. The duration of a BA set can be significantly increased by remaining calm and still.
• The team should sit down, remain together and not remove their BA sets.
• Use a hose line, if available, to safeguard the team.
• Notify BA entry and the IC of the situation using their portable radio.

Question 4

Explain the BA COS prodedure? (12)

Answer 4

1. Check all components are clean and free from damage, all straps are fully extended, green wheel is tightened finger tight, cylinder is tightly secured and face mask is clear of damage and debris and buddy breathing pouch to ensure everything is ok.
2. Press and hold green button for 5 seconds to check battery (change if one red bar)
3. Remove battery and check for visible damage, reinstall battery and observe control module start up self test with a white tick in a green box.
   If fails note the alarm code, try a second time and send for service if it fails a second time. Send for service if the scheduled maintenance icon is displayed.
4. Ensure low air warnings are correct, checking purge and park buttons. Always finishing on PARK.
5. Open cylinder valve fully and ensure there is more than 250 bar in the cylinder and the digital and analogue numbers are within 10 bars.
6. Close valve fully and allow for control module to stay still for 25 seconds to activate motion alarms and lights going off.
7. Shake control module to stop alarms then leave for 30 seconds to go into full alarm.
8. Turn off full alarm by double clicking green button then test the manual red alarm button on the control module.
9. Ensure the pressure has not dropped more than 10 bar after 60 seconds.
   If it fails release the pressure, remove the cylinder check the o-ring is present and there is no debris in the valve or cylinder and check pressure seal again.
10. Release air slowly trying to catch it somewhere in between 60-99 and check the low pressure alarm sounds at 10 second intervals.
11. Release more air slowly below 55 +/-5 and check low pressure whistle goes off and check lights.
12. Drop air completely and put control module into sleep double clicking green button and put mask into park mode.

Question 5

Explain the emergency buddy breathing procedure? (8)

Answer 5

1. Mayday, mayday, mayday call must be made immediately.
2. The provider must confirm they have a minimum pressure of 150 bar.
3. The provider is to inform the receiver they are going to initiate buddy breathing.
4. The provider pulls out their buddy breathing hose and removes the cap from the male connection.
5. The provider then accesses the receivers buddy breathing hose and removes the cap from the female connection.
6. The receiver is to ensure they can breathe normally and indicate that to the provider.
7. The provider pulls on connections to make sure they are attached properly.
8. The provider then provides a sitrep and gets to a safe environment.

Question 6

What is the procedure for a faulty BA? (5)

Answer 6

• Notify your OIC.
• Remove BA from appliance.
• Complete a ‘BA fault tag’.
• Complete a ‘damaged/faulty equipment’ report.
• Arrange for a replacement BA set.

Question 7

What are the (8) main components of the MSA GI E BA?

Answer 7

1. Cylinder
2. Carrier frame (includes harness, cylinder retention strap, voice projection speaker & buddy lights)
3. Control module
4. Pressure reducer (with low pressure whistle)
5. Buddy breather
6. Demand valve
7. Face mask with HUD
8. Power module & battery (includes alarm speakers)

Question 8

What is invloved in a PACT check?

Answer 8

PPC/PPE/Equipment
* All structural clothing is correctly worn
* All PPE is carried and functioning
* All necessary equipment is carried and functioning

Air
* Is your partner’s BA pressurised?
* Check the number of HUD lights on and visible in your mask
* Positive Pressure Test

Comms
* Voice Projection Speaker on and working
* Portable Radio – is your radio on, the volume up and on the correct fireground channel
* Who are you? – what is your team designation

Tally Tag/Task
* Has your BA tally tag been correctly filled out and placed in the BA control board
* Task – what is your objective(s) i.e. locate fire and extinguish
Tactics – how are you going to achieve your task

Question 9

Tell me (6) things about the carrier frame and harness?

Answer 9

1. Construction = flame retardant composite nylon frame
2. Ergonomically designed with a backplate
3. 450kg rated top lifting handle
4. 180kg rated grab handles wither side
5. Harness straps are made of kevlar webbing
6. Cylinder retention strap and quick release cylinder buckle

Question 10

Tell me (4) things about the control module?

Answer 10

1. Main interface b/w operator and set
2. Has red alarm button and 2x green retset buttons
3. Displays self-test staus, pressure, time to empty, battery level and alarm conditions
4. Has thermal and 4x levels of motion alarms
   * Motions alarms @ 17.5, 20, 25 & 30 secs

Question 11

Tell me (3) things about the face mask w HUD?

