Approvals: 1st Level 2nd Level 3rd Level 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory 

P.O. Box 18070 

Pittsburgh, PA 15236 

Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005

DETERMINATION OF CBRN BASE GASES (AMMONIA) 

 SERVICE-LIFE TEST, AIR-PURIFYING ESCAPE RESPIRATORS 

STANDARD TEST PROCEDURE (STP) 

1. PURPOSE

This test establishes the procedure for ensuring that the level of protection provided by 

the CBRN Base Gases (Ammonia) Service Life Test Air-Purifying Escape Respirators Standard 

Test Procedure submitted for Approval, Extension of Approval, or examined during 

Certified Product Audits, meet the minimum certification standards set forth in 42 CFR 

Part 84, Subpart G, Section 84.63(a)(c)(d); Volume 60, Number 110, June 8, 1995 and 

the Statement of Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) 

Full- Facepiece Air- Purifying Escape Respirator Dated September 30, 2003. 

2. GENERAL

This STP describes the Determination of CBRN Base Gases (Ammonia) Service Life 

Test; Air-Purifying Escape Respirators test in sufficient detail that a person 

knowledgeable in the appropriate technical field can select equipment with the necessary 

resolution, conduct the test and determine whether or not the product passes the test. 

3. EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL

3.1. The list of necessary test equipment and materials follows: 

3.1.1. Miller Nelson Research Model 401 Flow-Temperature-Humidity Control 

System or equivalent. An automated system to control the airflow, 

temperature, and humidity of an air supply for an operating system. 

Laboratory air and distilled water are supplied to the unit; the three sensors 

and controlling mechanisms are incorporated electronically. The capacity 

of the unit is airflow: 20 to 200 liters / minute ± 2%), relative humidity: 20 

to 90 ± 3 % and temperature ambient to 35 o

C ± 1oC.

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 2 of 9 

3.1.2. EdgeTech Dew Prime II Hygrometer, Model 2000 or equivalent. A microprocessor based programmable chilled mirror dew point hygrometer. The 

hygrometer uses the dew point and ambient temperature to calculate the 

relative humidity. Ambient temperature range is: -50oC to 130oC ± 0.2oC; 

relative humidity is 1% to 95% ± 0.5%. 

3.1.3. Air-Sentry IMS Ammonia Analyzer, Model 10R-NH3-4000M or 

equivalent. The analyzer is a system component that monitors the 

concentration of ammonia using the technology of Ion Mobility 

Spectroscopy. The analyzer range for ammonia is 1 to 3000 ppm ± 0.1 % 

of full scale. 

3.1.4. Air-Sentry IMS Ammonia Analyzer, Model 10R-NH3-50ppm or 

equivalent. The analyzer is a system component that monitors the 

concentration of ammonia using the technology of Ion Mobility 

Spectroscopy. The analyzer range for ammonia is 0.1 to 50 ppm ± 0.1 % 

of full scale. 

3.1.5. Mass Flow Controller, Brooks Instruments, variable flow rate depending 

on use. 

3.1.6. Read out and Control Electronics, Brooks Instruments, Model 0154, 

Power supply and controller for the Brooks Mass Flow Controller or 

equivalent. The flow controllers are an integrally mounted control valve 

module with which stable gas flows can be achieved. Various flow rates 

are used with an accuracy of ± 0.7 % of rate and ± 0.2 % full scale. 

3.1.7. Dry Gas Meter. Must have NIST traceable calibration certificate. 

3.1.8. Certified cylinder of approximately 25, 1250 and 2500 ppm NH3 in 

Nitrogen. 

3.1.9. Ammonia cylinder, 99% purity 

3.2 Test fixture for mounting canisters. 

3.3 The test chamber consisting of a 12" x 111⁄2" x 7" air tight metal box with door 

opening lined with gasket material. Two 1⁄2" bulkhead Swaglok® fitting located 

on the backside of the test chamber for the introduction of the test concentration 

and for the exit of the test fixture. This fixture is not commercially available. 

3.4 Resistance tester consisting of a vacuum source capable of delivering 85 Lpm, a 

6-inch water column slant manometer or electronic manometer and connections 

appropriate for items being tested. See description in RCT-APR-003 and RCTUncontrolled Copy 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 3 of 9 

APR-007. 

4. TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS

4.1 This test procedure is only valid if the respirator system has first completed 

NIOSH Standard Test Procedure entitled Determination Of Durability Test For 

Environmental And Transportation Conditions And Rough Handling Drop Test 

On Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Air-Purifying Escape 

Respirators (APER) And Canisters Standard Test Procedure (STP).

