How Dräger Forged the AirBoss the American Way
—Made for America is not a label. It is a result.
American firefighting places distinct demands on equipment — aggressive interior operations, long work cycles, heavy rescues, frequent mutual aid, and expectations shaped by experience rather than theory. Meeting those demands required more than adapting an existing SCBA platform. It required listening closely to how American firefighters actually work.
Dräger established its presence in the United States in 1907 and began supporting U.S. fire departments with breathing apparatus by 1915. From the earliest smoke helmets to modern positive-pressure systems, the company learned alongside American firefighters — not from a distance, but on the fireground, in training towers, and inside burn buildings. Over more than a century, that proximity built understanding: what breaks, what lasts, and what firefighters trust when everything else starts failing.
AirBoss grew out of that same approach. Over the last several years, Dräger engineers and product leaders worked directly with more than 50 fire departments across the United States. Urban, rural, career, volunteer, and combination departments all contributed. Prototypes were worn under load. They were crawled in, climbed in, and pushed through repeated evolutions designed to expose weaknesses. Feedback was direct. Changes were real. Updated systems returned to the field and were tested again.
Made for America means shaped by American firefighters — not adapted later and not compromised for convenience. It means strengthening what must hold, refining what must move, and supporting the system with U.S.-based service designed to keep SCBAs in rotation.
AirBoss earns its place on American firefighter backs because it was built the same way American firefighters work — through repetition, pressure, and refusal to settle.
Download the Made for America White Paper
Learn how American firefighters shaped AirBoss through real work, real feedback, and years of field testing on U.S. firegrounds. Just fill out the form below and receive the link.
Field-Tested Across the United States
AirBoss was not designed in isolation and shipped for approval. It was shaped through repeated engagement with more than 50 fire departments across the United States over five years. Firefighters wore prototypes the way they wear their own gear — under exertion, under load, and under scrutiny. They crawled, climbed, dragged hose, and performed rescues. They commented on balance, fatigue, access, and movement. Engineers returned with revisions and tested again. That cycle repeated from region to region. Field-tested across the USA means AirBoss grew up in American firehouses — refined through real use rather than assumption.
A Century of Showing Up
Dräger’s history in the United States began in 1907, opening its first U.S. office in New York. By 1915, Dräger breathing apparatus was protecting firefighters in major American departments. From early smoke helmets to modern SCBA systems, the company learned alongside the fire service as tactics evolved and demands intensified. That history is not about longevity alone — it is about proximity. Dräger listened, observed, and adapted as American firefighting moved from brick-and-timber structures to lightweight construction and longer, more punishing incidents. A century of showing up built more than equipment. It built understanding, continuity, and respect for the realities of the American fireground.
Dräger PSS AirBoss NFPA-Certified SCBA
The Dräger PSS AirBoss with Sentinel offers best-in-class ergonomics and is one of the lightest weight breathing apparatus. Insights from firefighters, combined with the latest technological innovations, have led us to design an even safer, cleaner SCBA system that helps you to breathe more easily and for longer.
Built the Way American Firefighters Work
American firefighters expect more than compliance. They expect gear that handles aggressive interior work, drag rescues, heavy loads, and years of abuse. During development, firefighters asked direct questions about strength, balance, and durability under stress. Dräger responded by reinforcing critical load paths and strengthening the back frame beyond baseline requirements. Built the Way American Firefighters Work means designing for how firefighters actually use their gear — not how standards describe it. It means building a system that holds its line when harnesses load sideways, frames twist under strain, and the work refuses to ease up.
Built to Stay in Service
Made for America also means supported in America. AirBoss was designed to stay in rotation — not sit on a shelf. Tool-free disassembly supports faster cleaning and maintenance. Local Sales Partners handle routine service. A growing network of U.S.-based Certified Service Centers supports advanced diagnostics and warranty work. The goal is simple: reduce downtime and keep SCBAs where they belong — on rigs and on firefighter backs. Built to Stay in Service means AirBoss does not disappear overseas when attention is required. It stays close to the firehouse and returns to work quickly.
Dräger PSS AirBoss NFPA-Certified SCBA
The Dräger PSS AirBoss with Sentinel offers best-in-class ergonomics and is one of the lightest weight breathing apparatus. Insights from firefighters, combined with the latest technological innovations, have led us to design an even safer, cleaner SCBA system that helps you to breathe more easily and for longer.
Don’t Take Our Word for It. Try It Yourself.
The only way to understand AirBoss is to put it on and work in it. Feel the balance, test the regulator, and see how it moves with you. Fill out the form below and we’ll coordinate a hands-on demo at your station
Reliable Performance
AirBoss breathes smoothly, responds instantly, and keeps pace with American firefighters under real fireground load.
Ease of Use
AirBoss operates instinctively, stays familiar under stress, and keeps firefighters focused on the job instead of the gear.
Ergonomics & Mobility
AirBoss moves naturally with the body, stays balanced under load, and helps firefighters work longer with less strain.
Safety & Awareness
AirBoss maintains constant awareness and visibility, helping crews stay informed, connected, and oriented throughout the job.
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