Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Title 105 CMR 120.000 - The Control of Radiation › REPORTS › Section 120.295 - Appendix A - Assigned (APF) Protection Factors for Respirators[a]

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Operating Mode
Assigned Protection Factors
I. Air purifying respirators
								(Particulateb
								only)c
Filtering faceplate
								disposabled..........
Negative Pressure.............
(d)
Facepiece, halfe
								......................
Negative Pressure.............
10
Facepiece, full
								.......................
Negative Pressure.............
100
Facepiece,..........................
Powered air-purifying respirators
50
Facepiece, full
								.......................
Powered air-purifying respirators
1000
Helmet/hood........................
Powered air-purifying respirators
1000
Facepiece, loosefitting
								................
Powered air-purifying respirators
25
II. Atmosphere suppling 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):
Demand....................
h100
Facepiece,
								full.....................
Pressure Demand.............
i10,000
Facepiece,
								full.....................
Demand, Recirculating.........
h100
Facepiece,
								full.....................
Positive Pressure Recirculating..
i10,000
Facepiece, full .....................
III. Combination Respirators:
Any combination of air-purifying and
								atmosphere-supplying respirators
Assigned protection factor for type and mode of
								operations as listed above
FOOTNOTES
a. These
				assigned protection factors apply only in respiratory protection program that
				meets the requirements of 105 CMR 120.293:
Appendix A
. They
				are applicable only to airborne radiological hazards and may not be appropriate
				to circumstances when chemical or other respiratory hazards exist instead of,
				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
				105
				CMR 120.296:
Appendix B
,
				Table 1, column 3 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 <100 must be equipped with particulate
				filters that are at least 95% efficient. Air purifying respirators with APF =
				100 must be equipped with particulate filters that are at least 99% efficient.
				Air purifying respirators with APF >100 must be equipped with particulate
				filters that area t least 99.97% efficient.
c. The licensee may apply to the Agency for
				the use of an APF greater than one 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 their
				use in estimating intake or dose. It is also recognized that it is difficult to
				perform an effective positive or negative pressure pre-use user seal check on
				this type of device. All other respiratory protection program requirements
				listed in
				105 CMR
				120.233 apply. An assigned protection factor
				has not been assigned for these devices. However, an APF equal to ten 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 type only. No distinction is
				made in
				105
				CMR 120.296:
Appendix A
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 seal enhancing material such as rubber or plastic, the two or more
				suspension straps are adjustable, the filter medium is at least 95% efficient
				and all other requirements of
				105 CMR
				120.298:
Appendix A
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 a of the intake occurs by absorption through the skin so that an
				overall protection factor of three 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 atmospheric supplying units. 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
.,
				105 CMR
				120.233) .
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.