F.A.Q.'s
We've included a list of the commons questions regarding smoke hoods. If your question is not answered here, please feel free to ask us and we will respond personally to you. Who knows? Your question may be the "next" new FAQ! Please submit your questions through our
Feedback Forum.
Do your smoke hoods have FAA approved technology?
YES! Although the FAA has not come out with a standard for personal smoke hoods, Essex's individual smoke hoods (SCU, VRU, EPOS) are smaller versions of our FAA approved crewmember PBE. All of the components in the SCU, VRU, and EPOS are the same ones used in the FAA approved crewmember PBE.
Since the FAA mandated Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE) for the pilots and cabin crew, back in the late 1980s, Essex's exacting FAA approved standards are used in the design and manufacturing all of our other smoke hoods. Where applicable, we use the same material, components, manufacturing processes, and testing. In addition, the same critical record keeping, documentation, and quality control the FAA requires for the PBE is also used for our other smoke hoods.
No other personal smoke hood can offer you this level of quality! Period.
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Why do I need a smoke hood?
The truth is you or your family can't afford not to have one. It is not the fire that kills most victims, it's the smoke or toxic fumes.
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What should I look for in purchasing a smoke hood?
First of all understand there are many products available and at differing cost. First determine what protection you need and for how long. Then do detailed research on all the products you are considering.
The Essex SCU & VRU are the only products on the market today which offer there own independent source of oxygen.
Important: If you are looking into a filtered breathing product, make sure the product you buy has been tested against different toxic gases at the same time. Many products claim they protect against different gases and the test show they do, but if you read the fine print, they tested the gases one at a time, not together. Or if they were tested at the same time, the toxic concentrations were at unrealistic low concentrations. You should be very concerned about this, since a protective smoke hood is usually a once in a lifetime purchase, you can't afford to buy an inferior product. The reason you want to know if it protects against multiple toxic gases together is because in a fire, for example, there are many toxic gases not just carbon monoxide.
In a fire you'll usually find the following toxins: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, acrolein, and ammonia.
Therefore when you buy a filtered breathing hood to protect you in a fire it should provide you the needed protection against the above chemicals at the same time, at meaningful levels, not just carbon monoxide.
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What is Essex's background in making smoke hoods?
Essex Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries and divisions have been designing and developing oxygen delivery systems for the military and specialized industries since the 1950s. Essex Cryogenics (a subsidiary of Essex) designs and manufactures specialized and proprietary oxygen delivery, liquefaction and oxygen creation systems for US Military and Ally Forces fighter and transport aircraft and Field Hospitals around the world. Essex Medical Systems Plus (EMS+), a division of Essex, designs and manufactures specialized oxygen flow control valves, regulators and concentrators for the Home Healthcare and hospital/ambulance markets. The Respiratory Group, TRG (an affiliated company of Essex), designs and manufactures oxygen delivery equipment for the Home Healthcare and hospital/ambulance markets. TRG manufactures and delivers more cylinder oxygen systems worldwide than any other manufacturer. Now, at the very least, it’s safe to say that Essex Knows Oxygen!
Essex PB&R specializes in making smoke hoods. Essex Industries purchased this division from the Dupont Corporation in 1990. Since then, our products are the "Top-of-Line" in this market. While other smoke hoods use older technology, or mimic our patented designs, and use components which are less effective, our product line is unique, specialized and uses the most advance technology, allowing us to provide you the best protection around.
Furthermore being an approved FAA manufacturer of life savings devices (our PBE), the technology and expertise in our PBE is also found in our other products so you get the best no matter what product you buy.
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What types of smoke hoods do you make?
We manufacture the: PBE, SCU, VRU+, VRU, EPOS, and PILOT, but in varying customer configurations. While some other companies make you take what they have, we will make every effort possible to accommodate your unique requirements. Contact us for details.
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What is the PBE?
Our main product is the PBE, which stands for Protective Breathing Equipment. This term is found in the FAA regulations and refers to the "smoke hood" for pilots, flight attendants, and other aircrew members. This product is mandated by the FAA for commercial airlines and came as a result of past aircraft accidents. On commercial passenger carrying aircraft there is one PBE in the cockpit and one within 3 feet of every fire extinguisher. The number of PBE’s on an aircraft ranges from 2 on up depending on the number of fire extinguishers. It is there to protect the crewmember while dealing with an in-flight fire or a smoke and fume incident. It also allows the aircrew member to effectively aid passengers exiting an aircraft during an emergency evacuation where there is smoke or toxic fumes. To learn more about the Essex PB&R PBE click here.
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What is the SCU?
