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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

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P.O. Box 18070

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Pittsburgh, PA 15236

r o o p y Revision: 1.1 Date: 13 December 2005

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0306

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DETERMINATION OF CBRN ACID GASES (SULFUR DIOXIDE)

Un o ll SERVICE-LIFE TEST, AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS

STANDARD TEST PROCEDURE (STP)

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PURPOSE
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1.

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This test establishes the standard procedure for ensuring that the level of protection

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provided by the CBRN Acid Gases (Sulfur Dioxide) Service Life Test, Air-Purifying

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Respirators Standard test procedure submitted for Approval, Extension of Approval, or

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examined during Certified Product Audits meet the certification requirements set forth in

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42 CFR Part 84, Subpart G, Section 84.63(a)(c)(d); Volume 60, Number 110, June 8,

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1995 and the Statement of Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear

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(CBRN) Full- Facepiece Air- Purifying Respirator (APR) Dated March 7, 2003..

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2. GENERAL

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This STP describes the Determination of CBRN Acid Gases (Sulfur Dioxide) Service Life

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Test, Air-Purifying Respirators Standard Test Procedure in sufficient detail that a person
knowledgeable in the appropriate technical field can select equipment with the necessary

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resolution, conduct the test, and determine whether or not the product passes the test.

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3.
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EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL
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3.1. The list of necessary test equipment and materials follows:

3.1.1
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Flow-Temperature-Humidity Control System or equivalent. Miller-Nelson

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(MN) control system, Model HCS-201. An automated system to control

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the airflow, temperature, and humidity of an air supply for an operating

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system. Laboratory air and distilled water are supplied to the unit; the

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three sensors and controlling mechanisms are incorporated electronically.

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The capacity of the unit is airflow: 20 to 200 liters / minute +/- 2%),

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relative humidity: 20 to 90 +/- 3 % and temperature ambient to 35 oC +/-

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1oC.

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U o l l
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Approvals: 1st Level 2nd Level 3rd Level

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 Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0306
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3.1.2 EdgeTech Dew Prime II Hygrometer, Model 2000 or equivalent. A micro-

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processor based programmable chilled mirror dew point hygrometer . The
hygrometer uses the dew point and ambient temperature to calculate the

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relative humidity. Ambient temperature range is: -50ºC to 130ºC ± 0.2ºC;

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relative humidity is 1% to 95% ± 0.5%

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3.1.3 Interscan Corporation Model RM-24-0 sulfur dioxide detector or

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equivalent. This detector is an electrochemical voltammetric sensor.

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Detector range: 0 - 1999 ppm, resolution: 1 ppm.

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3.1.4 Interscan Corporation Model RM-24-2 sulfur dioxide detector or

l l e equivalent. This detector is an electrochemical voltammetric sensor.

Detector range: 0 - 19.99 ppm, resolution: 0.01 ppm.

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3.1.5 Mass Flow Controller, Brooks Instruments, variable flow rate depending

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on use.

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Read out and Control Electronics, Brooks Instruments, Model 0154,

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Power supply and controller for the Brooks Mass Flow Controller or

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equivalent. The flow controllers are an integrally mounted control valve

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module with which stable gas flows can be achieved. Various flow rates

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are used with an accuracy of ± 0.7 % of rate and ± 0.2 % full scale.

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3.1.7 Dry Gas Meter. Must have NIST traceable calibration certificate.

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3.1.8 Certified cylinders of 5 and 1500 ppm of sulfur dioxide in nitrogen.

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3.1.9 Sulfur dioxide cylinder, 99 percent purity.

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3.2 Test fixture for mounting canisters.

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3.3 The test chamber consisting of a 12" x 11½" x 7" air tight metal box with door

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opening lined with gasket material. Two ½" bulkhead Swaglok® fittings located

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on the backside of the test chamber for the introduction of the test concentration

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and for the exit of the test fixture. This fixture is not commercially available.

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3.4 Resistance tester consisting of a vacuum source capable of delivering 85 Lpm, a

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6-inch water column slant manometer or electronic manometer and connections

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appropriate for items being tested. See description in RCT-APR-003 and RCT-

U APR-007.

