Virginia Administrative Code › Title 12 - HEALTH › Agency 5 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Chapter 481 - VIRGINIA RADIATION PROTECTION REGULATIONS › Part XVII - Schedules › Section 12VAC5-481-3680 - Assigned protection factors for respirators[a]

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
Operating mode
Assigned Protection Factors
I. Air Purifying Respirators
								(Particulateb
								only)c:
Filtering facepiece
								disposabled
Negative Pressure
(d)
Facepiece, halfe
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.
aThese assigned
								protection factors apply only in a respiratory protection program that meets
								the requirements of this section. 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 Table 1, Column 3 of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 20 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.
bAir purifying
								respirators with APF <100 shall be equipped with particulate filters that
								are at least 95% efficient. Air purifying respirators with APF = 100 shall be
								equipped with particulate filters that are at least 99% efficient. Air
								purifying respirators with APFs >100 shall be equipped with particulate
								filters that are at least 99.97% efficient.
cThe licensee may apply
								to VDH for the use of an APF greater than 1 for absorbent cartridges as
								protection against airborne radioactive gases and vapors (e.g.,
								radioiodine).
dLicensees 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
								12VAC5-481-820
								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.
eUnder-chin type 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 section are met.
fThe 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.
gNo 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.,
								12VAC5-481-820
								).
hThe licensee should
								implement institutional controls to assure that these devices are not used in
								areas immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).
iThis 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.
Statutory Authority: §
												32.1-229
						of the Code of Virginia.