| Sumario: | These findings indicate that firefighters may enhance air consumption efficiency through training interventions focused on improving body composition the metabolic tolerance to work. Firefighters should also be mindful of excessive and unnecessary load carriage, as increasing gear mass was also associated with poorer air consumption efficiency. Objective: This study examines variability in air consumption (AC) between firefighters (FF) working at a standardized pace, evaluates the relationship between air consumption efficiency (ACE) and work economy, identifies parameters associated with ACE, and explores the relationship between ACE and self-paced work rate. Methods: FF completed randomized trials of an air consumption drill at a standardized pace while breathing through a self-contained breathing apparatus and a gas analyzer. A subsample completed another trial at a self-selected pace. Results: The average AC variability (±1 standard deviation) was ~3.1 min of cylinder usage (13.7%). AC was positively associated with work economy and numerous physiological and anthropometric outcomes. No relationship was found between ACE and self-paced air consumption drill time. Conclusions: FF working at higher internal strain demonstrated poorer ACE. Improving metabolic tolerance may extend the self-contained breathing apparatus' functional duration to enhance productivity and safety.
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