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-APR-STP-0060 Revision: 1.1 Date: 24 August 2005

DETERMINATION OF END-OF-SERVICE-LIFE INDICATOR (ESLI) DROP TEST, 

AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS 

STANDARD TESTING PROCEDURE (STP) 

1. PURPOSE

1.1. This test establishes the procedure for ensuring that the level of protection provided by 

the end of service life indicator drop test respirators with permanent and replaceable 

ESLI for air-purifying respirators submitted for Approval, Extension of Approval, or 

examined during Certified Product Audits, meet the minimum certification standards set 

forth in 42 CFR, Subpart G, Section 84.63(a)(c)(d); Volume 60, Number 110, June 8, 

1995. 

1.2. Regulatory Citation: Federal Register, Vol. 49, No. 140, Thursday, July 19, 1994. 

Notices, pg. 29271. Criteria for Certification of ESLI; All ESLI criteria: “4. Any ESLI 

that is permanently installed in the respirator facepiece shall withstand cleaning and a 

drop from a 6-foot height. Replaceable ESLI must be able to be easily removed and to 

withstand a drop from a 6-foot height.” Note: If the ESLI is attached to the cartridge it is 

considered replaceable if the cartridge is replaceable. 

2. GENERAL

This STP describes the Determination of ESLI Drop Test, Air-Purifying 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/MATERIAL

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

3.1.1. Tape measure. 

 3.1.2. Concrete floor. 

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 

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Procedure No. RCT-APR-STP-0060 Revision: 1.1 Date: 24 August 2005 Page 2 of 5 

within the preceding 12 months using a method traceable to the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST). 

4.2. Normal laboratory safety practices must be observed. This includes safety precautions 

described in the current ALOSH Facility Laboratory Safety Manual. 

 4.2.1. Safety glasses, lab coats, and hard-toe shoes must be worn at all times. 

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

equipment. 

4.2.3. 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 drop test will be conducted on two units. A unit is the assembly that retains the 

ESLI, (ie: the cartridge if the indicator is mounted on the cartridge, or the facepiece, if the 

indicator is mounted on the facepiece). Each unit is dropped once on the face of the 

indicator and then once on the edge of the indicator from a height of 6 feet onto a 

concrete surface. 

6. PASS/FAIL CRITERIA

6.1. The criterion for passing this test is set forth in 42 CFR, 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. 

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Procedure No. RCT-APR-STP-0060 Revision: 1.1 Date: 24 August 2005 Page 3 of 5 

 6.3. Any ESLI that is permanently installed in the respirator facepiece shall withstand 

cleaning and a drop from a 6-foot height. Replaceable ESLI must be able to be easily 

removed and to withstand a drop from a 6-foot height.” Note: if the ESLI is attached to 

the cartridge it is considered replaceable if the cartridge is replaceable. 

 6.4. The ESLI shall not tear, rupture, break, crumple, or otherwise be rendered ineffective in 

indicating the depletion of chemical sorbent or be damaged so that its visibility to the 

wearer is impaired. The result of the test is evaluated as pass or fail. 

7. RECORDS/TEST SHEETS

7.1. All test data will be recorded on the END-OF-SERVICE-LIFE INDICATOR DROP 

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 

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-SOP-0005-00. 

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Procedure No. RCT-APR-STP-0060 Revision: 1.1 Date: 24 August 2005 Page 5 of 5 

Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision 

1.0 27 March 2002 Historic document 

1.1 6 June 2005 Update header and format to reflect lab move from Morgantown, WV 

No changes to method 

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