Missile maker develops fire escape breathing device

Engineers at China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, the nation's leading missile maker, have adapted aerospace technology to develop a new-generation chemical oxygen self-rescuer designed to protect people from toxic smoke inhalation during building fires.

Developed by the 206th Institute of the CASIC Second Academy, the device has entered the market.

The product comes as official statistics show that more than 80 percent of fire-related deaths in China are caused by suffocation from toxic smoke rather than burns. Smoke containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and cyanide can quickly render people unconscious in enclosed spaces such as high-rise buildings, subway stations, underground shopping malls and parking garages.

Conventional escape equipment has significant limitations. Wet towels provide little protection against most toxic gases, while filter-type fire escape masks become ineffective when ambient oxygen levels fall below 17 percent — a common occurrence in severe underground or high-rise fires.

Drawing on passive air regeneration technology originally developed for space missions, the new self-rescuer generates a closed-loop breathing system by converting exhaled carbon dioxide into oxygen. Its dual-circuit heat and airflow design keeps inhaled air below 37 C, eliminating the throat irritation caused by the hot airflow produced by conventional models.

The device features one-button activation and an integrated initial oxygen generation module, allowing users to put it on and activate it within 30 seconds without pre-exhalation, according to its designers.

With a lightweight, ergonomic design that fits closely against the torso, the self-rescuer provides more than 15 minutes of continuous respiratory protection while maintaining an oxygen concentration above 21 percent. It is suitable for users of all ages, including older people, children and patients.

The device can also be attached to firefighters' positive-pressure breathing apparatus as an emergency backup, extending search-and-rescue operations in long tunnels or large fire scenes.

Its designers said all key performance indicators exceed national standards and that the product has fully independent intellectual property rights. They added that it is suitable for all scenarios required under relevant regulations.

Under China's mandatory national standards, which will take effect in 2027, chemical oxygen self-rescuers will become mandatory equipment in all enclosed underground spaces because they generate oxygen independently rather than relying on the surrounding air.