In response to a petition to initiate rulemaking to change the provisions of Paragraph (f) of Section 84.83 in Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, part 84 [(42 CFR 84), Open-Circuit, Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) End of Service Time Indicator (EOSTI) Performance Requirement], the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is asking stakeholders to provide input concerning the following:
1. The current End of Service Time Indicator (EOSTI) or “low air” SCBA performance requirement.
2. Should the current EOSTI performance requirement be modified from a range to a minimum value?
–Should NIOSH continue to interpret the provision to require the alarm to continue uninterrupted until the minimum value (20 percent) is reached?
–If the petitioned change is adopted, what tolerance should NIOSH use to evaluate acceptable EOSTI performance at a specified setting rather than within a range?
–If the petitioned change is adopted, should NIOSH evaluate EOSTI performance at settings other than the 20 percent minimum? If so, at what additional values?
–Is there a rationale to distinguish Fire Service SCBA from those used for industrial applications for the evaluation of the EOSTI?
3. Alternative approaches to address EOSTI performance.
4. Other comments on the subject.
Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET on January 16, 2009. Any materials submitted to NIOSH should reference Docket Number NIOSH-034-A. Comments may be forwarded using the online form at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/034-a/ or faxed to (513) 533-8285.
42 CFR 84 requires that each remaining service-life-indicator or warning device give an alarm when the apparatus’ remaining service life is reduced to within a range of 20 to 25 percent of its rated service time. It does not state that the device must initiate activation in this range–only that it sound an alarm in this range. In other words, the EOSTI needs to alarm between the two limits. It can remain on as the air pressure drops below those pressures or stop alarming after a brief time.
The petition, according to NIOSH, is requesting that the provision be modified to eliminate the upper limit of this range so that each respiratory protection program manager would be allowed to determine the most appropriate alarm setting, with 20 percent as the retained minimum, to provide SCBA users time to exit a scene.
More NIOSH: http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/
