- Author
- Knight, D. R.
- Title
- Feasibility of Lowering Oxygen Concentrations Aboard Submarines in Order to Improve Fire Safety. Position Paper.
- Coporate
- Naval Submarine Medical Research Lab., Groton, CT
- Sponsor
- Naval Medical Research and Development Command, Bethesda, MD
- Report
- NSMRL Report 84-5, April 8, 1985, 54 p.
- Keywords
- submarines | fire safety | oxygen | hypoxia | carbon dioxide | carbon monoxide | human beings | oxygen concentration
- Identifiers
- atmospheres
- Abstract
- Nitrogen serves as a retardant of fires by diluting the concentration of atmospheric oxygen. Submarine crews could gain long-term protection from fire damage by diluting their oxygen supply if that would not reduce the partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen to the point of causing hypoxia. Since residents of Denver perform complex tasks as atmospheric oxygen of 130 torr, submarine crews should be able to dilute their oxygen concentration until it falls to 130 torr. Consequently, oxygen concentrations of 13-19 percent could be used to retard fires if the ship's barometric pressure were maintained at appropriate values within the range of 700-1000 torr. Crew health and performance in diminished concentrations of oxygedn should be evaluated in the laboratory and at sea before the current standards of atmosphere control are redesigned to lower the risk of fire damage aboard submarines.