NIOSH Respiratory Protective Device Information

NIOSH CA 2018-1006

Revised February 2019

 

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) user information regarding 

compressed breathing gas containers (cylinders), NIOSH approval holder user 

instructions, and Department of Transportation (DOT) permit and marking 

Revised. Supersedes the August 2018 version
Document Number

NIOSH CA 2018-1006R1.0

Page 2 of 3

On October 5, 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued special permit 16320 (DOT-SP-16320) Third Edition, to Digital 

Wave Corporation. DOT-SP-16320 authorizes the extension of the cylinder original equipment 

manufacturer (OEM) 15-year service life for certain carbon-fiber reinforced aluminum-lined cylinders 

(DOT-CFFC) in 5-year increments, up to 15 additional years, for those devices that pass modal acoustic 

emissions (MAE) requalification testing. 

In accordance with the NIOSH regulation, 42 CFR 84, the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

manufacturer holding the NIOSH approval establishes the SCBA service life, identifies cautions and 

limitations for use, and provides instructions for use and maintenance procedures. The SCBA 

manufacturer also has the responsibility as a NIOSH approval holder to maintain the NIOSH-approved 

quality control policies and procedures. SCBAs should be maintained and used in accordance with the 

labeling and users instructions. If used otherwise, they are NOT compliant with the NIOSH approval. 

This includes the extension of the OEM’s service life beyond the service life approved in the user 

instructions, and provided in supplemental informational inserts, on labels, and including safety 

precautions and warranty information. If a manufacturer chooses to apply SP-16320 to the NIOSHapproved SCBA configuration, the manufacturer must request a modification of approval from NIOSH, 

and seek approval of revised documentation. 

Accordingly, respiratory protection program administrators and SCBA users with questions or 

concerns about the application of DOT-SP-16320 to NIOSH approved and deployed SCBA must 

review the user instructions, supplemental informational inserts, safety precautions, and SCBA 

warranty information provided by the NIOSH approval holder. 

Without NIOSH review and approval of modified documentation, the use of MAE requalification 

testing to extend the service life of SCBAs that have reached the end of the service life indicated in 

the documentation provided by the SCBA manufacturer is not compliant with NIOSH approval for 

those devices.

Further questions can be addressed by the approval holder of NIOSH-approved SCBA with type 

CFFC originally marked with DOT-SP-10915, 10945, 11194, 13381, 13179, 13853, 14232, and 14339.

Subject: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) user information regarding 

compressed breathing gas containers (cylinders), NIOSH approval holder user 

instructions, and Department of Transportation (DOT) permit and marking 

Revised. Supersedes the August 2018 version
Document Number

NIOSH CA 2018-1006R1.0

Page 3 of 3

 Revision (R) Date

Reason for 

Revision

1.0 19 February 2019

NIOSH revised this notice to update stakeholders about 

important information provided in SCBA user instructions, 

supplemental informational inserts, on labels, including safety 

precautions and warranty information.