"Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices: Subpart G: Conduct of examinations, inspections, and tests by the Institute; assistance by applicant; observers; recorded data; public demonstrations."

(a) All examinations, inspections, and tests conducted pursuant to subparts H through O of this part will be under the sole direction and control of the Institute.(b) The Institute may, as a condition of approval, require the assistance of the applicant or agents of the applicant during the assembly, disassembly, or preparation of any respirator or respirator component prior to testing or in the operation of such equipment during testing.(c) Only Institute personnel, persons assisting the Institute pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, and such other persons as are requested by the Institute or the applicant to be observers, shall be present during any examination, inspection, or test conducted prior to the issuance of an approval by the Institute for the equipment under consideration.(d) The Institute shall hold as confidential any analyses, drawings, specifications, or materials submitted by the applicant and shall not disclose any principles or patentable features of such equipment, except as required by statute or regulation.(e) As a condition of each approval issued for any respirator, the Institute reserves the right, following the issuance of such approval, to conduct such public tests and demonstrations of the approved respiratory equipment as is deemed appropriate.

"Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices: Subpart H: Self-contained breathing apparatus; description"

This standard is a basic description of self-contained breathing apparatus as defined by the CFR.

(a) Self-contained breathing apparatus, including all completely assembled, portable, self-contained devices designed for use as respiratory protection during entry into and escape from or escape only from hazardous atmospheres, are described as follows:

(1) Closed-circuit apparatus. An apparatus of the type in which the exhalation is rebreathed by the wearer after the carbon dioxide has been effectively removed and a suitable oxygen concentration restored from sources composed of:

(i) Compressed oxygen; or

(ii) Chemical oxygen; or

(iii) Liquid-oxygen.

(2) Open-circuit apparatus. An apparatus of the following types from which exhalation is vented to the atmosphere and not rebreathed:

(i) Demand-type apparatus. An apparatus in which the pressure inside the facepiece in relation to the immediate environment is positive during exhalation and negative during inhalation; or

(ii) Pressure-demand-type apparatus. An apparatus in which the pressure inside the facepiece in relation to the immediate environment is positive during both inhalation and exhalation.

(b) The following respirators may be classified as designed and approved for use during emergency entry into a hazardous atmosphere:

(1) A combination respirator which includes a self-contained breathing apparatus; and

(2) A Type “C” or Type “CE” supplied air respirator, where—

(i) The self-contained breathing apparatus is classified for 3-, 5-, or 10-minute service time and the air line supply is used during entry; or

(ii) The self-contained breathing apparatus is classified for 15 minutes or longer service time and not more than 20 percent of the rated capacity of the air supply is used during entry.

(c) Self-contained breathing apparatus classified for less than 1 hour service time will not be approved for use during underground mine rescue and recovery operations except as auxiliary equipment.

(d) Self-contained breathing apparatus classified for less than 30 minutes' service time will not be approved for use as auxiliary equipment during underground mine rescue and recovery operations.

"Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices: Subpart H: Breathing tubes; minimum requirements"

Flexible breathing tubes used in conjunction with breathing apparatus shall be designed and constructed to prevent: (a) Restriction of free head movement; (b) Disturbance of the fit of facepieces and mouthpieces; (c) Interference with the wearer's activities; and (d) Shutoff of airflow due to kinking, or from chin or arm pressure.

"Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices: Subpart H: Apparatus containers; minimum requirements"

(a) Apparatus may be equipped with a substantial, durable container bearing markings which show the applicant's name, the type and commercial designation of the respirator it contains, and all appropriate approval labels. (b) Containers supplied by the applicant for carrying or storing self-contained breathing apparatus will be inspected, examined, and tested as components of the respirator for which approval is sought. (c) Containers for self-contained breathing apparatus shall be designed and constructed to permit easy removal of the apparatus.

"Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices: Subpart H: Facepieces; eyepieces; minimum requirements"

(a) Facepieces shall be designed and constructed to provide adequate vision which is not distorted by the eyepiece. (b) All eyepieces shall be designed and constructed to be impact and penetration resistant. Federal Specification, Mask, Air Line: and Respirator, Air Filtering, Industrial, GGG-M-125d, October 11, 1965 with interim amendment-1, July 30, 1969, is an example of an appropriate standard for determining impact and penetration resistance. Copies of GGG-M-125d may be obtained from the NIOSH, Certification and Quality Assurance Branch, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888