A new SCBA featuring PASS alarms that meet stringent new safety standards was among the products unveiled for the first time at the FDIC in Indianapolis.

MSA's Firehawk M7 was designed in line with the 2007 edition of NFPA 1982.

The new standard, which comes into effect at the end of August, was drawn up after some manufacturers' PASS devices had failed to emit an alarm in fatal incidents involving firefighters.

Testing under the new standard involves stricter water immersion and heat testing, tumble-vibration checks, and requirements that alarms are still audible when muffled, such as when firefighters collapse and the alarms are covered.

MSA representatives said their new PASS devices emit a 95-decibel alarm at temperatures of up to 500 F. Previous devices were only required to sound such an alarm at temperatures of up to 200 F.

The PASS alarm on the FireHawk M7 was developed with input from third-party acoustic experts and also features fire-resistant electronics and the M7 Accountability System, according to MSA.

The system helps fireground management by combining computer software with a high-performance radio module to keep incident commanders apprised of multiple firefighter-related conditions. This includes SCBA cylinder pressure, service-time, PASS alarms (motion or manual), thermal alarms, battery status, radio connectivity, and evacuation acknowledgement of up to 100 firefighters within a one-mile-line-of-sight, all on a computer-based user-interface.

MSA spokesman Mark Deasy said that none of the 15 recorded firefighter fatalities involving PASS alarms that failed to work properly were connected with any of the company's equipment.  
 
He added that the company had worked hard to meet the new regulations months ahead of them coming into effect.

"Every new standard that comes out is challenging because what it means is that the bar has been raised," said Deasy. "As a manufacturer it means we have to go back to our products and challenge ourselves to meet and exceed those new demands. But, in essence, that's what innovation is all about."