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-0147 Revision: 1.1 Date: 12 September 2005

DETERMINATION OF MODE TRANSFER TEST OF COMBINATION, OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELFCONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS SCBA/SAR 

STANDARD TESTING PROCEDURE (STP) 

1. PURPOSE

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

transfer test requirements on Combination Open-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and 

Type C, 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 Mode Transfer Test of Combination Open-Circuit, SelfContained Breathing Apparatus and Supplied-Air Respirators SCBA/SAR 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. A 300 cubic foot gas cylinder of compressed air or equivalent.

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0147 Revision: 1.1 Date: 12 September 2005 Page 2 of 7 

3.1.2. Timer, Digital stopwatch, calibrated to hundredths of a minute or equivalent. 

(Cronus Precision Products, Inc.) 

3.1.3. Matheson Air Regulator - Model 8-250 or equivalent. 

3.1.4. Helicoid standard test gauge and connecting fittings or equivalent. 

3.1.5. 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. 

3.1.6. 10' x 12' Gas-tight chamber or equivalent. 

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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. 

5.1.1. Subject dons unit, after detailed reading of the manufacturer's instruction manual. 

5.1.2. Subject breathes on the supplied-air mode (subject’s back toward technician). 

5.1.3. Technician turns off the supplied air. 

5.1.4. Subject breathes until 0 psig is reached in supplied air mode (determined when 

airflow is no longer available upon demand). 

5.1.5. When air-supply is terminated, simultaneously: 

A. Technician starts timer. 

B. Subject turns on SCBA cylinder air supply (proper transfer sequence is 

determined from the user’s instructions). 

5.1.6. Transfer is fully effected when: 

A. Air is now supplied from the SCBA, mode or 

B. It may be necessary to disconnect airline hose to fully effect transfer to 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0147 Revision: 1.1 Date: 12 September 2005 Page 4 of 7 

SCBA mode of air supply. Stop timer after A or B. 

5.1.7. Disconnect coupling (if this hasn't been accomplished in 5.1.6. as a sequence 

requirement). 

5.1.8. Repeat five times with 2 test subjects and record data. 

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.) 

 5.2. Data Analysis 

 Transfer time must be fully accomplished in 15 seconds or less for each event to meet 

minimum performance requirements. 

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. Transfer from SAR mode to SCBA mode must be accomplished in 15 seconds or less. 

7. RECORDS\TEST SHEETS

7.1. All test data will be recorded on the SPECIAL TEST - MODE TRANSFER - 

COMBINATION, OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS 

AND SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS 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-0147 Revision: 1.1 Date: 12 September 2005 Page 5 of 7 

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-0147 Revision: 1.1 Date: 12 September 2005 Page 6 of 7 

SPECIAL TEST - MODE TRANSFER - COMBINATION, OPEN-CIRCUIT, SELF-CONTAINED 

BREATHING APPARATUS AND SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS SCBA/SAR

Project No : Date: __________ 

Company : ___________________________________________ 

Respirator Type : ___________________________________________ 

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

Requirement: For combination units, the transfer time between modes must be accomplished in less 

than 15 seconds. 

Procedure: 1. Don unit. 

2. Breathe on Supplied Air mode. Turn off air supply and breathe down to "0" psig. 

3. When air is exhausted, start timer. 

4. Switch to SCBA mode, (following the instruction manual) when the transfer is 

fully effected - stop timer. 

5. Repeat test five times. 

Results: 

Subject #1 Event Time / Sec.

1 __________ 

2 __________ 

3 __________ 

4 __________ 

5 __________ 

Subject #2 1 __________ 

2 __________ 

3 __________ 

4 __________ 

5 __________ 

Comments : 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Test Engineer: PASS FAIL________ 

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Procedure No. RCT-ASR-STP-0147 Revision: 1.1 Date: 12 September 2005 Page 7 of 7 

Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision 

1.0 21 February 

2001 

Historic document 

1.1 12 September 

2005 

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

No changes to method 

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