ELSA
DASH/SPRINT
Compressed Air Escape Breathing Apparatus
User Instructions
Article No. 1034931
Issue F 03. 2003
ELSA Dash/Sprint
Compressed Air Escape Breathing Apparatus
Contents
WARNINGS ...........................................................................................................ii
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 1
1.1 BREATHABLE AIR ...........................................................................................1
1.2 APPARATUS SELECTION...............................................................................1
1.3 TRAINING AND SERVICING............................................................................ 1
1.4 SERVICING......................................................................................................2
1.5 SHELF LIFE......................................................................................................2
1.6 USE IN EXPLOSIVE OR FLAMMABLE ATMOSPHERES ................................ 2
1.7 TRANSPORTATION.........................................................................................2
2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ........................................................................ 3
2.1 GENERAL.........................................................................................................3
2.2 HOODS (DASH/SPRINT) .................................................................................3
2.3 FACEMASKS (SPRINT) ...................................................................................4
2.4 REDUCING VALVE (DASH/SPRINT) ...............................................................4
2.5 DEMAND VALVE (SPRINT) .............................................................................5
2.6 CYLINDER VALVES (DASH/SPRINT)..............................................................5
2.7 STORAGE BAG................................................................................................5
2.8 QUALITY ATTRIBUTES ...................................................................................6
3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE...........................................................................6
3.1 INITIAL CHECKS..............................................................................................6
3.2 DONNING......................................................................................................... 6
3.3 HOOD (DASH/SPRINT)....................................................................................7
3.4 FACEMASK (SPRINT)......................................................................................8
4. AFTER USE CLEANING AND TESTING ..................................................... 9
4.1 CLEANING HOODS (DASH/SPRINT) ..............................................................9
4.2 CLEANING FACEMASKS............................................................................... 10
4.3 CHANGING CYLINDERS ............................................................................... 10
4.4 BREATHING APPARATUS LOG....................................................................11
4.5 STOW APPARATUS ...................................................................................... 11
4.6 WORKSHOP REPAIR AND ANNUAL SERVICING ........................................12
5. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE...................................................................12
5.1 GENERAL.......................................................................................................12
5.2 DAILY CHECKS .............................................................................................12
5.3 MONTHLY CHECKS....................................................................................... 13
Sabre Breathing Apparatus is a division of Scott Health and Safety Limited.
Registered office: Scott Health and Safety Limited, Pimbo Road, West Pimbo,
Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 9RA, United Kingdom.
i
WARNINGS
Please Read Carefully and Fully Understand
If you need to use this apparatus you will be in an unusual, possibly life-threatening
situation. Poor visibility and toxic fumes may add to your difficulties.
Prepare for that situation:
• Learn the location of escape apparatus and how to gain access to it.
• Learn to use the escape apparatus, as detailed in these instructions.
• Be aware of the protection limits provided by ELSA apparatus. Exceeding
these limits may cost you your life, or result in injury.
• Be fully aware of workplace hazards.
• Become familiar with planned escape routes.
If the situation arises:
• Remain calm and remember what you must do to survive.
• Don and activate the apparatus. Leave the hazard area immediately.
• Do not enter a hazard area unless it is part of the escape route.
• Ensure that clothing, hair, spectacle frames, or other items that might
prevent a good seal being achieved, do not intrude into the facepiece seal.
General and Managerial:
• Check apparatus daily when issued to wearers or deployed in ready-use
lockers, or monthly if held in stores.
• ELSA Dash and Sprint are escape apparatus. DO NOT use for other
purposes, such as fire fighting or cargo handling.
• Ensure wearers are fully trained in the use of the apparatus, advised of work
place hazards and planned escape routes.
• Ensure ELSA apparatus provide suitable respiratory protection for
workplace hazards and has duration for planned escape routes.
Refer to BS 4275 1997 - Guide to implementing an effective respiratory protective
device programme.
This manual is for use by personnel trained in the use and care of compressed air
escape apparatus, and MUST NOT be used as a self-teaching guide by untrained
users.
DISCLAIMER
Failure to comply with these instructions or misuse of the apparatus may result in
death, injury or material damage, and invalidate any resulting warranty or insurance
claims.
Scott Health and Safety Limited have taken great care to ensure that the information
in this manual is accurate, complete and clear. However, Training & Technical
Support Services will be pleased to clarify any points in the manual and answer
questions on Sabre breathing apparatus.
ii
ELSA DASH/SPRINT
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BREATHABLE AIR
Air for compressed air breathing
apparatus may be natural or
synthetic. A typical composition of
natural air (at atmospheric pressure
and room temperature) is shown in
Table 1.
Components
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Argon
Carbon Dioxide
Hydrogen
Neon
Helium
Krypton
Xenon
Mass %
(dry air)
23.14
75.52
1.288
0.048
0.000 003
0.001 27
0.000 330
0.000 0732
0.000 039
Table 1: Breathable Air
The quality of air used to supply and
charge breathing apparatus must
conform to EN 132 - Respiratory
protective devices - Definitions of
terms and pictograms.
Fire risk increases when the oxygen
level rises above the value shown in
Table 1.
