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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 24, 2011 at 7:15am

SCBA contains only compressed air.   Unless the compressor filter system is compromised or the air is otherwise contaminated, the air breathed from a SCBA has the same chemical makeup as does the air we breath every day.

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Permalink Reply by ashfire on November 25, 2011 at 11:06am

If SCBA tanks had pure oxygen they would be painted or done some way to be green. I have used a rebreather type SCBA that can use oxygen for longer operations like in tunnels but that was many years ago for subway training.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on November 25, 2011 at 12:40pm

Air is a mixture of 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and approximately 1% other trace gases.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 25, 2011 at 6:35pm

Not all green cylinders contain pure oxygen.  MSA used green cylinders to indicate their 4500 PSI systems for many years.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 25, 2011 at 6:36pm

Think about it this way - oxygen greatly increases the rate of burning.  Would you want to wear oxygen into a fire building where a simple leak might cause you to burst into flame?

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