PSDarchives.surfacesupply

Surface Supplied Air

7-8-02

I own an AGA FFM with positive presure. I would like to use it with
surface supplied air. My questions are; can I convert a regular gas
powered portable air compressor to use, how many horse power does the
compressor need to be, what does the output of the compressor need to
be, does hose length and water depth affect the system, does the mask
need any adjustments, any other advise on compressor choices would be
appreciated. I wouldn't be diving any deeper than 100' with the system
and mostly in 50' or less. Also, is there a training program out there
that I would want to go through before making any choices. What are
other PSD teams using and doing for training with surface supplied air?

I would also like to use the compressor for filling lift bags at the
depths listed above, if that has any berring on compressor chioce.

David Berg
PADI IDC Staff Instructor/LGS PSD
St. Louis Co. Sheriff Rescue Squad
Duluth, MN

7-8-02

What you want to do will work, but I would recommend inserting a cascade
system between the diver(s) and the compressor. Then the compressor will
keep the bottles filled. Using the air tanks as a buffer gives you a margin
of safey in case the compressor dies. I would recommend not using the
compressor for filling air bags. Using a regular tank gives you more
flexability.

Randle E. Burrows, Sergeant
Galveston County Sheriff's Office
Criminal Investigation Division/Dive Team
2026 Sealy, Galveston, TX 77550

7-8-02

I would suggest that you stick with equipment designed for divers.
There is specific maintenance and filters required for compressors used for
diving. You indicated that you represent the St. Louis Co. Sheriff's Rescue
Squad. You may open yourself and the department to liability if you convert
equipment not regularly used for diving and injure a dive team member. When
it comes to public safety diving, there should be no short cuts.

Detective Estevan Martinez
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

7-8-02

We use AGA's with 80's and have a surface supplied system as backup. We have
tied our bail-outs into the main hose and added a male fitting in-line where
an umbilical hose can be attached..We run the system on an Amron DCS with
scuba tanks (since we have lots of tanks)..The SAS is a safety backup for
entrapments and other unforseen events..You need to assess whether or not
you really have a need to be surface supplied for public safety diving since
extending bottom time is not always a good idea in this business..If you
decide to go that way, you are taking on a lot more equip
maintenance....There are training issues related to controlling umbilical
pressures and dealing with system failures so be prepared to add this to
your training program...good luck

Art Oates
Houston P.D.

7-8-02

Detective Martinez has pretty well nailed it for you. There are
Federal Regulations concerning compressed gas storage and delivery. Use what
is commercially compliant and you will be in much better shape.
Lift bags, for a normal 50 or 100 pound bag it is fine to use a SCUBA bottle;
but for larger commercial bags, 250 pound and above the use of surface
supplied air will provide a greater the highest level of safety for all
concerned. Heavy lifting is an art within itself and is beyond recreational
training. The equipment and procedures are intensive and require training.
You ask good questions and as ER said ask before doing and get the right
answers before doing.
Chuck
NCURT

7-8-02

I assume that the compressor you're talking about is rated for SCUBA.
If not of course don't use it. The AGA will work fine with surface supply. It
requires a massive amount of training and maintainance ( including air
quality testing). If you really want/need surface supply it would probably be
easier to use a cascade type system of SCUBA tanks with the umbilical
pressure controlled through something like the Amron DCS. I believe that Art
Oats in Houston uses such a system and would be a good contact for
information.

Officer Ronny Phillips
Dive Master
Galveston (TX) Police Department
Marine/Dive Unit

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