514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 30-37

Sections

30-8. General Requirements.

Equipment Requirements

Record all modifications, repairs, tests, calibrations, or maintenance on equipment via tagging or logging, detailing the date, work nature, and technician's name. Work must align with manufacturer recommendations and be performed by certified technicians.
Direct Source Breathing Air Compressors must meet specific design requirements, including safety features and a minimum delivery rate of 4.5 actual cubic feet per minute (acfm) (2.1 liters/second) or an amount specified by the helmet manufacturer.
Direct source breathing air compressors should have a CO monitor with alarm when powered by or used in close proximity to internal combustion engines (for example, boat motors, generators, cranes).
Accredited testing laboratory testing is required for all breathing air compressors with a working pressure greater than 500 psi every six months.
Accredited testing laboratories should test all breathing air compressors with a working pressure less than 500 psi every two years. Perform in-house testing every six months.
Ensure Breathing Air Supply Hoses and Umbilicals meet safety standards, undergo regular testing, and are maintained according to manufacturer guidelines. Proper marking, strength, and handling are essential.
SSA And Mixed-Gas Helmets and Masks must have specific safety features, meet minimum ventilation rates, and support communication and emergency air supply systems. Certain models are prohibited or have specific conditions for use.
Dive Harnesses worn by tethered divers must comply with ADCI standards, featuring specific safety and functional elements.

Scientific Snorkeling

Plan and conduct scientific snorkeling strictly according to designated guidelines, with activities restricted to environmental assessments. All team members must be duly qualified and snorkeling operations must have safety oversight.
Implement specific measures for untethered snorkeling, including proximity requirements for observers and the prohibition of snorkeling under certain conditions. Tethered snorkeling in open waters may be permitted under stringent guidelines and approval processes.
Ensure snorkeling sites are equipped with mandatory emergency and first aid equipment. Maintain a direct line of communication with emergency services during snorkeling operations.

30-9. Figures and Tables.

See Figures/Tables Checklists/Forms

30-10. Checklists and Forms.

Not Applicable.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

30-8. Accredited testing laboratory testing is required for all breathing air compressors with a working pressure greater than 500 psi _____.

annually and as needed

after each prolonged use

every two years

every six months

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 30-8 (f.–g.).

30-8. General Requirements. (f.–g.).

f.  Equipment Requirements.  (30-8.f)

(1)  Equipment modifications, repairs, tests, calibrations, or maintenance must be recorded by means of a tagging or logging system, and include the date and nature of work performed and the name of the individual performing the work.  All work must meet manufacturer recommendations and be performed by a certified technician.
    (See para 30-3.g)

(2)  Breathing Air Compressors.

(a)  Direct source breathing air compressor systems must be designed for their intended use and be equipped with a volume tank with check valve on the inlet side, a pressure gauge, a relief valve, drain valve and a low-pressure alarm.

(b)  Direct Source breathing air compressors must overcome any line loss or other losses and deliver a minimum 4.5 acfm (2.1 l/s), or an amount acfm specified by the helmet manufacturer, to each diver at the maximum diving depth.

(c)  Equip all direct source breathing air compressors with a CO monitor with alarm when powered by or used in close proximity to internal combustion engines (for example, boat motors, generators, cranes).

(d)  Design all monitor/alarm systems with a visual and/or audio alarm and locate so the DS will be made aware of the hazardous conditions.

(e)  Locate all breathing air compressor intakes away from and upwind of areas containing exhaust or other contaminants.

(f)  Do not use oil-lubricated breathing air compressors containing a petroleum or potentially CO producing piston lubricant.

(g)  Do not fuel an operating breathing air compressor.

(h)  Equip breathing air compressors with appropriate in-line air purifying absorbent beds and/or filters inserted into the supply line to assure breathing air quality.

(i)  Test each breathing air compressor by sampling at the connection to the distribution system.

(i-1) Have an accredited testing laboratory test all breathing air compressors with a working pressure greater than 500 psi every six months.  Lab accreditation must be from a National Institute of Standards and Technology/National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program, American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (for environmental or calibration), or similarly accredited organization.

(i-2)  Have an accredited testing laboratory test all breathing air compressors with a working pressure less than 500 psi every two years.  Perform in-house testing every six months.

(j)  Provide the USACE supervisor/KO or COR with a copy of air quality certifications for all onsite direct source breathing air compressors and offsite suppliers showing the air meets the following purity standards:

(j-1)  Air must not contain a level of CO greater than 10 ppm.

(j-2)  Air must not contain a level of CO2 greater than 1,000 ppm.

(j-3)  Air must not contain a level of oil mist greater than 5 mg/m3.

(j-4)  Air must not contain a level of hydrocarbons other than methane greater than 25 ppm.

(j-5)  Air must not contain a noxious or pronounced odor. (3)  Breathing Air Supply Hoses and Umbilicals.

(a)  Breathing air supply hoses must be suitable for breathing gas service or must be specifically manufactured for SSA use.  Hoses must have a maximum allowable working pressure equal to or greater than supply pressure plus 150 psi.

(b)  Breathing air supply hoses must have connectors made of corrosion resistant materials with a working pressure at least equal to the working pressure of the hose to which they are attached: connectors must not be able to become accidentally disengaged. All system hoses must have a lanyard strain-relief attaching the hose to equipment to prevent the hose from whipping should the hose burst.

(c)  Umbilicals must be marked, beginning at the diver’s end, in 10 feet (3 m) increments to 100 feet (30.5 m) and in 50 feet (15.2 m) increments thereafter (see table 30-1).

