Umm, I accept your desire for knowledge but seriously doubt the wisdom of the questions being asked. I rather agree with wee brian. The modern fire service should be developing its staff to do the job, not to find out completely useless information. I do agree that there are probably loads of things about BA sets that I don't know, however in 20 years I have never had a reason to know most of what I was taught, let alone need any other information. One of the things that I was taught was the weight of the set (when I first joined - we don't bother with such trivialiity any longer) but was never told what the standard was set at for the maximum weight! The more I think about the more I am convinced that it is not you who needs menaingful development, but your LFf. You should be learning the BA procedures, not useless technical drivel. If he/she thinks about it the technical stuff should be limited to - pressure of set when full, gauge interpretation and some basics about the way the set supplies air to the wearer. No more.
We do teach the pressures in the hoses - such as 6 to 9 bar to the demand valve - however I would strongly argue that such information actually hepls the firefighter to understand zilch. What possible use is such gen? None. The set wioll supply air to the wearer at a pressure that is above that around the outside of the facemask, therefore if you are unfortunate enough to suffer nay leakage from the mask seal then it will be outward. The cylinder should be charged to 300bar and will give you 36 minutes of working time. You should be back at the entry control before that time is up and there is a gauge to show you how much air you have left. This allows you to appreciate the amount you have used so far and to decide upon the safe time to turn around and exit. What more do you need to know?
Whatever your feelings about upsetting the LFf unless he/sheis made to realise the pointlessness of their questions then you, your station and your service will not move forward correctly.
I wholeheartedly support your point about Ffs being encouraged to ask questions, however not of this type. Ask me about procedures, community safety initiatives, operational command, casualty care and more, but DO NOT ask me about the detailed techinical information of anything - I DO NOT CARE. I leave such nonesense to the standards developers, after all they are the manufacturers and make the standards to suit themselves - any maximum weight they make up themselves, not users.
