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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-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009

DETERMINATION OF CBRN ORGANIC VAPOR (CYCLOHEXANE) SERVICE 

LIFE TEST, LOOSE-FITTING POWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS (PAPR) 

STANDARD TEST PROCEDURE (STP) 

1. PURPOSE

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

Organic Vapor (Cyclohexane) Service Life Test, Loose-Fitting Powered Air-Purifying 

Respirators(PAPR) Standard Test Procedure submitted for Approval, Extension of Approval, or 

examined during Certified Product Audits meet the certification requirements set forth in 42 CFR 

Part 84, Subpart G, Section 84.63(a)(c)(d); Volume 60, Number 110, June 8, 1995 and the 

Statement of Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Powered 

Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR). 

 

2. GENERAL

This STP describes the Determination Of CBRN Organic Vapor (Cyclohexane) Service Life Test, 

Loose-Fitting Powered Air-Purifying Respirators(PAPR) Standard Test Procedure 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 the product passes the test. 

3. EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL

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

3.1.1. Miller Nelson Research Model 401 Flow-Temperature-Humidity Control System 

or equivalent. This system is an automated system to control the airflow, 

temperature and humidity of an air supply for an operating system. Laboratory 

air and distilled water are supplied to the unit. The unit output is air of the 

variable volume/flow dependant on the size of unit (10% of max flow to max 

flow in liters per minute (Lpm) ± 2%), and relative humidity (10%–98% ± 3%) 

and temperature (20oC–30o 0

C ± 0.3%). 

3.1.2. EdgeTech Dew Prime II Hygrometer, Model 2000 or equivalent. A microprocessor based programmable chilled mirror dew point hygrometer. The 

hygrometer uses the dew point and ambient temperature to calculate the relative 

humidity. Ambient temperature range is: -50oC to 130oC ± 0.2oC; relative 

humidity is 1% to 95% ± 0.5% 

3.1.3. Labview software developed for NIOSH Service Life Testing. 

Approvals: First Level Second Level Third Level Fourth Level 

 
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3.1.4. Miran Ambient Air Analyzer, Model 1A with closed loop system or equivalent. 

The analyzer is a single beam variable filter spectrometer with a variable 

pathlength gas cell. For cyclohexane detection, the wavelength is set to 3.4 μm 

and the pathlength to 20.25 meters. Range is 300 to 0.03 ppm. The closed loop 

system consists of a stainless steel bellows pump, septum and tubing with a 

sample volume of 5.64 liters. 

3.1.5. Amersham Biosciences High Precision Pump, Model P-500 with reservoir. Flow 

rate range: l ml/hr to 400 ml/hr ± 1.5% of setting. 

3.1.6. Electronic Balance with an accuracy of 0.01 grams. 

3.1.7. Mass Flow Controller, Brooks Instruments, model 5851. Variable flow rate 

depending on use. 

3.1.8. Read out and Control Electronics, Brooks Instruments, Model 0154, Power 

supply and controller for the Brooks Mass Flow Controller or equivalent. The 

flow controllers are an integrally mounted control valve module with which 

stable gas flows can be achieved. Various flow rates are used with an accuracy of 

± 0.7 % of rate and ± 0.2 % full scale. 

3.1.9. Dry Test Meter, American Meter Co., model and size depending on air flow to be 

measured. Must have NIST traceable calibration certificate. 

3.1.10. Miller Nelson Research, Model SV-2000, Vaporizer system or equivalent. Used 

for vaporizing cyclohexane solution. 

3.1.11. Cyclohexane, ACS grade, 99%. 

3.2. Test fixture for mounting cartridges. 

3.3. The test chamber consisting of an air-tight box with door opening lined with gasket 

material. Two fittings located on the test chamber for the introduction of the test 

concentration and for the exit of the test fixture. This fixture is not commercially 

available. 

3.4. Airflow measurement equipment as described in standard test procedure RCT-APR-0012. 

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. Any laboratory using this procedure to supply certification test data to NIOSH will be 
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Procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009 Page 3 of 11 

subject to the provisions of the NIOSH Supplier Qualification Program (SQP). This 

program is based on the tenets of ISO/IEC 17025, the NIOSH Manual of Analytical 

Methods and other NIOSH guidelines. An initial complete quality system audit and 

follow on audits are requirements of the program. Additional details of the Program and 

its requirements can be obtained directly from the Institute. 

