Luxfer Gas Cylinders occasionally receives inquiries from fire departments and first-responders about the possibility of purchasing cylinders directly from Luxfer for use in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and life-support equipment. On these occasions, we explain that Luxfer has always maintained a policy of selling Luxfer life-support cylinders only through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of SCBA and related life-support products.

The main reason for this policy is to ensure that our products are used in full compliance with all governing standards and regulations, including those related to end-user safety.

Regulatory compliance

SCBA OEMs conduct extensive research and product-development work to ensure not only that their products are safe, effective and designed to meet end-user demands, but also designed and manufactured to meet or exceed all requirements specified by applicable design and performance standards. In North America, these standards are dictated by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 84 [Approval of respiratory protection devices], details requirements for equipment construction and components, performance testing and quality-control plans. Cylinders, identified as “respirable breathing gas container[s]” within the standard, are included in the list of required components for SCBA and, consequently, all applicable cylinder designs must undergo required tests as part of a complete assembly to be considered compliant under the approval.

Moreover, NIOSH approval is a prerequisite for all SCBA to be certified as compliant with NFPA 1981 [Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services].

These regulatory controls and requirements are in place to ensure that SCBA OEMs maintain overall control and total-life responsibility for the integrity and safety of all approved SCBAs, including cylinders and all other required components.

While all Luxfer cylinders comply with applicable standards and regulations specific to cylinders-e.g., those issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transport Canada (TC)-these approvals are distinctly separate from NIOSH and NFPA requirements described above. That is why Luxfer Gas Cylinders supplies its SCBA cylinders solely to and through SCBA original equipment manufacturers and does not sell directly to end-users.

Please note that NIOSH advises that “replacing NIOSH-approved respirator parts, components, and accessories with non-NIOSH-approved parts manufactured by another company voids the NIOSH approval” (see http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/notice02272014.html).

In addition, the unauthorized sale of any Luxfer SCBA cylinder through a channel other than an authorized OEM will void the Luxfer warranty. Luxfer is neither responsible nor liable for unauthorized use of any Luxfer cylinder supplied by a source other than an authorized OEM.

Cylinders sold in North America outside of OEM sales channels by third parties and by cylinder manufacturers for use with NIOSH/NFPA-certified SCBAs are not in compliance with governing standards and requirements and should not be put into service.

For more information, please contact Luxfer Gas Cylinders.

CONTACT: Scott Anderson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing – 336 306 8124 – scott.anderson@luxfer.com