Contaminants must be kept to a
minimum, and must not exceed
permissible exposure levels.
Cylinder water content of air at
atmospheric pressure must not
exceed 50 mg/m3 for 200 bar
cylinders or 35 mg/m3 for 300 bar
cylinders.
National regulations for compressed
air breathing apparatus must be
observed.
Vol. %
(dry air)
20.947 6
78.084
0.934
0.031 4
0.000 05
0.001 818
0.000 524
0.000 114
0.000 009
1.2 APPARATUS SELECTION
When selecting respiratory protective
equipment the following factors must
be considered:
• Hazards likely to be encountered
and their effect on the wearer.
• Physical and emotional stress
and their effect on wearer
breathing rate.
• The type of respiratory protection
required.
In general, constant flow escape
breathing apparatus is NOT suitable
for use where:
• There are unknown hazards.
• There are no planned escape
routes.
• Escape routes that require
physical exertion: ladders,
tunnels and hatches.
1.3 TRAINING AND
SERVICING
These instructions cannot replace an
accredited training course run by fully
qualified instructors in the proper and
safe use of Sabre breathing
apparatus.
Please contact Training &
Technical Support Services or your
Sabre distributor for training course
details.
Training & Technical Support
Services:
Scott Health and Safety Limited
Pimbo Road, West Pimbo,
Skelmersdale, Lancashire,
WN8 9RA, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0) 1695 711711
Fax: +44 (0) 1695 711775
1
ELSA DASH/SPRINT
1.4 SERVICING
ELSA apparatus must be serviced by
personnel who have completed a
formal training course and hold a
current certificate for servicing and
repairing Sabre breathing apparatus.
Details of the servicing schedule are
contained in the ELSA Dash and
ELSA Sprint Service Manuals,
copies of which can only be obtained
by registered holders of a current
certificate.
Your Sabre distributor or Training &
Technical Support Services will be
pleased to provide training course
details and quotes for service
contracts. Please see previous page
for contact details.
1.5 SHELF LIFE
Providing that ELSA apparatus is
serviced regularly as described in the
ELSA Dash and ELSA Sprint
Service Manuals, there are no shelf
life limitations.
1.6 USE IN EXPLOSIVE OR
FLAMMABLE
ATMOSPHERES
Anti-static versions of ELSA
apparatus are approved for use in
explosive and flammable
atmospheres. Anti-static apparatus is
provided in a black bag. Apparatus
with a high visibility orange bag
MUST NOT be used in explosive or
flammable atmospheres.
1.7 TRANSPORTATION
It is essential that ELSA Dash and
ELSA Sprint are transported in
suitable packing.
Refer to the Health and Safety
document: Guide to the Pressure
Systems and Transportable Gas
Container Regulations 1989
When breathing apparatus with
charged cylinders is transported by
road, the Road Traffic Regulations
1986, although primarily intended to
cover toxic, flammable and corrosive
gases, should be observed.
After transportation apparatus must
be checked to ensure that:
• The bag and contents gauge
have not been damaged.
• The anti-tamper tag is intact.
2
ELSA DASH/SPRINT
2. TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION
2.1 GENERAL
ELSA Dash and ELSA Sprint are
self-contained, open circuit,
compressed air, short duration,
positive pressure, escape breathing
apparatus, that may be stored ready
for use within a hazardous area or
carried by the wearer while in a
hazardous area.
Dash is a constant flow apparatus
with a flow rate of 38 litres per minute,
that consists of a compressed air
cylinder with a pressure reducing
valve (Reducer), cylinder valve, and
hood, contained in a high visibility
bag, or black anti-static bag.
Sprint is similar to Dash, but has a
two-stage pressure reduction system
that consists of the reducer and a
facepiece-mounted demand valve.
The Sprint facepiece may be a hood
or a full facemask.
Both Dash and Sprint are available
in ten and fifteen minute versions,
with a two litre or three litre aluminium
cylinder.
Pictogram user instructions and the
duration of the air supply are
prominently visible on the bag.
An anti-tamper tag, (that breaks
easily when the bag is opened),
provides an indication that the bag
has been opened. When the
apparatus is first delivered, tags are
provided separately, with instructions
for fitting, permitting the contents of
the bag to be checked. Tags must
then be fitted prior to deploying the
bag.
The quick-fire cord is attached to the
bag lid and wound around the
cylinder valve handwheel. When the
lid is opened it turns the cylinder
valve handwheel and air immediately
flows into the hood.
If the valve does not open when the
bag is opened, the cylinder valve
handwheel can be used to open the
valve.
The cylinder contents gauge is visible
though a transparent panel in the
bag, thereby permitting the cylinder
charge state to be checked without
opening the bag.
Providing the apparatus is serviced
regularly in accordance with the
service requirements, detailed in the
ELSA Dash, or ELSA Sprint Service
Manual, there are no shelf life limits.
Dash and Sprint must be stored
away from direct heat and sunlight.
They can be stored and operated
between -15°C and +60°C. Prior to
storing in very low temperatures the
apparatus, especially the exhale
valve flap, must be completely dry.
2.2 HOODS (DASH/SPRINT)
Hood
3
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