Dräger SCBA Air Time Calculator

Select a model, choose a cylinder, enter pressure and RMV to estimate time remaining.

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Dräger SCBA Air Time Calculator (Firefighter Planning Estimate)

Fireground air management is a team skill: pace, communication, and disciplined exits. This Dräger SCBA Air Time Calculator gives a quick training and planning estimate based on cylinder water volume, usable pressure after reserve, and RMV (L/min). Use it to build realistic expectations—not as a replacement for your gauge readings, SOPs, or officer direction.

How firefighters use this Dräger air time estimate

  • Training drills: compare search vs line work RMV and identify how quickly time drops under stress.
  • Pre-plans: estimate air needs for long travel distance, stairs, basements, and large-area searches.
  • Crew briefings: standardize conservative assumptions for RMV and reserve pressure before entry.
  • After-action reviews: connect task intensity and pacing to actual cylinder duration.

Choosing RMV for interior operations

RMV (Respiratory Minute Volume) changes with heat, stress, fitness, PPE load, and task intensity. If you don’t have measured personal data, plan conservatively. Light: ~25–35 L/min, Moderate: ~35–50 L/min, Heavy: ~50–70+ L/min. For complex layouts or high heat, planning in the heavy-work range is often safer.

Reserve pressure is your protected exit margin

Reserve pressure is not “extra air.” It is your buffer for egress, unexpected delays, radio traffic, assisting a partner, or disorientation. Your department policy should set reserve values. This calculator shows the tradeoff: larger reserve reduces interior working time but improves safety margin.

Cylinder notes (water volume vs pressure)

This estimate uses cylinder water volume (L) multiplied by usable pressure (bar) to approximate usable free air in liters. Real duration can be shorter due to small leaks, temperature effects, mask seal issues, and workload spikes—always verify with training and on-scene gauge readings.

FAQ

No. It is a planning estimate. Real duration varies with workload, stress, temperature, mask seal, small leaks, and operating conditions. Always follow SOPs and monitor your gauge.

If you do not have measured RMV data, plan conservatively using a heavy-work range (50–70+ L/min), especially for high heat, long travel distance, or complex layouts.

Reserve pressure is protected air for egress and unexpected problems. Subtracting it gives a more realistic estimate of interior working time.

Air time can shrink due to stress, fast movement, heat, radio use, poor seal, or small leaks. Planning with a higher RMV helps match real fireground conditions.

Notes & safety

This is an estimate based on entered values. Real-world air consumption changes with workload, stress, temperature, mask seal, leaks, and training. Always follow SOPs and monitor your pressure gauge.

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