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-0118 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 September 2005

DETERMINATION OF LOW TEMPERATURE OPERATION - MINIMUM PER MANUFACTURER, 

OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS 

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 Open-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) 

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 Low Temperature Operation - Minimum Per 

Manufacturer, Open-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 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-0118 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 September 2005 Page 2 of 10 

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

equivalent. 

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. 

3.1.4. A PHYSIO - Control Crash Cart - Model 800539 with current dated drugs and 

equipment at the test scene 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. 

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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. The apparatus will be pre-cooled at the specified minimum temperature for 4 hours. 

5.2. The apparatus will be worn in the cold temperature chamber for 30 minutes or for the 

service time of the apparatus, whichever is less. 

5.3. During the test period, alternate 1-minute periods of exercise and rest will be required 

with the exercise periods consisting of stepping onto and off a box 21.5 cm (8 l/2 inches) 

high at a rate of 30 cycles per minute. 

5.4. The test subject shall be constantly monitored during the test to determine that the unit is 

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 the 

apparatus. 

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), and Subpart H, Section 84.98; 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 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0118 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 September 2005 Page 4 of 10 

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. 

84.98 Tests 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, the 

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

(b) The 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 30 minutes, or for the 

service time of the apparatus, whichever is less. 

(d) During the test period, alternate l-minute periods of exercise and rest will be required 

with the exercise periods consisting of stepping onto and off a box 21.5 cm (8 l/2 inches) 

high at a rate of 30 cycles per minute. 

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

temperature on duplicate tests. 

(2) The wearer shall have sufficient unobscured vision to perform the work. 

(3) 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 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. 

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 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0118 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 September 2005 Page 5 of 10 

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-0118 Revision: 1.1 Date: 21 September 2005 Page 6 of 10 

COLD TEMPERATURE TEST, OPEN-CIRCUIT, 

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

Project No : Date: __________ 

Company : ___________________________________________ 

Respirator Type: ___________________________________________ 

Reference: 42 CFR, Part 84, Subpart H, Section 84.98. 

Requirement: (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, the 

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

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

(c) The apparatus will be worn in the low temperature chamber for 30 minutes, or for the 

service time of the apparatus, whichever is less. 

(d) During the test period, alternate 1-min. periods of exercise and rest will be required 

with the exercise periods consisting of stepping onto and off a box 21.5 cm. (8 1⁄2 inches) 

high at a rate of 30 cycles per minute. 

(e) 1. The apparatus shall function satisfactorily at the specified minimum temperature 

on duplicate tests. 

 2. The wearer shall have sufficient unobscured vision to perform the work. 

 3. The wearer shall not experience undue discomfort because of airflow 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. 

Results: 

 1. Subject: Chamber Temp. o

F 

Comments: ______________________________________________________________ 

2. Subject: Chamber Temp. o

F 

Comments: ______________________________________________________________ 

Test Engineer Pass Fail ________ 

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Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision 

1.0 23 May 2001 Historic document 

1.1 21 September 

2005 

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

No changes to method 

 

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