DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control 

 and Prevention (CDC) 

LETTER TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

Subject: Incorporation of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1986, Standard on 

Respiratory Protection Equipment for Tactical and Technical Operations, 2017 edition into 

NIOSH policy statement on “Evaluation and Acceptance of Emergency Breathing Support 

Systems (EBSS) incorporated into SCBA Approvals”

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is updating its policy statement 

on “Evaluation and Acceptance of Emergency Breathing Support Systems (EBSS) incorporated into 

SCBA Approvals.”

This policy change is being made coincident with the addition of requirements related to the use and 

operation of these devices in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1986, 2017 edition,

Standard for SCBA used in Tactical and Technical Operations. This letter serves as the policy 

change modifying the above-referenced NIOSH policy statement to incorporate Self-Contained 

Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) meeting the requirements of NFPA 1986:2017, or subsequent 

editions, as part of the current policy statement. 

Consistent with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 and OMB 

Circular A-119, NIOSH participated in the NFPA consensus standards development process for 

NFPA 1986. Adoption of NFPA 1986 into the above-referenced policy statements meets the intent 

of this act.

This policy change is applicable only to SCBAs meeting the requirements of NFPA 1981:2013, or 

subsequent editions, along with those meeting the newly established requirements of NFPA 

1986:2017, or subsequent editions. NIOSH will recognize NFPA 1981:2013 compliant EBSS 

systems and NFPA 1986:2017 compliant EBSS systems as a part of the NIOSH SCBA approval for 

users who have received the appropriate level of training. Users will be able to identify approvals 

for SCBAs which incorporate the required hardware by the explicit listing of an additional EBSS 

statement to the standard cautions and limitations on the NIOSH approval label. The statement will 

signify the EBSS components have been evaluated by NIOSH and accepted as meeting the 

requirements for EBSS under the requirements of either NFPA 1981:2013, or NFPA 1986:2017, or 

subsequent editions.

National Institute for Occupational

 Safety and Health (NIOSH)

National Personal Protective 

 Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

626 Cochrans Mill Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070

Phone: 412-386-4000

Fax: 412-386-4051

May 9, 2017
Page 2 – Letter to All Manufacturers – Certification Program Information

Background

Based upon a review of submissions made to the NIOSH Docket (Docket # 147), as well as the 

applicable Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) standards, NIOSH has modified the existing 

“Buddy Breather” policy to further support and encourage best practices in the fire service for the 

deployment of EBSS. Accessories available on some manufacturers’ products enable users to have 

the option to provide buddy breathing.

Recognition of these practices and use of EBSS conforming to the newly developed NFPA 

1986:2017 standard provides a framework for use in tactical or technical applications. NIOSH 

recommends that these users also follow guidance developed for firefighters and to formally 

incorporate best practices used in fire departments for the maintenance and use of EBSS and

development of “Buddy Breathing” training programs conforming to NFPA Standards 1404, Fire 

Service Respiratory Protection Training and 1500, Fire Department Occupational Safety and 

Health Program, which will further address cautions and limitations associated with the use of 

EBSS in future editions. Until such time that the personnel training requirements of NFPA 1404 

and the Occupational Safety and Health Program requirements of NFPA 1500 are revised to address 

EBSS maintenance and use, NIOSH will require the manufacturer User Instructions to provide 

training information.

Those making application for NIOSH approval are advised of the following minimum requirements:

Additional standards:

In order to be evaluated for incorporation into SCBA approval, EBSS systems must be incorporated 

into SCBA configurations found to be conforming to NFPA 1986:2017, by a certification 

organization accredited for personal protective equipment in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065:2012, 

Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services, currently Safety Equipment 

Institute (SEI).

Additional testing:

All components of the EBSS must be able to operate at the specified low temperature limit without 

adversely affecting the operation of the SCBA, as determined by testing conducted in accordance 

with NIOSH Standard Testing Procedure Number TEB-CBRN-ASR-STP-0219.

At the minimum activation pressure with the EBSS receiver line held open to atmosphere, the donor 

unit must be able to meet pressure-demand performance requirements through the remainder of the 

air supply as determined by testing in accordance with NIOSH Standard Testing Procedure

Number TEB-CBRN-ASR-STP-0220.

Starting from a full cylinder and prior to the minimum End-of-Service-Time-Indicator (EOSTI) 

activation pressure, the EBSS donor/receiver line will be opened to atmosphere and held open. The 

duration for which the host unit performance meets pressure-demand performance requirements, as 

determined by testing in accordance with NIOSH Standard Testing Procedure Number TEB-CBRNASR-STP-0220, will be measured and recorded
Page 3 – Letter to All Manufacturers – Certification Program Information

Additional cautions and limitations:

The approval label must include this additional caution and limitation statement (statement EBSS):

EBSS Activation or engagement of EBSS in either the donor or receiver mode changes the SCBA 

use to Escape-Only. Approved service time as listed on the NIOSH approval label for either 

the donor, or the receiver is no longer applicable. Additional critical cautions and limitations 

apply. Refer to section EBSS in the SCBA User Instructions.

At a minimum, these additional caution and limitation statements must appear in section EBSS of 

the SCBA User Instructions, (similar to the statements appearing in the User Instructions with 

caution and limitation statement S).

X EBSS may not be engaged or activated in donor mode after the donorEOSTI has activated a

.

X Users must be fully trained in the operation of EBSS in accordance with a training program 

conforming to the requirements of NFPA Standards 1404 Fire Service Respiratory 

Protection Training and 1500 Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program.

X Simultaneous connection of more than two users, (one donor, and one receiver), is not

permitted.

General application information:

All approval application(s) shall: 1) be submitted concurrently to NIOSH (Records Room) and

SEI and 2) include a completed application package for each SCBA respirator model for which 

approval is requested. NIOSH submittals must conform to the requirements outlined in the Standard 

Application Procedure. Standard SCBA approval fees are applicable to each new approval sought. 

Consultations with NIOSH are available and encouraged prior to submitting an application to enable 

an accurate determination of required test hardware to be made. Your effort in following these 

procedures will assist NIOSH and SEI in ensuring an orderly approval process.

We hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact Robert Stein at,

412-386-6889 or by email at rstein@cdc.gov if you have any questions.

Sincerely yours,

David Chirdon

David Chirdon

Chief, Conformity Verification and 

 Standards Development Branch

National Personal Protective TechnologyLaboratory

Cc: Mr. Steve Sanders, SEI a Consistent with the requirements of NFPA 1986:2017, EOSTI settings of less than 25 percent +4/-0 of service

pressure will not be permitted; however, higher minimum EBSS activation pressures will be considered contingent

upon acceptable notification to the user.