Operation of the Hip-Air Pressure Demand Breathing Apparatus is manual. It is an approved, rated five-minute escape device. The pressure demand air-line respirator phase is connected by an approved air-supply hose to a primary respirable air source; the worker breathes from this source with the valve of the egress (exit) cylinder of the device turned off until the user is ready to leave the working area. The user can leave, connected to the primary air source, or can open the egress cylinder valve and have approximately five minutes respiratory protection. When breathing from the air cylinder, the user can remain connected to the primary air supply and exit, or can disconnect from the air source for easier escape. If the primary air supply source should fail for any reason, the worker can switch to the egress cylinder by turning a valve and escape to a safe atmosphere.

The Hip-Air Breathing Apparatus is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Approval TC-13F-143 when the device is supplied with respirable air from either the small escape cylinder or from a primary compressed-air source; the approval requires that when connected to a primary air source, an air inlet pressure between 65 and 85 psig must be maintained through an approved hose length of between 8 and 300 feet. The approval requires that the compressed-air cylinder be fully charged with air conforming to at least Grade D of Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air, G-7-1; use limited to temperatures above -25 degrees F.

Chemical
Construction
Hazardous Materials
Nuclear
Oil and Gas
Welding

Confined Space
Oxygen Deficiency
Toxic Atmosphere IDLH
Welding

Product Information

Provides respiratory protection for personnel who must work in atmospheres that are immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH), such as in oil drilling and the manufacturing and handling of certain chemicals. Serves as both a long-duration work device and an escape device. Approved for respiratory protection for entry into, for extended periods of work in and for escape from IDLH atmospheres. If used for entry into IDLH atmospheres, the air-line must be connected before entry. The self-contained air supply is approved for escape only. Designed for good weight balance, the cylinder valve and pressure reducer are on the right side and the belt-mounted pressure demand regulator is positioned on the left side. The cylinder is connected to the regulator by a small length of neoprene air-supply hose, which rests on the wearers lower back, completely out of the way. One end of the hose attaches to the pressure regulator coming off the cylinder and the other to the top of a two-inlet manifold which leads directly to the regulator. The bottom inlet is equipped with a quick-disconnect device to attach the air-line to the unit, available with Snap-Tite, Foster, Hansen or Duff-Norton quick-disconnect. The cylinder valve is positioned on the front side of the cylinder so the wearer can simply tilt the cylinder and easily read the gauge. Also available is a Dual-Supply Hip-Air breathing apparatus. Dual-Supply increases mobility because workers do not need to remain tethered to a single air-supply hose throughout the work period. With dual-supply capability, users can connect from one pressurized continuous air source to another without losing continuity of airflow. When the first length of air-supply hose has reached its limit, the wearer simply plugs into a second approved air source and disconnects from the first. This technique is known as “leap-frogging” because it gives workers the ability to move from station to station without disrupting the supply of air.

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