Sabre ELSA Series User manual

ELSA
Compressed Air Escape Breathing Apparatus
User Instructions........................................ 1
Benutzerhandbuch....................................13
Instructions d'utilisation...........................26
Gebruikershandleiding .............................39
Article No. 2001182 Issue G 01. 2010

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ELSA
Compressed Air Escape Breathing Apparatus
Contents
WARNINGS.............................................................................................................................................. 2
1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 BREATHABLE AIR .......................................................................................................... 3
1.2 APPARATUS SELECTION.............................................................................................. 3
1.3 TRAINING........................................................................................................................ 3
1.4 SERVICING..................................................................................................................... 3
1.5 WARRANTY .................................................................................................................... 3
1.6 TRANSPORTATION........................................................................................................ 4
2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 4
2.1 GENERAL ....................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 HOOD.............................................................................................................................. 5
2.3 REDUCER/CYLINDER VALVE........................................................................................ 5
2.4 CYLINDERS .................................................................................................................... 5
2.5 STORAGE BAG............................................................................................................... 5
2.6 QUALITY ATTRIBUTES .................................................................................................. 6
3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE............................................................................................................ 6
4. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE...................................................................................................... 8
4.1 MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................. 8
4.2 ROUTINE CHECKS......................................................................................................... 8
4.3 AFTER-USE CLEANING ................................................................................................. 9
4.4 CHARGING CYLINDERS ................................................................................................ 9
4.5 WORKSHOP REPAIR AND ANNUAL SERVICING ....................................................... 11
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY - MARINE EQUIPMENT DIRECTIVE ............................................ 12
Sabre Breathing Apparatus is a division of Scott Health and Safety Limited.
Registered Office: Scott Health and Safety Limited, Pimbo Road, West Pimbo,
Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 9RA, England.

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WARNINGS
Please Read Carefully and Fully Understand
This manual is for use by personnel trained in the use and care of compressed air escape
apparatus, and MUST NOT be used as a self-teaching guide by untrained users.
Scott Health and Safety Limited have taken great care to ensure that the information in
this manual is accurate, complete and clear. However, Training and Technical Support
Services will be pleased to clarify any points in the manual and answer questions on
Sabre breathing apparatus.
If you need to use this apparatus you will be in an unusual, possibly life-threatening
situation. Poor visibility and toxic fumes may add to your difficulties.
Prepare for that situation:
•Learn the location of escape apparatus and how to gain access to it.
•Learn to use the escape apparatus, as detailed in these instructions.
•Be aware of the protection limits provided by ELSA. Exceeding these limits may cost you your
life or result in injury.
•Be fully aware of workplace hazards.
•Become familiar with planned escape routes.
If the situation arises:
•Remain calm and remember what you must do to survive.
•Don and activate the apparatus. Leave the hazard area immediately.
•Do not enter a hazard area unless it is part of the escape route.
General and Managerial:
•Check apparatus daily when issued to wearers or deployed in ready-use lockers; or monthly if
held in stores.
•ELSA is an escape apparatus. DO NOT use for other purposes, such as fire fighting or cargo
handling.
•Ensure wearers are fully trained in the use of the apparatus, advised of workplace hazards and
planned escape routes.
•Ensure ELSA provides respiratory protection for workplace hazards and has duration for
planned escape routes.
Refer to EN 529 : 2005 - Guide to implementing an effective respiratory protective
device programme.
DISCLAIMER
Failure to comply with these instructions or misuse of the apparatus may result in
death, injury or material damage, and invalidate any resulting warranty or insurance
claims.
COPYRIGHT
This manual must not be copied in part or in whole, or used for purposes other than its
intended purpose without the written permission of Scott Health and Safety Limited.

