tank fills at firehouses?

[Medicdiver0125]

I am looking for the adapter to fill mine at the fire department I work for, as for doing it for the public, that is just crazy due to liability issues. Also not sure if I would have time to do that for the public. To busy using that useless ladder truck to put out fires, or using my scba to go into a environment that is not conducive to life, but most likely on the ambulance helping people you can't help themselves.

 

[Kiwi303]

They don't do practices in SCBA???

Done centrally, off in the trucks to training days with 3-4 other rural teams, more time and materials effective for the trainers to deal with several rural teams at the one time than to travel around and show a few guys at a time. So I'd guess they'd top up their expended supplies from the local depots before heading home again.

 

[fire_diver]

I am looking for the adapter to fill mine at the fire department I work for.

Do a google search for "scuba scba adapter". If you need one for DIN, they have those as well. There are several companies that make and sell them. Look at your scba whip and see whether you need a bleeder on your adapter. If not, you can save some money. They aren't cheap, but if you think about how much an air fill costs, it won't take long to pay for its self.

 

[Medicdiver0125]

Thanks fire diver, the only problem, is our compressor is new and has two fill settings 2216 and 4500 so I would have to stand there and watch the whole time. If I catch a run it is a little impractial but cheaper none the less.

 

[fire_diver]

Yeah, I have to babysit my tanks when filling them too. Our fill station is set at 4500 and the knob is locked. It is what it is. I figure it has saved me at least $500 in last few years. Plus, I always have tanks ready to go to the lake.

 

[Thunder Bay Minnow]

I spoke with the City Manager of Saint Ignace and spoke with him about the difficulty of getting air fills and he had no problem with his fire department doing fills with signing a hold harmless document and a small fee. He said that once he gets visitors to his town he doesn't want them to have to leave until they spent ALL of their money in Saint Ignace!!!

He is a GREAT guy!!

 

[dab]

The problem with filling civilian tanks has nothing to do with competing against local business. It's all about CYA. All it would take is for someone to claim injury from "bad air" that they got from a fire dept, and they would probably never have to work again in thier life after the lawsuit.

Yes, FD compressors are tested regularly, and the cost of changing out perfectly good filters several times a year is nothing compared to the cost of trucks, fuel, salaries, etc. Compare that to an LDS that is on a shoestring budget and trying to make everything stretch. I fill all my tanks at my dept, and I would fill for friends too on the down-low.

I take exception to the generalization that FD air quality is superior to an LDS. Often quite the opposite is true. My LDS tests it air every quarter, has a hyper filter system that is changed on a regular basis, also provides nitrox and trimix fills. It is the FD's in our area that operate on a shoestring budget, skip maintenance, and generally don't understand what they are doing (staying up to date on manufacture tank issues, ect). They come to us for help on a frequent basis. Air fills make very little money for an LDS but are a critical service.