4.2 Prior to beginning any testing, all measuring equipment to be used must have 

been calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer's calibration procedure and 

schedule. At a minimum, all measuring equipment utilized for this testing must 

have been calibrated within the preceding 12 months using a method traceable to 

the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

4.3 Precision and accuracy (P&A) must be determined for each instrument in 

accordance with laboratory procedures and NIOSH/NPPTL guidance. Sound 

practice requires, under NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, demonstrating a 

tolerance range of expected data performance of a plus or minus 25% of a 95% 

confidence interval of the stated standard requirement. NIOSH/NPPTL P&A 

tolerance can be higher but not lower.

4.4 Any laboratory using this procedure to supply certification test data to NIOSH 

will be subject to the provisions of the NIOSH Supplier Qualification Program 

(SQP). This program is based on the tenets of ISO/IEC 17025, the NIOSH 

Manual of Analytical Methods and other NIOSH guidelines. An initial complete 

quality system audit and follow on audits are requirements of the program. 

Additional details of the Program and its requirements can be obtained directly 

from the institute.

4.5 Compressed gas cylinders must meet all applicable Department of Transportation 

requirements for cylinder approval as well as retesting / requalification. 

4.6 Normal laboratory safety practices must be observed. This includes safety 

precautions described in the current NIOSH Pittsburgh Health and Safety 

Program.

4.6.1 Safety glasses, lab coats and hard-toe shoes must be worn at all times. 

4.6.2 Workbenches must be maintained free of clutter and non-essential test 

equipment. 

4.6.3 When handling any glass laboratory equipment, lab technicians and 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 4 of 9 

personnel must wear special gloves, which protect against lacerations or 

punctures. 

4.7 Please refer to Material Safety Data Sheets and the NIOSH Health and 

Safety Manual for the proper protection and care in handling, storing, and 

disposing of the chemicals and gases used in this procedure.

5. PROCEDURE

Note: Reference Section 3 for equipment, model numbers and manufacturers. For 

calibration purposes, use those described in the manufacturer's operation and 

maintenance manuals. 

5.1. Follow individual instruction manuals for set up and maintenance of equipment 

used in this procedure prior to beginning testing. Malfunctioning equipment must 

be repaired or replaced and properly set up and calibrated before starting all tests. 

5.2. After the manufacturer's specified warm-up period, adjust instruments to read 

zero and make adjustment for Labview software to read 0 ppm. Using the 

certified gas cylinders, calibrate both the ammonia analyzers at 1250 ppm for the 

general category or 2500 ppm for the specific category and 25 ppm for the 

breakthrough concentration. During calibration make adjustment for Labview 

software to read the appropriate concentration for the detector. 

5.3. Set up test equipment as shown in Figure 1. The humidity reading controlled by 

the Miller Nelson system and monitored the Dew Point Hygrometer. The sample 

pickup for the hygrometer is place into the air stream via a tee after the Miller 

Nelson and before the introduction point of challenge agent. The thermocouple 

for the hygrometer is placed in the challenge gas stream immediately before the 

test chamber. 

5.4. Verify the following equipment is on: 

5.4.1. Miller Nelson Unit. 

5.4.2. Air and water supplies. 

5.4.3. NIOSH Service Life Apparatus Controller software program. 

5.5. Establish the correct humidity and temperature as per the test standard in 

paragraph 6.3. 

5.6. Set the airflow to the required airflow for the test. Verify the airflow from the test 

fixture using the appropriate dry test meter. 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 5 of 9 

5.7. Weigh and record initial weight of the test canister on Test Data Sheet. 

5.8. Take initial inhalation and exhalation resistances of the canister mounted on the 

facepiece and canister alone as described in RCT-APR-003 and RCT-APR-007. 

Record the values on Test Data Sheet. 

5.9. Make sure diverter valve in the system is diverting the challenge concentration 

airflow to discharge and not into the testing chamber. 

5.10. Mount canister onto test fixture and place in testing chamber. 

5.11. Divert 0.8 Lpm airflow from airflow line to the ammonia challenge detector. 

5.12. Turn on ammonia cylinder. 

5.13. Establish the test concentration of 1250 ppm ammonia for a general category test 

or 2500 ppm ammonia for a specific category test. 

5.14. Once the ammonia concentration has been established, testing may begin. 

5.15. Direct challenge concentration airflow into test chamber. 

5.16. Start Timer. Airflow out of the fixture is directed into the breakthrough detector. 

Monitor and record the upstream and downstream temperatures of the air stream 

throughout testing. 

5.17. Run test until breakthrough of 25 ppm is observed or minimum service life is 

surpassed. Record this data on the test data sheet. 

