Alabama Administrative Code › Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH › Chapter 420-3-26 - RADIATION CONTROL › Section 420-3-26-.03 - Standards For Protection Against Radiation › Appendix A - ASSIGNED PROTECTION FACTORS FOR RESPIRATORS[A]

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
Operating Mode
Assigned
Protection
factors
I. Air Purifying Respirators
								(Particulateb only)c
								:
Filtering faceplate
								disposabled .....
Negative Pressure ...................
(d)
Facepiece, halfc
								......................
Negative pressure ...................
10
Facepiece, full ......................
Negative pressure ...................
100
Facepiece, half ......................
Powered air-purifying respirators ...
50
Facepiece, full ......................
Powered air-purifying respirators ...
1000
Helmet/hood ..........................
Powered air-purifying respirators ...
1000
Facepiece, loose-fitting ............
Powered air-purifying respirators ...
25
II. Atmosphere supplying respirators (particulate,
								gases, and vaporsf):
1. Air-line respirator:
Facepiece, half ................
Demand ..............................
10
Facepiece, half ................
Continuous flow .....................
50
Facepiece, half ................
Pressure demand .....................
50
Facepiece, full ................
Demand ..............................
100
Facepiece, full ................
Continuous flow .....................
1000
Facepiece, full ................
Pressure demand .....................
1000
Helmet/hood ....................
Continuous flow .....................
1000
Facepiece, loose-fitting .......
Continuous flow .....................
25
Suit ...........................
Continuous flow .....................
(g)
2. Self-contained breathing Apparatus
								(SCBA):
Facepiece, full ................
Demand ..............................
h100
Facepiece, full ................
Pressure demand .....................
i10,000
Facepiece, full ................
Demand, Recirculating ...............
h100
Facepiece, full ................
Positive pressure Recirculating .....
i10,000
III. Combination Respirators:
Any combination of air-purifying and
								atmosphere-supplying respirators.
Assigned protection factor for type and mode of
								operation as listed above.
FOOTNOTES:
a These assigned radiation
				  protection factors apply only in a respiratory protection program that meets
				  the requirements of this rule. They are applicable only to airborne
				  radiological hazards and may not be appropriate to circumstances when chemical
				  or other respiratory hazards exist instead or, or in addition to, radioactive
				  hazards. Selection and use of respirators for such circumstances must also
				  comply with Department of Labor regulations.
Radioactive contaminants for which the concentration values
				  in Table 1, Column 3 of Appendix B of Rule
				  420-3-26-.03 are based on
				  internal dose due to inhalation may, in addition, present external exposure
				  hazards at higher concentrations. Under these circumstances, limitations on
				  occupancy may have to be governed by external dose limits.
b Air purifying respirators with
				  APF less than 100 must be equipped with particulate filters that are at least
				  95 percent efficient. Air purifying respirators with APF equal to 100 must be
				  equipped with particulate filters that are at least 99 percent efficient. Air
				  purifying respirators with APFs greater than 100 must be equipped with
				  particulate filters that are at least 99.97 percent efficient.
c The licensee may apply to the
				  Agency for the use of an APF greater than 1 for sorbent cartridges as
				  protection against airborne radioactive gases and vapors (e.g.,
				  radioiodine).
d Licensees may permit individuals
				  to use this type of respirator who have not been medically screened or fit
				  tested on the device provided that no credit be taken for use of the devices in
				  estimating intake of dose. It is also recognized that it is difficult to
				  perform an effective positive or negative pressure pre-use user check on this
				  type of device. All other respiratory protection requirements listed in
				  10 CFR
				  20.1703 apply. An assigned protection factor
				  has not been assigned for these devices. However, an APF equal to 10 may be
				  used if the licensee can demonstrate a fit factor of at least 100 by use of a
				  validated or evaluated, qualitative or quantitative fit test.
e Under-chin only. No distinction
				  is made in this Appendix between elastomeric half-masks with replaceable
				  cartridges and those designed with the filter medium as an integral part of the
				  facepiece (e.g., disposable or reusable disposable). Both types are acceptable
				  so long as the seal area of the latter contains some substantial type of
				  self-enhancing material such as rubber or plastic, the two or more suspension
				  straps are adjustable, the filter medium is at least 95 percent efficient and
				  all other requirements of Rule
				  420-3-26-.03 are met.
f The assigned protection factors
				  for gases and vapors are not applicable to radioactive contaminants that
				  present an absorption or submersion hazard. For tritium oxide vapor,
				  approximately one-third of the intake occurs by absorption through the skin so
				  that an overall protection factor of 3 is appropriate when atmosphere-supplying
				  respirators are used to protect against tritium oxide. Exposure to radioactive
				  noble gases is not considered a significant respiratory hazard, and protective
				  actions for these contaminants should be based on external (submersion) dose
				  considerations.
g No NIOSH approval schedule is
				  currently available for atmosphere supplying suits. This equipment may be used
				  in an acceptable respiratory protection program as long as all the other
				  minimum program requirements, with the exception of fit testing, are met (i.e.,
				  10 CFR
				  20.1703).
h The licensee should implement
				  institutional controls to assure that these devices are not used in areas
				  immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).
i This type of respirator may be
				  used as an emergency device in unknown concentrations for protection against
				  inhalation hazards. External radiation hazards and other limitations to
				  permitted exposure such as skin absorption shall be taken into account in these
				  circumstances. This device may not be used by any individual who experiences
				  perceptible outward leakage of breathing gas while wearing the
				  device.