SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

(a) A fire department shall furnish with self-contained breathing apparatus all of its fire protection personnel who engage in operations where the personnel might encounter atmospheres that are immediately dangerous to life or health, where the potential for such exposure exists, or where the atmosphere is unknown. (b) All self-contained breathing apparatus shall comply with the minimum standards of the National Fire Protection Association or its successor. (c) A fire department shall develop and maintain a standard operating procedure covering the proper use, selection, care, and maintenance of all of its breathing apparatus. (d) A fire department shall require each self-contained breathing apparatus used by the department to be inspected at least monthly. The inspection shall comply with the minimum standards of the National Fire Protection Association or its successor. (e) A fire department shall require each self-contained breathing apparatus used by the department to be tested annually for overall condition and proper functioning. The tests shall comply with the minimum standards of the National Fire Protection Association or its successor. (f) A fire department that uses self-contained breathing apparatus shall have samples of the breathing air used to refill the cylinders of the self-contained breathing apparatus tested at least every six months by a competent testing laboratory that has equipment designed to test compressed breathing air. The quality of the compressed breathing air and the laboratory conducting the tests of the compressed breathing air quality must conform with the quality and testing procedures established by the National Fire Protection Association or its successor.