The Essex SCU (Self Contained Unit) is one-of-a kind smoke hood for general aviation, corporate aircraft, and business jets. It is very similar to our PBE in design and operation. Most of our customers buy it for themselves to place it at each passenger seat of their company's or their own aircraft. Others have bought the SCU for their home to provide themselves and their family members the "ultimate" in personal protection. The SCU has it's own independent source of cool fresh oxygen. To learn more about the Essex PB&R SCU click here.
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What is the VRU+?
The Essex VRU+ (Victim Rescue Unit Plus) is one of our newest developments
in smoke hood technology. We’ve taken our field-proven VRU design and created
new processes that provide complete respiratory and facial protection against
CHEM/BIO agents*. Now, you’re protected against
smoke, carbon monoxide, toxic fumes and deadly CHEM/BIO agents*.
This is the hood of choice for industrial applications, fire protection,
and by governmental agencies. Like the SCU and PBE, the VRU+ uses compressed
oxygen to provide a self-contained breathing hood to protect you. The VRU+
was tested and approved by the U.S. Army and Biological Chemical Command
(SBCCOM) at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, which is the ultimate
authority for testing and evaluating chemical/biological respirators for
the United States Government. To learn more about the Essex PB&R VRU+
click here.
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What is the VRU?
The Essex VRU (Victim Rescue Unit) is a unique smoke hood for industrial applications, fire protection, and is used by security services. Like the SCU and PBE the VRU uses compressed oxygen to provide a self-contained breathing hood to protect you. To learn more about the Essex PB&R VRU click here.
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What is the EPOS?
The Essex EPOS (Emergency Passenger Oxygen System) is a streamlined self-contained
breathing hood developed specifically for the U.S. Military. With over 120,000
units in the field, the EPOS is the hood of choice for the U.S. Air Force.
Designed with critical elements of the FAA approved hoods, the EPOS provides
up to 60 minutes of breathing protection against high heat, flames, toxic
fumes, carbon monoxide and deadly smoke. To learn more about the Essex PB&R
EPOS click here.
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What is the PILOT Unit?
The Essex PILOT Unit (Cockpit Crew Unit) is a lightweight, fire resistant,
compact and easy-to-use smoke hood. It does not provide its own source of
oxygen. Instead it quickly pulls over any cockpit crew’s oxygen delivery
mask system
. This allows the pilot and cockpit crew to continue to see and breathe
clearly. To learn more about the Essex PB&R PILOT click
here.
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Who uses Essex Smoke Hoods?
Essex PB&R products are onboard the world. Our PBE's are in use by a majority of the U.S. major airlines like: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta America West, Frontier, Horizon, Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Spirit, United Parcel Service (UPS), and so many others. [SEE "OUR CUSTOMERS" FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF CUSTOMERS].
In addition, the United States Air Force, many U.S. Government Agencies, US Security Forces, other foreign militaries, and corporate business travelers use our VRU & SCU smoke hoods. Plus, our systems are protecting personnel at industrial copper mines and other hazardous industrial sites.
We're protecting wise businesses, commercial crewmembers, pilots and business travelers with our life saving hoods! Onboard the world.
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Why do you make different types of smoke hoods and why not just make one type?
The simple answer is different customers have different needs. Our PBE meets and exceeds the requirements mandated by the FAA for airline crewmembers. Then there’s the SCU, which meets the needs of protecting passengers on private and corporate aircraft.
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What other products do you make?
At Essex PB&R we specialize in making only protective breathing equipment, specifically self contained and filtered breathing hoods. While other manufacturers offer many different products, our focus is your safety. This focus allows us to provide all of our users the best product on the market.
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How does Essex smoke hoods work?
In general the Essex PB&R PBE, SCU, VRU+ and VRU operate nearly the same. These units each have a sealed bottle of compressed oxygen (the PBE, however, has two). To activate the oxygen, the user simply opens the hood from the sealed protective pouch, snaps open the hood, or pulls a little red initiation ball on string, slips the patented neck seal apart and then over the head. The patented silicone neck seal secures the hood in place and keep out the toxic fumes.
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Why do some of your hoods have an orange tint?
The "yellowish-orange" color of the PBE, SCU, VRU, and EPOS hoods is from the material Polyimide Film. Polyimide Film has this color naturally, and it's this material which provides our products their inherent heat protection capabilities.
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How can I buy an Essex smoke hood?
You can either order direct from us. See the contact page on how to contact us to place an order, or you can order what you need from one of our distributors.
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Is there a guarantee on an Essex smoke hood?
Yes, all Essex PB&R products come with a limited lifetime warranty. For the PBE, SCU, VRU and EPOS the warranty is for 10 years (does not include damage which may rupture the hood material or vacuum seal pouch).
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How do I get a product demonstration?
Just contact us directly or one of our distributors and we'll be happy to let you try out the product for yourself.
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Essex PB&R, Corp. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.