PHASE C NEXT GENERATION MASK TESTING IN THE FDNY.

[68jk09]

Several changes & additions during this testing.

D.O. 100 ...8-5-26

2.1 PHASE C OF THE FDNY’S NEXT GENERATION SCBA ACQUISITION PROJECT / FIELD PILOT

Phase C of the FDNY’s Next Generation SCBA Acquisition Project is scheduled to commence on Monday

August 10, 2026, at 0900. Designated testing and evaluation units will field pilot the two-finalist next generation

SCBA models, the Draeger Air Boss and MSA G-1. Both SCBA systems have been specifically tailored to the

FDNY. The Phase C field pilot will afford program participants inclusive of Firefighters, Company Officers, and

Chief Officers the ability to evaluate performance of the SCBA system during the course of responses to fires and

emergency operations, and assess equipment durability. The field pilot is approximately three months in duration.

Designated field pilot units include: Engine 231, Ladder 120, Battalion 44, and Rescue 2; Engine 75, Ladder 33,

Battalion 19, and Squad 41. Human-centered performance evaluations from the Phase C field pilot will critically

inform the executive staff’s selection of the FDNY’s next generation SCBA.

Phase C SCBA Performance Field Testing and Evaluation details:

• All riding positions in designated SCBA field pilot units will have a next generation SCBA except for the

ECC SCBA for Engine 75 and Engine 231 which will have Scott 4.5 masks.

• Assigned members of field pilot units MUST wear the pilot masks for the entire duration of the Phase C.

Non-participants are to wear the SCOTT 4.5 when detailed to a pilot unit.

• All assigned members of SCBA field pilot units have received SCBA system familiarization and have

been fit tested.

• All designated field pilot units; all Rescue and Squad Companies; Divisions 6, 7, 11, and 15; and the

Rescue Battalion will be equipped with an additional FAST Pak for the duration of the field pilot. The

modified FAST Pak affords members with three options to provide air to a member in distress. A video of

these three options has been posted to Diamond Plate; Click Here For Link. Those FAST Paks

previously assigned to all ladder companies will continue to afford members with two options in providing

air to a member in distress (via facepiece or high-pressure UAC).

• The end of service time indicator (EOSTI) for both next generation SCBA systems alarm at 31% vs. 25%.

• The Scott Pak Tracker will not identify either of the next generation SCBA in the field pilot.

• Dispatchers will notify Chief Officers and FAST units responding to signal 10-75 and greater when a

SCBA field pilot unit is assigned to the incident.

• Testing and evaluation participants are strictly prohibited from posting content related to next generation

SCBA performance testing to social media. The dissemination of digital content related to SCBA

performance testing shall be limited to those members directly involved in the field pilot program.

• A “B” letter suffix will be added to all field pilot companies in the CAD system to denote they are a field

pilot company for the duration of the field pilot program. This will add another layer of field pilot company

identification (i.e. E231B; RS02B).

• The SCBA Acquisition Project will continuously staff an SCBA Response Team for the duration of the

field pilot. The team will facilitate the timely replacement of next generation SCBA cylinders and the

replacement of next generation equipment in need of repair.

• The SCBA unit can be reached at (212) 860-9321 and scba.unit@fdny.nyc.gov.

By Order of: Lillian Bonsignore, Fire Commissioner

John M. Esposito, Chief of Department

 

[FDNY704]

Wow I am shocked that Scott did not make it as one of the finalists since they went back to the wire frame for FDNY. I have worn all 3 and think the Scott is the best just my opinion. Drager was good but everything is backwards from the MSA and Scott and the Scott Facepeice was alot better I thought.

 

[Capttomo]

Wow I am shocked that Scott did not make it as one of the finalists since they went back to the wire frame for FDNY. I have worn all 3 and think the Scott is the best just my opinion. Drager was good but everything is backwards from the MSA and Scott and the Scott Facepeice was alot better I thought.

I agree with you totally on the Draeger. All American SCBA have regulator hose coming over left shoulder and gauge/ info panel with buttons coming over right shoulder. After years of use it is amazing the muscle memory that is created. Everything from silencing a pass to taking the pack off while remaining on air (narrow spaces etc) becomes almost an unconscious reflex. Yes they will be trained on any new pack, and yes many will eventually become acclimated to the change. But common sense, real world experience, human behavior and human psychology show is that it takes a long time to unpack the old reflexes from the Brain. Something to seriously consider when dealing with a critical life support system such as SCBA. Yes we all love the simplicity and rapid donning of the actual Scott Facepiece. The best for 46 years now. The problem is one that is typical in the fire/ EMS field. Many great products that we come to live due to dependability, ruggedness, simplicity, durability, etc are bought out by larger private equity and or venture capitalist firms whose goal is to squeeze maximum dollars out of the company and products they sell. Historically they cut back on service, warranty support and INNOVATION! This works in the short term but long term results in solid and loyal long term customers migrating to other manufacturers. Remember Morning Pride Bunker Gear??? Once the Cadillac of bunker gear. Scott has been steadily losing market share for about a decade now. Big departments have ditched Scott who continues to think its legacy will carry them. Yes I love it that the wire frame pack was brought back. But that was a last ditch panic driven reaction to what they saw on the horizon. Manufacturers ware willing to cut off their right thumb (metaphor) to get an FDNY contract and then advertise that FDNY buys their equipment. Many departments around the country put serious consideration into any equipment FDNY purchases because of the research put into it and the real world battle testing in the street over time. Yes sometimes you wind up with a shit sandwich, American LaFrance Engines, Ferrara aerials, and remember the glove fiasco many years ago. But by and large FDNY is often the proving grounds that can make or break a manufacturer’s reputation. I still love Scott, but the Scott parent company, 3M appears to have focused more on short term maximizing of profits over long term strategy. Given the choice of the two remaining competitors, my opinion, having “played around” with both is forget the Draeger and go with the MSA. It will be interesting to see the results and feedback of the pilot evaluation program. JMO stay safe

 

[tommyhal&oat]

Well Said Tomo