4.3. Precision and accuracy (P&A) must be determined for each instrument in accordance 

with laboratory procedures and NIOSH/NPPTL guidance. Sound practice requires, under 

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, demonstrating a tolerance range of expected data 

performance of a plus or minus 25% of a 95% confidence interval of the stated standard 

requirement. NIOSH/NPPTL P&A tolerance can be higher but not lower. 

4.4. Compressed gas cylinders must meet all applicable Department of Transportation 

requirements for cylinder approval as well as retesting / requalification. 

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

described in the current NIOSH Pittsburgh Health and Safety Program. 

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

4.5.2. Workbenches must be maintained free of clutter and non-essential test 

equipment. 

4.5.3 When handling any broken glass laboratory equipment, lab technicians and 

personnel must wear special gloves, which may protect against lacerations or 

punctures. 

4.6. Please refer to Material Safety Data Sheets and the NIOSH Health and Safety 

Manual for the proper protection and care in handling, storing, and disposing of the 

chemicals and gases used in this procedure.

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. Follow individual instruction manuals for set up and maintenance of equipment used in 

this procedure prior to beginning testing. Malfunctioning equipment must be repaired or 

replaced and properly set up and calibrated before starting all tests. 

 5.2. Adjust instrument to read zero and make adjustment for Labview software to read 0.0 

ppm. 

5.3. Verify Infrared Analyzer: Refer to the performance verification procedures in the user 

manual. Inject 0.25 μL of cyclohexane into closed loop system of the IR as described in 

the manual. Once stabilized, the analyzer should read 10 ppm. Make adjustment for 

Labview software to read 10.0 ppm. Disconnect closed loop system and allow IR to 

return to zero reading. 
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5.4. Set the high precision pump for delivery of calculated cyclohexane to obtain desired 

concentration for testing airflow. See worksheet 1 in appendix 8.2. 

5.5. Set up test equipment as shown in Figure 1. The humidity reading is controlled by the 

Miller Nelson system and monitored by the Dew Point Hygrometer. The sample pickup 

for the hygrometer is place into the air stream via a tee after the Miller Nelson and before 

the introduction point of challenge agent. The thermocouple for the hygrometer is placed 

in the challenge gas stream immediately before the test chamber. 

5.6. Verify the following equipment is on: 

5.6.1. Miller Nelson Flow-Temperature-Humidity Control System. 

5.6.2. Air and water supplies. 

5.6.3. High precision pump. 

5.6.4. Electronic balance. 

5.6.5. NIOSH Service Life Apparatus Controller software program. 

5.7. Establish the correct humidity and temperature as per the test standard in paragraph 6.3. 

5.8. Set the required airflow for the system. Individual cartridges will be tested by dividing 

170 Lpm by the number of air-purifying elements on the system. See worksheet 3 in 

appendix 8.2. Verify the airflow from the test fixture using the appropriate dry test meter. 

5.9. Fill pump reservoir with cyclohexane. Insert needle from pump to septum tee in airline. 

5.10. Weigh and record initial weight of the test cartridge on Test Data Sheet. 

5.11. Take and record initial airflow measurements in accordance with RCT-APR-012. See 

section 84.1152 (b) Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 84 for minimum airflow 

requirements. 

5.12. Make sure diverter valve in the system is diverting the challenge concentration airflow to 

discharge and not into the testing chamber. 

5.13. Mount cartridge onto test fixture in testing chamber. 

5.14. Start flow from the high precision pump to the needle 

5.15. Record the initial weight of the cyclohexane reserve. 

5.16. Direct challenge concentration airflow into test chamber. 

5.17. Start timer. Airflow out of the fixture is directed into the breakthrough detector. Monitor 
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Procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009 Page 5 of 11 

and record the upstream and downstream temperatures of the air stream throughout 

testing. 

5.18. Run test until breakthrough of 10 ppm is observed or selected service life time is 

surpassed. Record this data on the test data sheet. 

5.19. Weigh and record the final weight of the cyclohexane reservoir. 

5.20. Direct challenge concentration airflow out of test chamber. 

5.21. Calculate and record the challenge concentration of the cyclohexane, see attachment 8.2. 

5.22. Weigh and record final weight of the test cartridge on Test Data Sheet. 

5.23. Take and record final airflow measurements in accordance with RCT-APR-012. See 

section 84.1152 (b) Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 84 for minimum airflow 

requirements. 

