Tank Question?

[tjunior]

Can firefighter tanks be used for scuba? Can they be converted for scuba?
Are there any types of fire tanks that will work for scuba?

 

[SkullDeformity]

What kind of tank does a firefighter use? How do you shoot fire out?

 

[divenutny]

TJunior - Fairly confident the answer is no. The SCBA's I am familiar with use din fittings, most tanks are fiberglass wrapped aluminum filled to 4500, the older steels are 2250, if you can find them. Typically, the fire dept tanks are smaller than scuba. I do not know the standard size. To me, not worth the hassle. Use something that is proven.

Hope this helps - Tom

 

[spectrum]

If you are talking about a 4500 PSI comnposite or FG wrapped cylinder the buoyancy properties will not work well, they are too light. You will need lots of lead to sink it. Opportunities for 4500 PSI fills will be limited unless you have connections at the FD.

Pete

 

[tjunior]

One of my good friends is a member of our FD. He informed me that the station was getting all new tanks and that if anyone wanted to take one they were welcome too. We took a ride up to the station to inspect the tanks and found 8 to 10 of them. You were right about the wrapped fiberglass. The first thing I noticed was how light they were when I picked them up. I assumed these tanks would be unusable for scuba due to the counter weight issue. However, he did mention steel tanks as well.

If I can get my hands on one of those steel tanks do you guys think it will work?
I'm not asking about bottom time or the size of the tank.
All I want to know is if you guys know or think it will work.

You mentioned that the SCBA's use din. Don't Scuba tanks use din as well?

 

[philmayer]

You mentioned that the SCBA's use din. Don't Scuba tanks use din as well?

Some do, especially HP steel tanks. It's less common than a yoke fitting, but you can also get a DIN/yoke adapter to use a yoke-style 1st stage on a DIN valve.

I don't know about the FD tanks and whether they're usable UW though.

 

[spectrum]

Getting a dive shop to buy in on issuing a VIP may be interesting.

 

[saltydawg]

the scba bottles have to be hydroed and vip'd also that is usually when the give them away since they have been burned (being a fireman over here) they are way too small to be any use u/w imho......the steel ones might make a pony bottle

 

[drywaterdiv]

SCBA tanks are not a din fitting. The lower pessure tanks(2216, 3000) used a CGA 346 fitting. The 4500 psi tanks used a CGA 347 fitting. Like others have sid buy a scuba tank. The scba tanks also have a shelf life of 15 years from when they are made. Some of the newer ones are a 30 year tank. I'm guessing that is why tge department is getting rid of them.