Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems (FARS)

Firefighters need two things to effectively fight fire: water and air. Complex structures like multi-story buildings, big box-style structures, and tunnels create significant logistical challenges for the delivery of water and air. Cities solved the problem of water supply in these structures by requiring the installation of water standpipes. FARS, a standpipe for air, solves the problem of air supply.

Designed to provide a safe, instant, ready supply of life-sustaining air replenishment for firefighters inside a building

Can replace the slow, inefficient, labor intensive manual delivery of air via an air bottle brigade of firefighters

Helps saves lives and property, since more firefighters can be assigned to fire attack and search and rescue

With FARS, firefighters can refill their air bottles quickly under full respiration.

FARS eliminates the need for an air bottle brigade, a group of firefighters assigned to manually transport air bottles up numerous flights of stairs or deep into structures. In the first stage of firefighting, FARS supplies air provided from a cache of air bottles located in the building. When a fire department’s mobile air unit arrives, the air supply is provided through a secure exterior connection panel connected to the truck. Firefighters can refill their air bottles at fill stations located throughout the structure, and they can do it under full respiration in less than two minutes.

Why FARS?

FARS are the future of firefighter health and safety.

Buildings in 21 states and Canada are equipped with FARS, and FARS are required in more than 100 jurisdictions across the country. Every year, more cities add this requirement to their fire codes.

You can find codes covering FARS here:

2021 ICC International Fire Code Appendix L

2018 Uniform Plumbing Code Appendix F

2018 National Fire Protection Association NFPA-1

Firemen in a corridor refilling air with a FARS system

FARS Education & Training

For more FARS information, including fire service research, education, training, and FARS code resources, please visit the Firefighter Air Coalition's FARS page.

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