🔍 Key Concepts

• Typical total duration of a standard positive-pressure SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) air cylinder under normal working conditions • What the low-air / alarm bell is designed to indicate in terms of percentage of cylinder pressure remaining • Why reserve time is intentionally short to force users to exit the hazardous area promptly

💭 Think About

• First think about how long a normal SCBA cylinder is designed to last from full to empty under moderate work—what is the usual time range? • Then consider what fraction of that full supply is kept as a reserve when the alarm activates (for example, around one-quarter or one-third of the cylinder). How many minutes would that roughly translate to? • Ask yourself: Is the reserve meant to allow you to keep working for a long time, or just enough time to withdraw safely by the shortest route?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the typical rated duration (in minutes) of a standard firefighting SCBA cylinder used in marine/firefighting training questions • Check what percentage of cylinder pressure (or approximate bar/psi) triggers the alarm bell and convert that fraction into minutes of air • Make sure the chosen answer reflects a short, safety-margin exit time, not an extended work period