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4.
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TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS

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4.1 This test procedure is only valid if the respirator system has first completed
 Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0306
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NIOSH Standard Test Procedure entitled Determination Of Durability Test For

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Environmental And Transportation Conditions And Rough Handling Drop Test
On Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Air-Purifying Respirators

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(APR) And Canisters Standard Test Procedure (STP).

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4.2 Prior to beginning any testing, all measuring equipment to be used must have

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been calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer's calibration procedure and
schedule. At a minimum, all measuring equipment utilized for this testing must

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have been calibrated within the preceding 12 months using a method traceable to

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Precision and accuracy (P&A) must be determined for each instrument in

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accordance with laboratory procedures and NIOSH/NPPTL guidance. Sound

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practice requires, under NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, demonstrating a

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tolerance range of expected data performance of a plus or minus 25% of a 95%

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confidence interval of the stated standard requirement. NIOSH/NPPTL P&A

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tolerance can be higher but not lower.

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4.4

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Any laboratory using this procedure to supply certification test data to NIOSH

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will be subject to the provisions of the NIOSH Supplier Qualification Program

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(SQP). This program is based on the tenets of ISO/IEC 17025, the NIOSH

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Manual of Analytical Methods and other NIOSH guidelines. An initial complete

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quality system audit and follow on audits are requirements of the program.

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Additional details of the Program and its requirements can be obtained directly

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from the institute.

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4.5
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Compressed gas cylinders must meet all applicable Department of Transportation

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requirements for cylinder approval as well as retesting / requalification.

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4.6 Normal laboratory safety practices must be observed. This includes safety

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precautions described in the current NIOSH Pittsburgh Health and Safety

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Program.

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Safety glasses, lab coats and hard-toe shoes must be worn at all times.

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4.6.2

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Workbenches must be maintained free of clutter and non-essential test

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equipment.

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4.6.3 When handling any broken glass laboratory equipment, lab technicians

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and personnel must wear special gloves, which protect against lacerations

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or punctures.

4.7
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Please refer to Material Safety Data Sheets and the NIOSH Health and
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Safety Manual for the proper protection and care in handling, storing, and
 Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0306
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disposing of the chemicals and gases used in this procedure.

5.
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PROCEDURE
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Note: Reference Section 3 for equipment, model numbers and manufacturers. For

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calibration purposes use those described in the manufacturer's operation and

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maintenance manuals.

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5.1.
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Follow individual instruction manuals for set up and maintenance of equipment

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be repaired or replaced and properly set up and calibrated before starting all tests.

5.2.
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After the manufacturer's specified warm-up period, calibrate both sulfur dioxide

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analyzers using the certified gas cylinder containing the 5 or 1500 ppm.

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Set up test equipment as shown in Figure 1. The humidity reading controlled by

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the Miller Nelson system and monitored the Dew Point Hygrometer. The sample

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pickup for the hygrometer is place into the air stream via a tee after the Miller

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Nelson and before the introduction point of challenge agent. The thermocouple

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for the hygrometer is placed in the challenge gas stream immediately before the

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test chamber.

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Verify the following equipment is on:

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5.4.1. Miller Nelson Unit.

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5.4.2. Air and water supplies.

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5.4.3. NIOSH Service Life Apparatus Controller software program.

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5.4.4. Sulfur dioxide cylinder, 99 percent purity.

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5.5 Establish the correct humidity and temperature as per the test standard in section
6.3.

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5.6
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Set the airflow to the required airflow for the test. Verify the airflow from the test

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fixture using the appropriate dry test meter.

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5.7 Weigh and record initial weight of the test canister on Test Data Sheet.

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5.8
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Take initial inhalation and exhalation resistances of the canister mounted on the

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facepiece and canister alone as described in RCT-APR-003 and RCT-APR-007.

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Record the values on Test Data Sheet.
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 Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0306
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5.9 Make sure that the diverter valve in the system is diverting challenge airflow to

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the discharge and not into the testing chamber.

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Mount canister onto test fixture and place in testing chamber.

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5.11 Divert 0.5 Lpm airflow from air flow line to the sulfur dioxide challenge detector.

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5.12
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Ensure that the nitrogen gas is ready for immediate flushing of regulator through

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the purge valve.

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5.13 Turn on sulfur dioxide cylinder.

5.14
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Establish the test concentration of 1500 ppm sulfur dioxide.

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5.15 Once the sulfur dioxide concentration has been established, testing may begin.

