Why Semmco? - Semmco LPS

Semmco Life Protection Systems

Semmco Life Protection Systems specialises in the design and manufacture of short duration escape and working rescue chemical oxygen breathing apparatus to protect those working in atmospheres that could become irrespirable. In such critical situations, escape and working rescue breathing devices must be easy to don, simple to use and totally reliable.

Semmco LPS began developing its HEAD range in the late 1990s, launching HEAD10 in 2001. Stuart McOnie, founder of the company and the product’s designer, used his year’s of experience working with Sabre Safety (now part of 3M Scott Safety) and Draegar Safety and developed the concept of a lightweight, head worn, short duration escape breathing apparatus using potassium superoxide (KO2). This concept enabled him to create an escape breathing apparatus that would ensure an easier and more comfortable user experience as well as producing a product that had minimal through life costs. This concept was and remains a distinct advantage to conventional compressed air escape breathing apparatus that is cumbersome and restricting to wear and has ongoing maintenance costs.

An enquiry from the Irish Prison Service for an alternative to the compressed air breathing apparatus they were using, led to the development of the HEAD RPE/CSRE Working Rescue Set. This product, now in use in all Irish and English prisons since 2009, provides the protection needed but is easier and simpler to wear therefore helping the prison officers carry out their procedures more easily. Additionally it has provided substantial cost savings.

To extend the Semmco LPS product offering, the company developed and launched the Semmco EEBD (Emergency Escape Breathing Device) for Marine (15 minute duration) and Industrial (20 minute duration) applications at the beginning of 2022. It provides an alternative to the HEAD range and is a simpler, one off use, emergency escape device again using KO2 as its breathing source, with minimal through life costs.

Please visit our Products page to see the full range of our escape and working rescue breathing apparatus and find the one most suitable for your working environment.

SECTORS

"We compared the HEAD10 to our previous escape breathing apparatus. The cost saving and less cumbersome design made it very appealing. If we needed to use it, I have full confidence in the simplicity of this device and it enabling a safe and efficient escape."

Centrica Energy, Shaun O’Connor, Operations Technician

"During the early stages of the pandemic, Semmco LPS provided exceptional support to us, maintaining a responsive and speedy refurbishment programme for the HEAD CSRE sets that we used."

Patrick Morris, HM Prison & Probation Service, June 2020

Thank you Semmco LPS, we sent some CSRE Sets for urgent refurbishment and got them back very quickly. Really appreciated.

Dan Spencer, Contract Services Support & Fire Liaison Officer, Serco Justice & Immigration

...Semmo escape sets are fully compliant and trusted by companies across a wide variety of sectors.

Design and manufacturing expertise

Semmco LPS has been designing, testing and manufacturing short duration escape breathing apparatus for more than 30 years. We pride ourselves on designing innovative products that have flair. Our designs not only produce efficient and reliable products but also products that are easy to use and extremely comfortable to wear. Escape and working rescue breathing apparatus may only be used occasionally but when it is needed it must work perfectly.

Semmco LPS spends years perfecting its designs so that, whether they are used on day one or 12 years later, they provide the protection the wearer requires.

At our facility in Woking, we manufacture, refurbish and recycle the HEAD range of escape and working rescue breathing apparatus and manufacture and recycle the EEBD.

PRODUCT RANGE

Manufacturing Standard

Semmco Life Protection Systems (LPS) undertakes to supply only safety equipment and/or related services that fully comply with the standards and regulations and claims made relating to those products and/or related services. Where appropriate,Semmco LPS will maintain up to date technical files and associated documentation to ensure that regulatory compliance information can be supplied upon request.

Where products are sourced from external organisations which hold technical files relating to the products being offered, Semmco LPS will request confirmation that these files are current, complete, contain appropriate conformity assessment information and, where relevant, regulatory compliance certificates and will take all necessary steps to confirm the validity of the compliance documentation held by that external supplier in respect of the products being sourced.

Where services are provided related to safety equipment sourced from external organisations, Semmco LPS will maintain approval from the manufacturer that the services provided are assessed and approved by the external organisation.

PRODUCT RANGE