May 9, 2019

NIOSH Updates Standard Testing Procedure for SCBA

NIOSH has updated the standard testing procedure for the determination of facepiece carbon dioxide concentration levels for self-contained breathing apparatus. The purpose of the document is to establish the standard procedure for ensuring that SCBA submitted to the agency for approval or extension of approval meet the minimum certification standards for carbon dioxide concentration. The document also applies to SCBA examined during certified product audits.

NIOSH’s procedure is intended to describe the test in sufficient detail so that a person who is knowledgeable in the appropriate technical field can select equipment with the necessary resolution, conduct the test, and determine whether the product passes the test.

A PDF copy of the revised procedure, dated April 22, 2019, is available from NIOSH’s website. More information on standard respirator testing procedures is available from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory.