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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

P.O. Box 18070

Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Procedure No. TEB-CBRN-ASR-STP-0219 Revision: 0.1 Date: 30 January 2014

DETERMINATION OF OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA) 

EMERGENCY BREATHING SAFETY SYSTEMS (EBSS) FUNCTIONALITY DURING LOWTEMPERATURE OPERATION, 

STANDARD TESTING PROCEDURE (STP) 

1. PURPOSE 

This test establishes the procedures for ensuring that two Open-Circuit, Self -Contained Breathing 

Apparatus (SCBA) equipped with Emergency Breathing Safety Systems (EBSS) provided by the 

same manufacturer can be connected together and function properly during low temperature 

operations 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), and Subpart H, Section 84.98; Volume 60, Number 110, June 8, 1995. 

2. GENERAL 

This STP describes the Determination of Open-Circuit SCBA EBSS Functionality during LowTemperature Operation 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. 

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

equivalent. 
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3.1.3. Two test subjects meeting requirements of the NIOSH Human Subject Review 

Board (HSRB) approved Protocol. Refer to HSRB-73-DSR-01, “Protocol for the 

Testing of Respiratory Protective Devices” for the proper consent form and 

complete details on the use of human test subjects in respirator certification 

testing. 

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 Appalachian Laboratory for Occupational Safety and Health 

(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. Operate the environmental chamber to bring the interior temperature to the minimum 

operating temperature specified by the applicant. 

5.2 Place two test samples, both complete SCBA equipped with EBSS to be evaluated, in the 

precooled environmental chamber for at least 4 hours prior to testing. 

5.3 Two test subjects will enter the environmental room. Each will simultaneously don one of 

the SCBA and breathe normally for 2 minutes in a normal, standing posture. 

Note: The test subjects shall be constantly monitored during the test to determine that the units 

are functioning satisfactorily and that they are not experiencing undue discomfort 

because of air flow restrictions or other physical or chemical changes in the operation of 
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Procedure No. TEB-CBRN-ASR-STP-0219 Revision: 0.1 Date: 30 January 2014 Page 3 of 9

the apparatus. 

5.4 The test subjects will extend their EBSS air lines, and test subject #1 will connect the two 

SCBA EBSS air lines as per the manufacturer’s instructions. The test technician will 

verify the connection is secure and both systems are operating properly. This 

configuration will be held for 2 minutes while the subjects continue to breathe normally 

in a standing posture. 

5.5 The test technician will securely close the air cylinder supply valve for subject #1 and 

verify both subjects are breathing off subject #2’s air supply. This configuration will be 

held for 2 minutes while the subjects continue to breathe normally in a standing posture. 

5.6 The test technician will open the air cylinder supply valve for subject #1, disconnect the 

EBSS air line connection and verify that both quick connect fittings reseal after 

disconnection, then reconnect the EBSS air lines and verify the connection is secure and 

both system are operating properly. 

5.7 The test technician will securely close the air cylinder supply valve for subject #2 and 

verify both subjects are breathing off subject #1 air supply. This configuration will be 

held for 2 minutes while the subjects continue to breathe normally in a standing posture. 

5.8 The test technician will open the air cylinder supply valve for subject #2, notifying both 

subjects when finished. Test subject #2 will then disconnect the two SCBA EBSS air 

lines via the quick disconnect. The test technician will verify the quick connect fittings 

reseal after disconnection. This configuration will be held for 2 minutes while the 

subjects continue to breathe normally in a standing posture. 

5.9 Data Analysis 

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

Note: This test will require two respirators and should be completed only once, 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(c); 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 
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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. 

EBSS testing during low temperature operation 

(a) The applicant shall specify the minimum temperature for safe operation and two 

persons will perform the tests described in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section wearing 

the apparatus according to applicant's directions. At the specified temperature, both 

apparatus shall meet all the requirements described in paragraph (e) of this section. 

(b) Both apparatus will be pre-cooled at the specified minimum temperature for 4 hours. 

(c) The apparatus will be worn in the low temperature chamber for time required to 

complete the test. 

(d) Both test subjects will evaluate the operation of the SCBA EBSS during operation as 

described in section 5.3 to 5.8. 

(e) (1) The apparatus shall function satisfactorily at the manufacturers specified 

minimum temperature. 

(2) The wearer shall not experience undue discomfort because of air flow 

restriction or other physical or chemical changes in the operation of the 

apparatus. 

(f) Auxiliary low-temperature parts which are commercially available to the user may be 

used on the apparatus to meet the requirements described in paragraph (e) of this section. 

7. RECORDS\TEST SHEETS 

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

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS EMERGENCY BREATHING 

SAFETY SYSTEM EVALUATION 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 RCT Leader and prepare the hardware for 

return to the manufacturer. 
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Procedure No. TEB-CBRN-ASR-STP-0219 Revision: 0.1 Date: 30 January 2014 Page 5 of 9

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. TEB-CBRN-ASR-STP-0219 Revision: 0.1 Date: 30 January 2014 Page 6 of 9

COLD TEMPERATURE TEST, OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING 

APPARATUS EMERGENCY BREATHING SAFETY SYSTEM EVALUATION

Project No : Date: __________ 

Company : ___________________________________________ 

Respirator Type: ___________________________________________ 

 

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

Requirement: 

(a) The applicant shall specify the minimum temperature for safe operation and two persons will 

perform the tests described in paragraph (c) of this section, wearing the apparatus according 

to applicant's directions. At the specified temperature, the apparatus shall meet the 

requirements described in paragraph (e) of this section. 

(b) Both apparatus will be precooled at the specified minimum temperature for 4 hours. 

(c) Both test subjects will evaluate the operation of the SCBA EBSS during connection as 

described in section 5.3 to 5.8. 

(d) 1. The apparatus shall function satisfactorily at the manufacturer’s specified minimum 

temperature on duplicate tests. 

 2. The wearer shall not experience undue discomfort because of airflow restriction or other 

physical or chemical changes in the operation of the apparatus. 

(e) Auxiliary low-temperature parts which are commercially available to the user may be 

used on the apparatus to meet the requirements described in paragraph (d) of this section. 

Results: 

Subject #1: ________ Chamber Temp. oF SCBA Cylinder Pressure _________ 

Test Subject Comments: ______________________________________________________________ 

 

Subject #2: __________ Chamber Temp. oF SCBA Cylinder Pressure __________ 

Test Subject Comments: _______________________________________________________________ 
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Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision

0.0 6 January 2014 Establishment of STP

0.1 30 January 2014 Adjustment of test activity durations as a result of validation testing.