5.24. Allow clean air to purge through test chamber for 5 minutes. 

5.25. Repeat steps 5.7 through 5.21 for each test described in section 6.3. 

5.26. When all tests are completed turn off cyclohexane flow, set temperature and humidity to 

zero and allow air to pass through the system for 30 minutes. 

6. PASS OR 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. 
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Procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009 Page 6 of 11 

6.3. Organic Vapor (Cyclohexane) Test for CBRN Cartridges. 

6.3.1. Airflow measurements of system must be taken before and after each test. 

6.3.2. Three cartridges will be tested at the determined continuous air flow, 25% ± 

2.5% relative humidity (RH), 25oC ± 2.5oC and 1300 ppm cyclohexane. 

6.3.3. Three cartridges will be tested at the determined continuous air flow, 80% ± 

2.5% RH, 25oC ± 2.5oC and 1300 ppm cyclohexane. 

6.3.4. Minimum service life will be 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 minutes as per 

manufacturer request. End of service life concentration is 10 ppm cyclohexane. 

7. RECORD AND TEST SHEETS 

7.1. All test data will be recorded on the CBRN Organic Vapor (Cyclohexane) Service Life 

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 TEB Team 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 TEB Team 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 Branch Chief, or 

the Branch Chief’s designee, following the standard operating procedures 

outlined in Procedure for Scheduling, and Processing Post-Certification Product 

Audits, RB-SOP-0005-00. 

8. APPENDIXES

8.1. Bench-Top Set-Up 

8.2. Calculations for cyclohexane 

8.3. Data Sheet 

8.4. Service life testing airflow calculations 
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8.1. Bench-Top Set-Up 
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Procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009 Page 8 of 11 

8.2. Calculations for cyclohexane 

Cyclohexane: 

Molecular weight = 84.2 g/mol 

1 ppm = 3.44 mg / m3 @ 25 o

C ; 760 mm Hg 

1. Calculations for injection rate of cyclohexane. 

Injection rate (ml/hr) = Conc (ppm) X 3.44 ((mg / m3)/ppm) X Airflow (L/min) X 60 min 

1000 (mg/g) X 1000 (L/m3) X 0.7785 (g/ml) 

Examples 64 Lpm 85 Lpm 100 Lpm 

2600 ppm 44.12 ml/hr 58.59 ml/hr 68.93 ml/hr 

2. Calculations for actual challenge concentration. 

Conc (ppm) = amount delivered (g) X 24.45 (L/mol)_X 1 x 106

 airflow (Lpm) X test time (min) X 84.2 (g/mol) 

3. Calculations for calibrating downstream concentration using closed loop system. 

Microliter injection amount = conc. (ppmv) X 5.64L X 84.2 g/mol X 1x106

 μL/L

 1 x 106

 μL / L X 24.45 L/mol X 0.779 g/mL X 1000 mL/L 

For 10 ppmv: 

Microliter injection amount = 10 ppmv X 5.64 L X 84.2 g/mol X 1x 106

 μL/L 

 1x106 μL/L X 24.45 L/mol X 0.779 g/mL X 1000 mL/L 

 

 = 0.25 μL
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8.3. Test Data Sheet 
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Procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009 Page 10 of 11 

8.4. Service life testing airflow calculations. 

Loose-fitting PAPR 

___________ Number of filtering elements on a Loose-fitting PAPR System. 

170 Lpm airflow 

Airflow for service life test = 170 Lpm / number of filtering elements 

Test Flow 

4 Cartridges 3 Cartridges 2 Cartridges 1 Cartridge 

42.5 Lpm 56.7 Lpm 85 Lpm 170 Lpm 
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Procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0511-CBRN Revision: 0.1 Date: 9 February 2009 Page 11 of 11 

Revision History 

Revision Date Reason for Revision 

0.0 21 November 2006 Original Issue 

0.1 9 February 2009 Name changed in alignment with current naming convention, 

paragraphs immediately inferior to 4.5. renumbered to reflect their 

proper order in the procedure, minor editorial revision, no change to 

procedure