Approved Respirator Standards

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Protection used to Protect Emergency Responders Against CBRN Agents in Terrorist Attacks

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a program to approve self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for use by fire fighters and other first responders to terrorist attacks. NIOSH approval under the program signifies that an SCBA is expected to provide needed protection to first responders in situations where an act of terror has released harmful chemicals, pathogens, or radioactive materials into the air. Approvals are based on positive results from rigorous tests on sample units submitted to NIOSH by manufacturers, and from stringent evaluation of manufacturers’ quality control practices, technical specifications, and other documentation.

Statement of Standard

Statement of Standard – Attachment A

Statement of Standard – Attachment B (December 14, 2001)
NOTE – Attachment B was superseded by RCT-CBRN-STP-0200, 0201 – Determination of Open Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Performance During Dynamic Testing Against Chemical Agents of Sarin (GB) Vapor and Distilled Sulfur Mustard (HD) Vapor and Liquid.

Statement of Standard – Attachment C (November 17, 2001)
NOTE – Attachment C was superseded by TEB-CBRN-APR-STP-0352 – Determination of Laboratory Respirator Protection Level (LRPL) Values for CBRN Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Facepieces or CBRN Air-Purifying Respirator (APR).