Answer 11

1. Polycarbonate wide view mask
2. Self-sealing via positive pressure
3. 7 LEDs (6 in use)
   * 1x battery, 1x warning triangle & 4 cyclinder pressure

Question 12

Tell me (4) things about the pressure reducer & mechanical whistle?

Answer 12

1. Reduces cyclinder pressure to an intermediate pressure (further reduced by the demand valve)
2. Flow capcity of pressure reducer = 700L/min (at full pressure)
3. Whistle activates @ > 55 +/- 5 bar (Low pressure warning shows on HUD, control module and buddy lights)
4. Whistle does not rely on power from set

The HUD pressure lights change to one illuminated red light and all buddy lights begin to continuously flash red.

Question 13

Tell me (2) things about the power module?

Answer 13

1. Power souce for control module, regulator and 2x piezo speakers
2. Has buddy lights:
   * Green = 300-100 bar
   * Yellow = 99-60 bar (+ low pressure warning alarm)
   * Red = 59-0 bar (+ mechanical whistle)

Question 14

Tell me (3) things about the demand valve?

Answer 14

1. Lowers pressure from pressure reducer to provide breathable air
2. On-demand air via ‘first breath’ mechanism
3. Maintains positive pressure

Question 15

Tell me (3) things about the voice projection speaker?

Answer 15

1. Amplifies and clarifies speech from the face mask
2. Min. volume 75 decibels
3. Powers up automatically, ‘on’ status is indicated by 2 beeps and a blue LED

Question 16

Tell me (2) things about the buddy breather?

Answer 16

1. Allows FFs to quickly connect and share air from their cylinders
2. There are 17 formal steps for buddy breathing

Question 17

Tell me (4) things about the BA battery?

Answer 17

1. Rechargable lithium ion
2. Battery status can be viewed off the control module LCD
3. Change battery when 1 red segment is visibale (0-19%) (You have 2hrs from when this appears)
4. Battery level has corresponsding changes in HUD, buddy lights and on control module

Question 18

Tell me (7) things about the BA cylinder?

Answer 18

1. Construction = Carbon-fibre wrapped aluminium composite
2. Water volume = 6.8L
3. Volumetric capacity = 2040L of compressed dry air @ 300bar
4. Weighs 7kg when full
5. Excess flow safety valve
6. Pressure tested @ 450 bar every five (5) years
7. Cylinder valve hand wheel with a ratchet mechanism to stops accidental closure

Safety valve limits the flow of air if there is a catastrophic failure of the cylinder valve and stops the cylinder from becoming a projectile.

Question 19

Tell me (3) things about the tally tag?

Answer 19

1. Represents a FFs presence in the hot zone
2. Each set has a tally tag, which must be left with BA entry before operations
3. Records - station number, name or wearer, set number, cylinder pressure & time in

Question 20

What do the HUD LEDs represent?

Answer 20

🟢🟢🟢🟢 = 300-271
🟢🟢🟢⚪️ = 270-181
🟢🟢⚪️⚪️ = 180-100
⚪️🟡⚪️⚪️ = 99-60
🔴⚪️⚪️⚪️ = 59-0
🔺= motion alarm or hardware failure
Blue triangle = pressure drop, thermal or LCD temp alarm
Yellow battery = low battery (<20%)

Question 21

What are the (12) fundamental expectations of firefighters using BA?

Answer 21

1. Don BA in fresh air.
2. Work in teams of at least two (2).
3. Select the designated fireground channel on portable radios.
4. Deposit BA tally tags at a BA entry prior to entering a building.
5. Enter correct and relevant details on the BA tally tag.
6. Report to the BA entry and collect their BA tally tags on exiting the fire/incident.
7. Check time out/low-air periodically.
8. Exit the fireground accompanied by at least one (1) other member of the team when the cylinder pressure gauge of their BA reaches a pre-determined level, or the cylinder low-air warning signal operates.
9. Proceed toward the sound of a full alarm or distress signal. Rendering assistance is to take precedence over the work in hand. Communication of the situation to BA Entry Officer/IC is required.
10. All crews will withdraw immediately upon the operation of the evacuation alarm.
11. Use guidelines on the instruction of the IC.
12. Report to BA Service after collecting BA tally tags from the BA entry (if one is in operation).