What is the purpose of SCBA regulators?

The purpose of SCBA regulators is to regulate the air flow from the cylinder to the firefighter. When a firefighter wears a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), the air supply cylinder contains high-pressure air. The regulator's function is to reduce this high pressure to a breathable level and ensure a consistent flow of air as the firefighter inhales. This is critical, as it allows the firefighter to receive a safe and adequate supply of air while working in hazardous environments where the atmosphere may be contaminated or oxygen-deficient.

In contrast, increasing the air pressure is not the role of the regulator; rather, it is designed to lower the pressure to an appropriate level for inhalation. Filtering external air is typically handled by a different component of respiratory protection systems, such as particulate filters or sorbents, which are not part of SCBA systems. An SCBA does hold the air supply in the cylinder, but it is the regulator that manages how that air is delivered to the user during operation.