Approved Respirator Standards

Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) Used to Protect Emergency Response Workers Against from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Agents

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), along with the U.S. Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM), and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) are continuing their efforts to develop appropriate standards and test procedures for all classes of respirators that will provide respiratory protection from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) agents inhalation hazards.

Statement of Standard for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirators

The criteria for approval of the CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator has been developed using the concept development process over the past twelve months. NIOSH intends to initiate this approval criteria pursuant to 42 CFR Parts 84.60(b) and 84.63(c). NIOSH initiated the certification program through a formal letter to manufacturers and interested stakeholdersthat contains additional details for those parties interested in certification progra participation.

The following documents will are reflected in the letter to manufacturers and interested stakeholders:

• Statement of Standard(including Figure 1, NIOSH CBRN Full Facepiece APR Mechanical Connector and Gasket)
• CBRN APR Inspection and Certification Fees
• CBRN APR Cautions and Limitations
• CBRN APR Guidelines for Identification of Test Configurations
• CBRN APR Test Equipment and Preapproval Test Data; Approval Labels and Markings
• CBRN APR Test Flow

Public Comments regarding requirements for consideration in the Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Concept Development should be provided to the NIOSH Docket Office:

NIOSH Docket Office, Reference: NIOSH DOCKET – 002
Robert A. Taft Laboratories
Mail Stop C34
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226

Telephone: (513) 533-8611
Fax: (513) 533-8285
Email: nioshdocket@cdc.gov

Concept Papers

Links to concept papers will be posted on this page so attendees and other interested stakeholders can follow the progress of standards development efforts.

• September 16, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard
• August 19, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard
• July 31, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard
• July 31, 2002 Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) Simulant Program for Respirator Materials Resistance Testing
• June 30, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard
• June 15, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard
• May 31, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard
• April 30, 2002 – Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece Air-Purifying Respirator Standard