For advice on the safety and suitability of this
equipment contact your local HSS Hire.
There is a serious risk of personal injury if you do not
follow all instructions laid down in this guide.
This equipment may be used in a workplace subject to a
permit to work, it is the hirers responsibility to ensure
that the equipment’s technical specification meets the
requirements of any such permit to work prior to
starting work. For further technical information contact
your local HSS Hire.
The hirer has a responsibility to ensure that all
necessary risk assessments have been completed prior
to the use of this equipment.
This equipment should only be used by an operator
who has been deemed competent to do so by his/her
employer.
This equipment should be used by an able bodied adult.
Anyone with either a temporary or permanent
disability, should seek expert advice before using it.
Never use this equipment if you are ill, feeling
tired, or under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
Keep children, animals and bystanders away from the
work area. Cordon off a NO GO area using cones and either
barriers or tape, available for hire from your local HSS Hire.
Wear sensible, suitably protective clothing and
footwear plus any safety wear appropriate to the work
in progress.
Make sure you know how to operate this equipment
safely and are aware of its limitations before you use it.
Remember that this equipment does not guarantee life
protection but if used correctly it will help provide a
safer environment to work in.
Make sure that anyone in the immediate work area is
warned of what you are doing.
Check the condition of the equipment before use. If it
shows signs of damage or excessive wear, return it to
your local HSS Hire.
Inspecting The Unit…
The following safety check must be performed before
the beginning of each session of use i.e. first use of the
Limitations For Use
Persons with facial hair (beard) should not use the
unit, as the mask will not make a proper seal.
If you have any doubt WHATSOEVER in this matter,
DO NOT use the equipment until you have contacted
your local HSS Hire for advise on how to proceed.
GENERAL SAFETY day, after a coffee or lunch break.
Check the gauge, the dial MUST be between 160 bar
and 200 bar. If not the unit MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON
and the cylinder must be replaced with a fully charged
one.
• Check the mask for signs of damage. Pay particular
attention to…
• The lens for cracks and the seal, (the masks lens is
grade 1 impact resistant).
• The straps, for damage and correct operation.
• Secure fitting of the demand valve (see GETTING
STARTED).
Attach a fully charged
cylinder to the harness,
place the cylinder onto
the back plate of the
harness with the cylinder
valve pointing down
(cylinder inverted) and
secure in place with the
cam-lock buckle (see
illustration).
Next, fit the cylinder
connector to the cylinder
valve, ensuring the
handwheel is firmly
tightened. Tightening
must only be performed
by hand, do not use any
tools.
Fit the demand valve to
the mask, insert it into the
opening on the side of the
mask and turn 90° until it
clicks in position. The valve
should then be able to
pivot by 90° without
separating from the mask.
Fit the harness complete
with cylinder to your
shoulders, then connect
the waist band buckle and
adjust the strap to suit.
Now adjust the shoulder straps so that the unit is
comfortable. Simply hold the loop on each strap, with
your thumb and pull down.
Before you use the equipment, be aware of the time
limit of the air supply. An average male will consume
approximately 40 litres of air per minute (this will vary
depending on body size, work in progress and many other
factors).
A fully charged cylinder contains 1800 litres of air and
BASIC TECHNIQUES
GETTING STARTED
would last around 45 minutes @ 40 litres per minute.
Note also that when fully charged, the cylinder pressure
is at 207 bar. As the air is used up the pressure will reduce
and a warning whistle will sound when the pressure
drops to 55 bar and lower.
Upon hearing the whistle, the user has approximately
12 minutes of air supply remaining.
Open the cylinder valve fully (anticlockwise).
Take the mask, hold the lower straps and place your
chin into the chin cup on the mask, keeping any hair
clear of the faceseal.
Pull the straps over your head and tighten in sequence,
Bottom, Middle, Top.
NOTE: once the valve is open and the air released, NO
AIR WILL ESCAPE until you have taken the first breath.
This is because the demand valve has a safeguard
mechanism.
Once the mask is fitted, take a deep breath to activate
the demand valve.
Try to keep your breathing as normal as possible, the
calmer your breathing the longer the cylinder contents
