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. RCT-ASR-STP-0119 Revision: 1.1 Date: 20 September 2005

DETERMINATION OF LOW TEMPERATURE OPERATION - MINIMUM PER MANUFACTURER, 

COMBINATION, OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS 

AND TYPE C, AND CE, SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS 

STANDARD TESTING PROCEDURE (STP) 

1. PURPOSE

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

temperature requirements on Combination, Open-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 

and Types C, and CE, Supplied-Air Respirators (SCBA/SAR) 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. 

2. GENERAL

This STP describes the Determination of Low Temperature Operation - Minimum Per 

Manufacturer, Combination, Open-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and Types C, 

and CE, Supplied-Air 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/MATERIALS

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

3.1.1. Environmental Room, Model D69 (Tenney Engineering, Inc.) or equivalent.

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0119 Revision: 1.1 Date: 20 September 2005 Page 2 of 8 

3.1.2. Electric Timer, calibrated to hundredths of a minute (Precision Scientific Co.) or 

equivalent. 

4. TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS

4.1. 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). 

4.2. The compressed gas cylinder must meet all applicable Department of Transportation 

requirements for cylinder approval as well as for retesting/requalification. 

4.3. Normal laboratory safety practices must be observed. This includes all safety precautions 

described in the current ALOSH Facility Laboratory Safety Manual. 

4.3.1. Safety glasses, lab coats, and hard-toe shoes must be worn during all testing. 

4.3.2. Work benches must be maintained free of clutter and non-essential test 

equipment. 

4.3.3. When handling any glass laboratory equipment, lab technicians and personnel 

must wear special gloves which protect against lacerations or punctures. 

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. Pre-cool two units for four hours at the specified minimum temperature. Unit number 

one will have the SAR hose connected to the SCBA. Unit number two will have the SAR 

hose disconnected from the SCBA. 

5.2. Enter the chamber and don unit number one. Breathe on unit in SAR mode for two 

minutes, checking for leakage and proper operation. Switch to SCBA mode. Breathe on 

unit for two minutes. 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0119 Revision: 1.1 Date: 20 September 2005 Page 3 of 8 

5.3. Remove unit number one and don unit number two. Breathe on unit number two in 

SCBA mode for two minutes. Connect SAR hose to unit number two. Switch to SAR 

mode. Breathe on SAR mode for two minutes, again checking for leakage and proper 

operation. 

5.4 Repeat testing using all quick disconnects. 

5.5. Data Analysis 

Record remarks concerning unit operation and test subject's comments on test data sheet. 

Note: This test should be done on a minimum of two respirators, or more if additional testing is 

required (42 CFR, Part 84 - Sections 84.12, 84.30, and 84.60.) 

6. PASS\FAIL CRITERIA

6.1. The criterion for passing this test is set forth in 42 CFR, Part 84, Subpart G, 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. The unit must perform satisfactorily at the minimum specified temperature when 

operated in the SAR and SCBA mode. 

7. RECORDS\TEST SHEETS

7.1. All test data will be recorded on the SPECIAL TEST - COLD TEMPERATURE TEST, 

COMBINATION SCBA/SAR 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. 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0119 Revision: 1.1 Date: 20 September 2005 Page 4 of 8 

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 RCT Leader 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 RCT Leader 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 RCT Leader, or 

his designee, following the standard operating procedures outlined in Procedure 

for Scheduling, and Processing Post-Certification Product Audits, RB-SOP0005-00. 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0119 Revision: 1.1 Date: 20 September 2005 Page 5 of 8 

SPECIAL TEST - COLD TEMPERATURE TEST, COMBINATION SCBA/SAR 

Project No : Date: __________ 

Company : ___________________________________________ 

Respirator Type : ___________________________________________ 

Reference: 42 CFR, Part 84, Subpart G, Section 84.63(a)(c)(d) 

Requirement: The unit must perform satisfactorily at the minimum specified temperature when 

operated in the SAR and SCBA mode. 

Procedure: 1. Precool two units for four hours at the minimum specification temperature. Unit 

number one will have the SAR hose connected to the SCBA. Unit number two 

will have the SAR hose disconnected from the SCBA. 

 2. Enter the chamber and don unit number one. Breath on unit in SAR mode for 

two minutes, checking for leakage and proper operation. Switch to SCBA mode. 

Breath on unit for two minutes. 

 3. Remove unit number one and don unit number two. Breath on unit number two 

in SCBA mode for two minutes. Connect SAR hose to unit number two. Switch 

to SAR mode. Breath on SAR mode for two minutes, again checking for leakage 

and proper operation. 

4. Repeat testing using all quick disconnects. 

Results: 

 Unit 1. Chamber Temp. o

F Quick Disconnects; ____________ 

Unit 2. Chamber Temp. o

F Quick Disconnects; ____________ 

Comments: 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Test Engineer Pass Fail _________ 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0119 Revision: 1.1 Date: 20 September 2005 Page 8 of 8 

Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision 

1.0 30 May 2001 Historic document 

1.1 20 September 

2005 

Update header and format to reflect lab move from Morgantown, WV 

No changes to method 

 

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