Document for Public Review and Comment:

November 20, 2008  

Development Plan for Air-Fed Suit Respirator Performance Requirements
NIOSH Docket 148  

Request for Comments and Scientific Information

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is working to develop appropriate standards and test procedures for respiratory devices used to protect workers in hazardous environments. NIOSH has initiated a program to update portions of Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 84 (42 CFR Part 84) to promote improved performance and reliability of Air-Fed Suit Respirators.

Air-Fed suit respirators are chemical protective suits with a breathable air supply that may or may not be independent of the ambient atmosphere. The suit may include an air purifying respirator (APR), a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR), a supplied air respirator (SAR), or a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The concept paper is available though this web site at the link below. Comments on this concept paper will be accepted through January 15, 2009. Reference Docket Number 148 for all submissions related to this topic. Interested persons or organizations are invited to participate in this process by submitting written views, arguments, recommendations, and scientific data. Comments are invited on any topic related to this concept paper.

NIOSH has strategically determined that adoption of all future respirator standards will be accomplished in a modular fashion using the informal rulemaking process resulting in a revised 42 CFR Part 84; thus, the potential, new Air-Fed Suit Respirator performance standard would be adopted using this process.

Official comments provided to Docket Number 148 relating to the Development Plan for Air-Fed Suit Respirator Performance Requirements, shall be evaluated and be considered in developing the next draft concept and throughout the informal rulemaking process. The draft development plan document for review and comment.
Air Fed Suit DEV Plan Nov 20 08.pdf  (102 kb; 4 pages)

Time Frame for Review Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on January 15, 2009 in accordance with the instructions below. All material submitted to NIOSH should reference Docket Number NIOSH-148. All electronic comments should be formatted as Microsoft Word and make reference to docket number NIOSH-148.

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on January 15, 2009.

To submit comments regarding this draft publication, please use one of these options:

• Send comments by email.
• Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
• Send by Mail to:
  NIOSH Docket Office
  NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
  Robert A. Taft Lab.
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati , Ohio 45226