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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Title

"Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices: Subpart I: Canister bench test; minimum requirements "

Description

This standard describes the minimum requirements for the canister bench test for gas masks. This includes; standard atmospheres, environment, timing and applicable referenced standards.

Standard Type(s)
Standard

Document, established by consensus that provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results.

Personal Protective Equipment
Respiratory Protection

A breathing device worn to prevent inhalation of hazardous substances. Respirators protect the user in two basic ways. The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles; and "gas masks” which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source; and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.

  • Gas Mask
Hazards
Gas and Vapor
  • Inhalation
Conformity Assessment Notes

(a)(1) Bench tests, except for carbon monoxide tests, will be made on an apparatus that allows the test atmosphere at 50 ±5 percent relative humidity and room temperature (25 ±2.5 °C.) to enter the canister continuously at concentrations and rates of flow specified in Tables 5, 6, and 7 of this subpart.

(2) Three canisters will be removed from containers and tested as received from the applicant.

(3) Two canisters, other than those described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, will be equilibrated at room temperature by passing 25 percent relative humidity air through them at 64 liters per minute for 6 hours.

(4) Two canisters, other than those described in paragraphs (a) (2) and (3) of this section, will be equilibrated at room temperature by passing 85 percent relative humidity air through them at 64 liters per minute for 6 hours.

(5) The equilibrated canisters will be resealed, kept in an upright position at room temperature, and tested within 18 hours.

(b) Front-mounted and back-mounted gas mask canisters will be tested and shall meet the minimum requirements set forth in Table 5 of this subpart.

(c)(1) Front-mounted, and back-mounted, and chin-style canisters designated as providing respiratory protection against gases, ammonia, organic vapors, carbon monoxide and particulate contaminants shall have a window or other indicator to warn the gas mask wearer when the canister will no longer satisfactorily remove carbon monoxide from the inhaled air.

(2) Other types of front- and back-mounted canisters may also be equipped with a window or other indicator to warn of imminent leakage of other gases or vapors.

(3) The window indicator canisters will be tested as regular canisters, but shall show a satisfactory indicator change or other warning before the allowable canister penetration has occurred.

(d) Chin-style gas mask canisters shall meet the minimum requirements set forth in Table 6 of this subpart.

(e) Escape gas mask canisters shall meet the minimum requirements set forth in Table 7 of this subpart.

(f) Powered air-purifying respirators with a canister(s) and particulate filter(s) must meet the as-received minimum service-life requirements and half of the equilibrated minimum service-life requirements set forth in Tables 5, 6, and 7 of subpart I using the flows specified in subpart K, §84.175(b) and equilibrated in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section using the flows specified in subpart K, §84.175(b).

Comments
Any references to STPs do not indicate a requirement or a specific standard to which all respirators must comply. They denote a test procedure that NIOSH uses in their own testing and certification of RPD. There may exist other test procedures that manufacturers use prior to submitting respirators for NIOSH approval.
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