(d)  Umbilicals must have a nominal breaking strength of 1000 lbs. (453.6 kg) and must be made of kink resistant materials.

(e)  The umbilical assembly used for the standby diver must be at least long enough to reach the primary diver at the furthest distance the primary diver can be from the dive station.

(f)  Carefully tend the umbilicals to maintain them and the diver clear of hazards (such as propellers, including those of ROVs, or intakes) present in the diving zone.

(g)  Test hoses to 1.5 times the working pressure prior to placing into initial service and after any repair, modification, or alteration, and at least every 12 months.  Maintain and test umbilical assemblies according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(h)  Close and cap the open ends of the breathing gas hoses and umbilicals when not in use.

(4)  SSA And Mixed-Gas Helmets and Masks.

(a)  Helmets and masks must have an exhaust valve and non-return valve that readily close at the attachment between the helmet or mask and the hose.

(b)  Helmets and masks must have a minimum ventilation rate capacity of 4.5 acfm (2.1 l/s) at the depth at which they are operated.

(c)  Helmets and masks must support a reverse breathing supply which can be immediately turned on by the diver in event of loss air.

(d)  Helmets and masks must support a two-way or four-way diver surface communication system.

(e)  The use of Kirby Morgan Super Lite 17 A/B helmets are prohibited for use by USACE in-house dive programs.  This helmet can be used by commercial dive contractors on USACE projects provided the helmet has been inspected and is equipped with the required and recommended safety equipment.

(5)  Dive Harnesses.  Unless heavy gear is worn, each tethered diver must wear a diver’s safety harness meeting ADCI standards with a positive buckling device, two leg straps, attachment point for the safety line, and a lifting point to distribute the pull force of the line over the diver’s body while maintaining the body in a heads-up vertical position when unconscious or inert.

g.  Scientific Snorkeling.  (30-8.g)

(1)  Plan all scientific snorkeling according to paragraph 30-7.e and paragraph 30-8.g.

(2)  Beach surveys must follow applicable scientific snorkeling safety procedures and must be conducted only with prior acceptance of the DDC.

(3)  Scientific snorkeling is only for environmental assessments, such as fish surveys, stream surveys, and the like.  Structural inspections or other work is not allowed.

(4)  All snorkelers and team members must meet the qualifications of paragraph 30-3.f.

(5)  Staff all snorkeling teams according to the tables 30-7 or 30-8.

(6)  DSIs will provide safety oversight for snorkeling operations.

(7)  Perform scientific snorkeling only at the surface of the water.  No diving of any kind is permitted.

(8)  Untethered single person scientific snorkeling is not allowed.

(9)  A team member must accompany each untethered snorkeler either along the shore or in a boat and be within 50 feet (15.2 m) of the snorkeler at all times.

(a)  Two untethered snorkelers in the same body of water may act as observer/assistant for each other.

(b)  Team members must utilize wearable and throwable PFDs according to chapters 5 and 19 and must be capable of performing a rescue on the specific snorkeler(s) in an emergency.

(10) Untethered scientific snorkeling is not allowed in waters deeper than 5 feet (1.5 m), in bodies of water that a snorkeler cannot wade across, in currents exceeding one knot, in visibility less than 3 feet (0.9 m), or anywhere a pressure differential may exist.

(11)  The local DDC may allow scientific snorkeling in open waters greater than
5 feet (1.5 m) deep upon approval of an acceptable AHA and compliance with all the following:

(a)  The snorkeler must be tethered with a harness and a maximum of 40 feet (12.2 m) of floating line.

(b)  Constantly tend the tether from the shore or boat.

(c)  The snorkeler must wear a device providing a minimum of 15.5 lbs. (7 kg) of positive buoyancy (for example, Type III PFD, fully inflated snorkeling vest).  The device must include a divers safety harness with a positive buckling device, two leg straps, attachment point for the safety line, and a lifting point to distribute the pull force of the line over the snorkeler’s body while maintaining the body in a heads-up vertical position when unconscious or inert.  The snorkeler must use professional grade equipment that includes a snorkel, mask, gloves, fins, appropriate footwear, thermal protection, as needed, and a knife.

(d)  There are no potential tether entanglement hazards in the snorkeling area (for example, overhanging branches, surface stumps, rocks).

(12)  When snorkeling from anchored vessels, the vessel must use no less than a two-point anchorage system.

(13)  When snorkeling from vessels, display International Code flag “A” and recreational dive flags with a minimum dimension of 23 inches (58.4 cm) a minimum of 3 feet (0.9 m) above the working surface at the snorkeling location during snorkeling operations. When snorkeling from surfaces other than vessels in areas capable of supporting marine traffic, display a rigid replica of the International Code flag "A" at least 3 feet (0.9 m) in height at the snorkeling location in a manner which allows all-round visibility, and illuminate it during night diving operations.

(14) The following emergency and first aid equipment must be located at all snorkeling sites:

(a)  A first aid kit meeting the requirements of chapter 3.

(b)  An oxygen resuscitation system for each snorkeler that delivers O2 for a minimum of 30 minutes at a rate of 15 lpm or until emergency medical assistance can be administered.  The system must contain a pocket mask with O2 inlet, non-rebreather mask, and demand inhalator and/or demand resuscitator.

(c)  A stokes litter or backboard, equipped with at least four body straps, snap buckles, and a head block, and have flotation capability.

(15) Provide a direct means of communicating with emergency services while snorkeling.