# Presentation: 822509

## Escape Mask Options for the Department of Energy

- Michael Sparks
- Policy Integration & Technical Support, SO-13
- January 16, 2003

## Key Factors in Escape Mask Selection

- Threat
- Protection Factor
- Suitability for Population
- Ease of Donning
- Donning Time
- Duration
- Shelf Life
- Cost
- Training

## Escape Mask Types

- Negative Pressure:
- Usually a hood with an attached filtration system and neck dam
- With or without nose cup
- Wearer draws air in through a filter
- Protection limited by filter media and integrity of neck dam seal
- Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR)
- Same concept as negative pressure system with the exception that a fan forces the air through the filter to the interior of the hood
- Usually with a neck dam, but seal integrity can be compromised slightly without system failure
- May encompass additional filtration media
- Protection limited by filter media
- Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
- Usually a hood based system with an attached supply of air or pure oxygen
- Positive pressure
- No filtration required, works in nearly all environs

## Escape Mask Types

- Essex VRU

- Quick2000

- Sundstrom SA-77

- MSA

- ILC Dover SCape

## Escape Mask Test Protocols

- There are no NIOSH Standards for Escape Masks (Possibly by 2003 year end)
- The Technical Support Working Group has conducted escape mask tests at the Army’s Edgewood facility
- Only a few tested
- Two passed
- Only negative pressure hood systems were evaluated
- SCape PAPR currently under evaluation

## Comparison of Escape Masks

|  | Chemical Warfare Agents | Toxic Industrial Chemicals | Smoke | Cost | Concerns |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quick2000 | Passed Testing by TSWG | Limited Protection | No | $112.20
Less $6.60 for Large Volume | TIC’s, Comfort,
Communication,
Claustrophobia, Donning, Trainer |
| MSA | Passed Testing by TSWG
 | Limited Protection
 | No | $ 108.90 | TIC’s, Very Tight Neck Dam, Communication, Training |
| Sundstrom SA-77 | Manufacturer Testing. Failed 5 Year Shelf Life Testing by TSWG | Broader range of TIC’s (Chlorine, CO, Ammonia) | Limited | $215.67
Potential Discount in Volume via Battelle Inc. | Shelf Life, Some TIC’s, Claustrophobia, Training |
| Essex VRU | Manufacturer Testing. USSS Caustic Testing | Supplied Oxygen | Yes | $335.00
Potential GSA Discount of 20% | Cost |
| SCape | Testing Underway at Edgewood
Expect Similar Results as Quick2000 | Limited Protection
 | No | $155.00 for Orders over 1000 | TIC’s |

## Notes on Industrial Chemicals

- Toxic chemicals are legitimate articles of commerce
- Capable of being produced in quantities exceeding 30 tons/year at one facility (LCt50 @ <100,000 mg-min/m3
- 1164 chemicals meet this criterion (eliminating solids at 200 C brings the number down to 98)
- Release of bulk quantities of toxic chemicals:
- Immediate deaths within 400m of release
- Lethal concentrations up to 5km
- Concentrations exceeding 100,000 mg-min/m3
- May generate sufficient heat to cause ignition of sorbent bed
- Severe lack of oxygen in gas cloud
- CSX transports many of these chemicals directly behind this building

## Management Issues

- NIOSH Approval
- Training
- Donning mask/hood
- Evacuation
- Theft
- Union Issues
- Children's Center
- Other

## Recommendations

- Select the Essex VRU.  It is best suited for the wide variety of threats facing DOE-HQ
- Procure 10 units for rapid evaluation at Edgewood
- Assist in efforts to get Essex on GSA schedule
- Alternatives in order of preference:
- SCape
- Quick2000
- Develop training and use protocols