NFPA drafts revisions to chemical protective clothing standards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has drafted revisions to three standards for chemical protective clothing (CPC)–NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies–1994; NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies–1994; and NFPA1993, Standard on Support Function Protective Garments for Hazardous Chemical Operations–1994. The proposed revised standards will be voted on at the 1999 NFPA Fall Meeting. Following is a list of revisions proposed for these standards.
NFPA 1991. This standard includes specifications for chemical barrier, flammability, durability, and cold-temperature stiffness. It establishes minimal performance requirements for entire ensembles, garment materials, gloves, visors, footwear, seams, closures, and exhaust valves.
Proposed Revisions:
* In addition to optional certification for escape from flash fires and protection against liquefied gases, add optional certification for protection from incidents involving chemical or biological terrorism.
Require ISO 9001 certification for manufacturers; mandatory accreditation for third-party certifying agencies.
* Mandate annual recertification.
* Add new test for whole-suit inward leakage that measures protection of entire vapor-protective ensemble.
* Reformat test methods and create better specifications for specimen selection, pretreatment, and interpretation of results.
* Simplify the static electricity test incorporated in the flash fire escape option.
* Use new cut test.
* Eliminate redundant permeation tests.
NFPA 1992. This standard specifies minimal performance and documentation requirements for liquid splash-protective suits used for chemical liquid splashes but not for chemical vapors or gases.
Proposed Revisions:
* Combine with NFPA 1993.
* Remove flammability requirement as base requirement.
* Maintain optional requirement for flash fire escape.
* Adjust physical properties to be consistent with materials generally accepted as suitable in use.
* Allow certification of ensemble or ensemble components.
* Adopt surrogate chemicals to measure barrier retention after flex and abrasion conditioning.
* Require annual recertification, ISO 9001 certification for manufacturers and mandatory accreditation for third-party certifying agencies.
NFPA 1993. This standard specifies minimal performance and documentation requirements for CPC used by support personnel during hazardous chemical operations. NFPA 1993-certified garments were aimed at support function tasks outside the “hot zone,” such as decontamination and remedial cleanup.
Proposed Revision:
* Combine with NFPA 1992.
The NFPA Web site (www.nfpa.org) lists the status of standards open for proposals and comments. There is no charge for draft copies of new NFPA standards or draft revisions to existing ones. These drafts can be obtained by way of the Internet or by calling the NFPA at (800) 344-3555. Final, official copies of NFPA standards can be obtained for a fee by calling the same number.
(Source: James P. Zeigler, Ph.D., research associate for DuPont Nonwovens, member of the NFPA technical committees for Emergency Medical Services and Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing and Equipment.) n
