Currently, first responder respirators are only evaluated for the effects of chemical permeation as part of testing specified by the NIOSH CBRN Statements of Standard. These requirements are applied in the NFPA 1981 standard on fire and emergency services SCBA and will appear in the new NFPA 1986 standard on technical and tactical operations respiratory equipment (SCBA). These criteria are also applied to air-purifying respirators and powered air-purifying respirators. Where respirators are worn externally as part of hazardous materials protective ensembles, no additional criteria for chemical protection are worn, especially for toxic industrial chemicals. In the next revision of NFPA 1994, a new class of ensemble will be established for high level of chemical protection for a non-encapsulating ensemble where SCBA will complete the dermal protection of the wearer.

Intertek Testing Services has been awarded a contract from the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) to develop a test method for evaluating selected respirators for their resistance to permeation against hazardous toxic chemicals other than chemical warfare agents. This project has arisen because respirators are increasingly being used externally as part of chemical protective ensembles and there are concerns that the chemical resistance of the materials used in the construction of the respirators do not have the same levels of chemical resistance as the protective clothing materials. Further, test methods used to evaluate protective clothing materials do not readily accommodate the non-flat, molded pieces used in the construction of respirators.

The objective of this project is to develop test methodology and propose specific performance criteria related to how respirators resist the effects of toxic industrial chemicals that both permeate through respirator materials to enter the breathing air and cause inhalation exposures to the wearer and directly permeate through respirator facepiece materials to make direct contact with the wearer's skin for dermal exposures. The proposed test methodology involves a combination of whole respirator exposure with air quality measurements and use of skin simulants in a manner simulating use.

This survey is intended to gather information from end users to help focus the direction of test method development and proposal of performance requirements.

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* 1. What is the principal function of the organization that you represent?

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* 2. What is your position within your organization

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* 3. Do you or have you worn respiratory protective equipment on the outside of a chemical protective suit?

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* 4. Which respirators do you own or use with chemical protective clothing?

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* 5. What is the expected maximum use or mission time when using each type of respirator?

  < 30 minutes 30 to 60 minutes >60 to 120 minutes >120 to 240 minutes > 240 minutes Not applicable
SCBA
PAPR
APR
Rebreather
An important part of the project is determine the types of threat conditions in which chemicals exposure of respirators occur and which chemicals should respirators be tested against. Chemicals that come in contact with your respirator may be both respiratory (inhalation) or skin absorption (dermal) hazards. The following questions are directed to this topic.

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* 6. How likely would you expect to be externally exposed to chemicals in the following ways?

  Very likely Likely Not likely Never
By exposure to chemicals gases
By exposure to vapors generated by volatile liquids
By exposure to liquid splashes
By exposure to airborne particulate or suspended liquid aerosols
By contact with contaminated surfaces

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* 7. Have you been in situations where your respirator was or potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals (if so identify the up to 5 chemicals to which you were exposed and length of exposure in minutes)?

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* 8. Given that only a finite number of chemicals can be selected, what strategy should be used for selecting test chemicals?

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* 9. What priorities would you assign for the testing of the following chemicals or chemical types (high, moderate, low, not rated)

  Respiratory Hazard Dermal (skin) hazard
Ammonia
Chlorine
Hydrogen cyanide
Phosgene
Chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g., methyl chloride)
Acid gases (e.g., hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid)
Regular hydrocarbons (e.g., hexane, toluene)
Pesticide (e.g., parathion)
Acrolein
Acrylonitrile
Dimethyl sulfide

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* 10. How would you rank the following factors in selecting test chemicals (rank top choice as 6, lowest choice as 1)?

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