5.18. Direct challenge concentration airflow out of test chamber. 

5.19. Weigh and record final weight of the test canister on Test Data Sheet. 

5.20. Allow clean air to purge through test chamber for 10-15 minutes. 

5.21. Repeat steps 5.7 through 5.20 for each test described in section 6.3. 

5.22. When all tests are completed turn off ammonia cylinder, set temperature and 

humidity to zero and allow air to pass through the system for 30 minutes. 

6 PASS OR FAIL CRITERIA

6.1 The criterion for passing this test is set forth in 42 CFR Part 84, Subpart G, 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 6 of 9 

Section 84.63(a)(c)(d); Volume 60, Number 110, June 8, 1995. 

6.2 This test establishes the standard procedure for ensuring that: 

 84.63 Test requirements; general. 

(a) Each respirator and respirator component shall when tested by the applicant 

and by the Institute, meet the applicable requirements set forth in subparts H 

through L of this part. 

(c) In addition to the minimum requirements set forth in subparts H through L 

of this part, the Institute reserves the right to require, as a further condition 

of approval, any additional requirements deemed necessary to establish the 

quality, effectiveness, and safety of any respirator used as protection against 

hazardous atmospheres. 

(d) Where it is determined after receipt of an application that additional 

requirements will be required for approval, the Institute will notify the 

applicant in writing of these additional requirements, and necessary 

examinations, inspections, or tests, stating generally the reasons for such 

requirements, examinations, inspections, or tests. 

6.3 Base Gases (Ammonia) test for CBRN canisters 

6.3.1. General Category Standard. 

6.3.1.1. Resistance to airflow of both canister and system will be taken 

before and after each test. 

6.3.1.2. Three canisters will be tested at 64 Lpm, continuous airflow, 25 

% + 5 % relative humidity (RH), 25 o

C + 5 oC, and 1250 ppm 

ammonia. Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 

minutes as per manufacturer request. 

6.3.1.3. Three canisters will be tested at 64 Lpm, continuous airflow, 80 

%+ 5 % relative humidity (RH), 25 o

C + 5 oC, and 1250 ppm 

ammonia. Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 

minutes as per manufacturer request. 

6.3.1.4. Three canisters will be tested at 100 Lpm, continuous airflow, 50 

% + 5% relative humidity (RH), 25 o

C + 5 oC, and 1250 ppm 

ammonia. Minimum service life must be 5 minutes. 

6.3.1.5. End of service life concentration is 25 ppm ammonia. 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 7 of 9 

6.3.2. Specific Category Standard. 

6.3.2.1. Resistance to airflow of both canister and system will be taken 

before and after each test. 

6.3.2.2. Three canisters will be tested at 64 Lpm, continuous air flow, 25 

% + 5 % relative humidity (RH), 25 o

C + 5 oC, and 2500 ppm 

ammonia. Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 

minutes as per manufacturer request. 

6.3.2.3. Three canisters will be tested at 64 Lpm, continuous air flow, 80 

%+ 5 % relative humidity (RH), 25 o

C + 5 oC, and 2500 ppm 

ammonia. Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 

minutes as per manufacturer request. 

6.3.2.4. Three canisters will be tested at 100 Lpm, continuous air flow, 

50 % + 5% relative humidity (RH), 25 o

C + 5 oC, and 2500 ppm 

ammonia. Minimum service life must be 5 minutes. 

6.3.1.6. End of service life concentration is 25 ppm ammonia. 

7. RECORDS AND TEST SHEETS

7.1. All test data will be recorded on the determination of AMMONIA SERVICE 

LIFE test data sheet. 

7.2. All videotapes and photographs of the actual test being performed, or of the tested 

equipment shall be maintained in the task file as part of the permanent record. 

7.3. All equipment failing any portion of this test will be handled as follows: 

7.3.1. If the failure occurs on a new certification application, or extension of 

approval application, send a test report to the CET Section Chief and 

prepare the hardware for return to the manufacturer. 

7.3.2. If the failure occurs on hardware examined under an Off-the-Shelf Audit 

the hardware will be examined by a technician and the CET Section Chief 

for cause. All equipment failing any portion of this test may be sent to the 

manufacturer for examination and then returned to NIOSH. However, the 

hardware tested shall be held at the testing laboratory until authorized for 

release by the CET Section Chief, or his designee, following the standard 

operating procedures outlined in Procedure for Scheduling, and Processing 

Post-Certification Product Audits, RB-SOP-0005-00. 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 8 of 9 

8.1 ATTACHMENTS

8.1. Bench Top Set-up 

8.2. Data Sheet 

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Procedure No. CET-APRS-STP-CBRN-0407 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 December 2005 Page 9 of 9 

Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision 

00 21 September 2004 Historic document 

1.1 21 December 2005 Update header and format 

Correct numbering sequence in section 5. 

No changes to method 

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