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5.16
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Direct challenge concentration airflow into test chamber.

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5.17

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Start timer. Monitor effluent concentration. Monitor upstream and downstream

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temperatures throughout testing, record beginning and final temperatures on the

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test data sheet.

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Run test until breakthrough of 5 ppm is observed or minimum service life is

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surpassed. Record this data on the test data sheet.

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5.19 Direct challenge concentration airflow out of the test chamber.

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5.20 Weigh and record final weight of the test canister on Test Data Sheet.

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5.6 Take final inhalation and exhalation resistances of the canister mounted on the

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facepiece and canister alone as described in RCT-APR-003 and RCT-APR-007.

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Record the values on Test Data Sheet.

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5.21
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Allow clean air to purge through test chamber for 5 minutes

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5.22
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Repeat steps 5.5 through 5.21 for each test described in section 6.3

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5.23
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When all tests are completed, turn off sulfur dioxide cylinder, set temperature and

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humidity to zero and allow air to pass through system for 30 minutes.

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6.
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PASS OR FAIL CRITERIA

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6.1.
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The criterion for passing this test is set forth in 42 CFR Part 84, Subpart G,
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Section 84.63(a)(c)(d); Volume 60, Number 110, June 8, 1995.
 Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0306
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6.2.

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This test establishes the standard procedure for ensuring that:

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84.63 Test requirements; general.

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(a) Each respirator and respirator component shall when tested by the applicant

r o l and by the Institute, meet the applicable requirements set forth in subparts H
through L of this part.

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c o (c) In addition to the minimum requirements set forth in subparts H through L

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of this part, the Institute reserves the right to require, as a further condition

l l e of approval, any additional requirements deemed necessary to establish the

quality, effectiveness, and safety of any respirator used as protection against

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hazardous atmospheres.

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Where it is determined after receipt of an application that additional

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requirements will be required for approval, the Institute will notify the
applicant in writing of these additional requirements, and necessary

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examinations, inspections, or tests, stating generally the reasons for such

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requirements, examinations, inspections, or tests.

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6.3. Acid Gas (Sulfur Dioxide) test for CBRN canisters

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6.3.1. Resistance to airflow of both canister and system will be taken before and

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after each test..

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6.3.2. Three canisters will be tested at 64 Lpm, continuous air flow, 25 % ± 5 %

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relative humidity (RH), 25 oC ± 5 oC, and 1500 ppm sulfur dioxide.

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Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 minutes as per

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manufacturer request.

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6.3.3 Three canisters will be tested at 64 Lpm, continuous air flow, 80 % ± 5 %

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relative humidity (RH), 25 oC ± 5 oC, and 1500 ppm sulfur dioxide.

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Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 minutes as per

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manufacturer request.

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6.3.4 Three canisters will be tested at 100 Lpm, continuous air flow, 50 % ± 5

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% relative humidity (RH), 25 oC + 5 oC, and 1500 ppm sulfur dioxide.

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Minimum service life must be 5 minutes.

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End of service life concentration is 5 ppm sulfur dioxide.

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7. RECORDS AND TEST SHEETS

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7.1.
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All test data will be recorded on the SULFUR DIOXIDE SERVICE LIFE test

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data sheet.
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7.2. All videotapes and photographs of the actual test being performed, or of the tested

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equipment shall be maintained in the task file as part of the permanent record.

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7.3.
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All equipment failing any portion of this test will be handled as follows:

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7.3.1. If the failure occurs on a new certification application, or extension of

l l e approval application, send a test report to the RCT Leader and prepare the
hardware for return to the manufacturer.

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7.3.2. If the failure occurs on hardware examined under an Off-the-Shelf Audit

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the hardware will be examined by a technician and the RCT Leader for

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cause. All equipment failing any portion of this test may be sent to the
manufacturer for examination and then returned to NIOSH. However, the

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hardware tested shall be held at the testing laboratory until authorized for

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release by the RCT Leader, or his designee, following the standard

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operating procedures outlined in Procedure for Scheduling, and Processing

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Post-Certification Product Audits, RB-SOP-0005-00.

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8. ATTACHMENTS

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8.1 Bench Top Set-Up.

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8.2 Data Sheet.

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Revision History

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Revision l Date
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00

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20 September 2004 Historic document

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1.1 13 December 2005 Update header and format

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No changes to method

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