Steel cylinder air respirator is an isolated respiratory protective equipment that provides a clean source of breathing air through compressed air cylinders. It can effectively protect users from respiratory system injuries in high-risk environments such as toxic, harmful, oxygen deficient, and dust. It is widely used in industrial maintenance, chemical emergency, fire rescue, and other scenarios.
Key points of daily maintenance and upkeep
（1） Regular inspection and testing
Daily inspection (before daily use): Check each item according to the "pre use inspection" process, focusing on pressure alarm, mask sealing, and sealing of connection parts. If any problems are found, stop using immediately and prohibit "use with illness".
Monthly inspection: Disassemble the pressure reducing valve and gas supply valve, check whether the internal diaphragm and spring are intact, without aging or deformation; Check whether the valve switch of the steel cylinder is flexible and free of jamming; Test the sealing of the backup gas source interface, seal the interface with a plug, pressurize to 0.7MPa, let it stand for 5 minutes, and pass if the pressure drop is ≤ 0.05MPa.
Annual testing and steel cylinder testing: Qualified institutions need to be commissioned to conduct comprehensive testing every year, including performance tests such as pressure stability of pressure reducing valves, gas supply volume of gas supply valves, and sensitivity of alarm devices; Steel cylinders undergo a water pressure test every 3 years, and after passing the test, a test mark is affixed. Unqualified steel cylinders must be immediately scrapped and their continued use is prohibited.
（2） Storage and Preservation
Storage environment: Store in a dry, ventilated, and cool room (temperature 0-30 ℃, relative humidity ≤ 60%), away from sources of fire and heat (such as radiators and electrical equipment), and avoid direct sunlight; Prohibit mixing with flammable, explosive, toxic and harmful substances to prevent corrosion of steel cylinders and aging of face shields.
Storage of steel cylinders: Steel cylinders should be placed upright and equipped with fixed brackets to prevent tipping; Separate full and empty bottles and label them clearly (such as "full bottle area" and "empty bottle area"); When not in use for a long time, the pressure of the steel cylinder should be maintained at 10-15 MPa to avoid air entering and contaminating the inside of the cylinder due to low pressure.
Component maintenance: The silicone sealing gasket of the breathing mask needs to be coated with special maintenance oil (once every 6 months) to prevent aging and hardening; The sealing rings inside the pressure reducing valve and gas supply valve need to be replaced regularly (once every 1-2 years) to ensure sealing; The webbing of shoulder straps and waist belts should avoid contact with sharp objects to prevent wear and tear.
（3） Common fault handling
No display or abnormal display on pressure gauge: Check if the cylinder valve is fully opened. If the valve still does not display when opened, it may be due to damage to the pressure gauge or blockage in the pipeline. Replace the pressure gauge or unclog the pipeline; If the displayed value fluctuates too much, it may be an internal fault of the pressure reducing valve and needs to be disassembled for maintenance.
Insufficient gas supply from the gas supply valve: Check if the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve is normal (0.7-1MPa). If the pressure is too low, adjust the pressure regulating knob of the pressure reducing valve; If the pressure is normal but the gas supply is still insufficient, it may be due to the aging of the gas supply valve diaphragm, and the diaphragm needs to be replaced.
Mask leakage: Check if the silicone gasket is intact and if the headband is loose. If the gasket is damaged, it needs to be replaced, and if the headband is loose, it needs to be readjusted; If the fit between the mask and the face is poor (such as facial beard), the beard needs to be cleaned or a large-sized mask needs to be replaced.