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NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes only.
Letter to All Interested PartiesApril 4, 2003
It is imperative that the emergency responder community be afforded effective respiratory protection in responding to terrorist events involving possible chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents. Due to ongoing concern of a potential terrorist event and the need to provide the emergency responder community with the best available respiratory protection as quickly as possible, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is instituting this voluntary approval program on an expedited basis. The Institute began accepting applications on March 24, 2003, to test and evaluate full-facepiece air purifying respirators (APR) for use against CBRN agents. This letter informs manufacturers of voluntary requirements that a full-facepiece air purifying respirator must meet in order to obtain NIOSH approval. It also provides the procedures for the submission of applications for these approvals. NIOSH initiates this voluntary approval program pursuant to Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations , 84.60(b), 84.63(c), and 84.110(c). These sections provide NIOSH with the authority to issue approvals for respirators not specifically addressed in Part 84 and to develop additional requirements that the agency determines are "necessary to establish the quality, effectiveness and safety of any respirator used as protection against hazardous atmospheres." NIOSH will issue an approval and approval labels identifying the full-facepiece air purifying respirators as appropriate for use against CBRN agents. Requirements for ApprovalTo be approved for use in providing protection against CBRN agents, NIOSH has determined that a full-facepiece air purifying respirator must be evaluated against the criteria defined in the Statement of Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Full-Facepiece Air Purifying Respirator (APR) dated March 7, 2003. (Attachment A) Notification to Users and Regulatory AgenciesNIOSH will maintain and disseminate an approval list for respirators approved under this program. This list will be entitled CBRN Full-Facepiece Air Purifying Respirators and contain the manufacturer, model, component parts, accessories, and rated duration. This list will be maintained as a separate category within the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. Respirator Identification / LabelingIn accordance with the requirements of paragraph 84.33 of Title 42, CFR, Subpart D, approval labels shall be marked with a CBRN Rating as determined by paragraph 4.2 Service Life, of the Statement of Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Full-Facepiece Air Purifying Respirator (APR) dated March 7, 2003. For example, canisters tested for 30 minutes are marked CBRN as a watermark. CBRN canisters shall comply with color requirements of ANSI Z88.7. The canister/label color shall be olive (Munshell notation 7.5 Y 5/6). For canisters where the color markings are achieved by labeling, the canister body can be any color. Facepiece assemblies shall be permanently marked with "CBRN". If you need additional information, please contact: NIOSH 412-386-4000 or E-mail at npptl@cdc.gov. Sincerely yours, Roland J. Berry Ann
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