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BREATHABLE AIR
Air for compressed air breathing
apparatus may be natural or synthetic. A
typical composition of natural air is shown
in Table 1.
Element Mass %
(Dry Air)
Vol. %
(Dry Air)
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Argon
Carbon Dioxide
Hydrogen
Neon
Helium
Krypton
Xenon
23.14
75.52
1.288
0.048
0.000 003
0.001 27
0.000 330
0.000 0732
0.000 039
20.947 6
78.084
0.934
0.031 4
0.000 05
0.001 818
0.000 524
0.000 114
0.000 009
Table 1: Breathable Air
The quality of air used to supply and
charge breathing apparatus must conform
to European Standard EN 12021 : 1999
(Requirements for Breathable Air).
Fire risk increases when the oxygen level
rises above the value shown in Table 1.
Contaminants must be kept to a
minimum, and must not exceed
permissible exposure levels.
Cylinder water content of air at
atmospheric pressure must not exceed
50 mg/m3for 200 bar cylinders or 35
mg/m3 for 300 bar cylinders.
National regulations for compressed air
breathing apparatus must be observed.
1.2 APPARATUS
SELECTION
When selecting respiratory protective
equipment the following factors must be
considered:
•Hazards likely to be encountered
and their effect on the wearer.
•Physical and emotional stress and
their effect on wearer breathing
rate.
•The type of respiratory protection
required.
In general, constant-flow escape
breathing apparatus is NOT suitable for
use where:
•There are unknown hazards.
•There are no planned escape
routes.
•There are escape routes that
require physical exertion, e.g.:
ladders, tunnels and hatches.
1.3 TRAINING
These instructions cannot replace an
accredited training course run by fully
qualified instructors in the proper and
safe use of Sabre breathing apparatus.
Please contact Training and Technical
Support Services or your Sabre
distributor for training course details.
Training and Technical Support
Services:
Scott Health and Safety Limited
Pimbo Road, West Pimbo,
Skelmersdale, Lancashire,
WN8 9RA, England.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
1.4 SERVICING
ELSA must be serviced by personnel
who have completed a formal training
course and hold a current certificate for
servicing and repairing Sabre breathing
apparatus. Details of the servicing
schedule are contained in the Sabre
ELSA Service Manual, copies of which
can only be obtained by registered
holders of a current certificate.
Your Sabre distributor or Training and
Technical Support Services will be
pleased to provide training course details
and quotes for service contracts. Please
see above for contact details.
1.5 WARRANTY
The products manufactured at our
factories in Skelmersdale and Vaasa
carry a warranty of 12 months (unless
stated otherwise) for parts, labour and
return to site. The warranty period runs
from the date of purchase by the end
user.

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These products are warranted to be free
from defects in materials and
workmanship at the time of delivery.
SCOTT will be under no liability for any
defect arising from wilful damage,
negligence, abnormal working conditions,
failure to follow the original
manufacturer’s instructions, misuse or
unauthorised alteration or repair.
Evidence of purchase date will need to be
provided for any claims arising during the
warranty period. All warranty claims must
be directed through SCOTT Customer
Services and in accordance with our
sales return procedure.
1.6 TRANSPORTATION
It is essential that ELSA is transported in
suitable packaging. Refer to the Health
and Safety document: Guide to the
Pressure Systems and Transportable
Gas Container Regulations 1989.
Where an ELSA with charged cylinder is
to be transported by road, the Road
Traffic Regulations 1986, although
primarily intended to cover toxic,
flammable and corrosive gases, should
be observed.
After transportation, ELSA should be
checked to ensure that:
•The bag and contents gauge have
not been damaged.
•The anti-tamper tags are intact.
2. TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION
2.1 GENERAL
Sabre ELSA is a self-contained, open
circuit, compressed air, constant-flow,
escape breathing apparatus. ELSA
comprises a compressed air cylinder with
a combined reducer/cylinder valve, an
escape hood, with a breathing hose and
a stowage bag.
ELSA is fitted with a 2 litre (10 minute
duration) or 3 litre (15 minute duration)
steel cylinder. The constant flow rate is
38 litres per minute.
Owing to its weight, the 3 litre ELSA is
not suitable for wearing for complete 8
hour shifts.
Pictogram user instructions and the
duration of the air supply are prominently
visible on the bag.
Two bright red anti-tamper tags seal the
bag. The tags break easily when the bag
is opened, or if the apparatus is tampered
with.
The combined reducer/cylinder valve
(RCV) is held closed by a firing pin, which
is attached to the bag’s flap by a quick-
fire strap. When the access flap is
opened it pulls the pin and opens the
valve. Air immediately flows into the
hood.
If the firing pin is not released when the
bag is opened the quick-fire strap can be
used to pull it. The red EMERGENCY PULL
disc on the RCV can be used to pull the
valve actuator once the firing pin has
been released.
While ELSA is stored ready for use, the
cylinder contents gauge, on the
cylinder/reducer valve, is visible though a
transparent panel in the bag, permitting
the cylinder charge state to be checked
without opening the bag.
Providing the apparatus is serviced
regularly in accordance with the service
requirements detailed in the ELSA
Service Manual, there are no shelf life
limits.