New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 20 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 3 - RADIATION PROTECTION › Part 4 - STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION › Section 20.3.4.460 - APPENDIX A - PROTECTION FACTORS FOR RESPIRATORS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
The assigned protection factors specified in this section
				  apply only in a respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of
				  this part. 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 shall also comply with department of labor
				  regulations. Radioactive contaminants for which the concentration values in
				  column 3 of table I of
				  20.3.4.461
				  NMAC 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.
A. Air Purifying Respirators.
Configuration
(air purifying respirators only)
Operating Mode
Assigned Protection Factors
Filtering facepiece disposable.
(Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
Negative Pressure
(Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
Facepiece, half
(Refer to paragraph (5) of this subsection.)
Negative Pressure
10
Facepiece, full
Negative Pressure
100
Facepiece, half
Power air-purifying respirators
50
Facepiece, full
Power air-purifying respirators
1000
Helmet/hood
Power air-purifying respirators
1000
Facepiece, loose-fitting
Power air-purifying respirators
25
(1) The
				assigned protection factors apply for protection against particulate
				only.
(2) Air purifying respirators
				with APF 100 shall be equipped with particulate filters that are at least 95
				percent efficient. Air purifying respirators with APF = 100 shall be equipped
				with particulate filters that are at least 99 percent efficient. Air purifying
				respirators with APFs 100 shall be equipped with particulate filters that are
				at least 99.97 percent efficient.
(3) The licensee may apply to the department
				for the use of an APF greater than 1 for sorbent cartridges as protection
				against airborne radioactive gases and vapors (e.g., radioiodine).
(4) Special requirements and indications for
				filtering facepiece disposable respirators. 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 is 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
				20.3.4.423 NMAC 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.
(5) Special requirements and indications for
				half facepiece, negative pressure respirators. The requirements in this
				paragraph apply to the under-chin configuration only. No distinction is made in
				this section 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 percent efficient and all other
				requirements of this part are met.