Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 180 - CONTROL OF RADIATION › Chapter 4 - STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION › Appendix 4-A - PROTECTION FACTORS FOR RESPIRATORS[a]

Current through June 17, 2024
Operating mode
Assigned Protection Factors
I. Air Purifying Respirators
[Particulate1Ab
				only]1Ac:
Filtering facepiece
				disposabled
Negative Pressure
(d)
Facepiece, half 
				e
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
				vapors1Af]:
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.
Any combination of air-purifying and Assigned protection
				factor for type and atmosphere-supplying respirators mode of operation as
				listed above.
a These assigned protection factors apply
	 only in a respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of this
	 Chapter. 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 U.S. Department of
	 Labor regulations. Radioactive contaminants for which the concentration values
	 in Table 1, Column 3 of Appendix 4-B 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 assigned
	 protection factors (APF) <100 must be equipped with particulate filters that
	 are at least 95% efficient. Air purifying respirators with assigned protection
	 factors (APF) = 100 must be equipped with particulate filters that are at least
	 99% efficient. Air purifying respirators with assigned protection factors (APF)
	 >100 must be equipped with particulate filters that are at least
	 99.97% efficient.
c The licensee may apply to the Department
	 for the use of an assigned protection factors (APF) greater than 1 for sorbent
	 cartridges as protection against airborne radioactive gases and vapors,
	 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 180 NAC 4-028
	 apply. An assigned protection factor has not been assigned for these devices.
	 However, an assigned protection factors (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 type 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, 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 180 NAC 4 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 National Institute for Occupational
	 Safety and Health (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 as required by 180 NAC
	 4-028.
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 must 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.