DHS Adopts NFPA First Responder Personal Protective Equipment Standards

April 10, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

Three of the eight documents were adopted for the first time by DHS, while the remaining five were re-adoptions of the latest editions of standards currently recognized by DHS.

The standards were developed to protect first responders in emergencies involving chemical, biological and other hazards, as well as to provide manufacturers with the necessary guidelines for designing, testing and certifying this equipment.

The three newly adopted standards were:

• NFPA 1982 - Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1980, this standard was developed in response to requests from the fire service to establish requirements for a device that would sound an audible signal for aid if a firefighter became incapacitated while operating at an emergency. NFPA 1982 specifies minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing and certification for Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for emergency services personnel. The first edition of NFPA 1982 was issued in 1983.

• NFPA 2112 - Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1999, NFPA 2112 provides minimum requirements for the design, construction, evaluation and certification of flame-resistant garments for use by industrial personnel, with the intent of providing a degree of protection to the wearer and reducing the severity of burn injuries resulting from accidental exposure to hydrocarbon flash fires. The first edition of NFPA 2112 was issued in 2001.

• NFPA 2113 - Standard on Selection, Care, Use and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1999, the purpose of NFPA 2113 is to reduce the health and safety risks associated with the incorrect selection and use of flame-resistant garments and those risks associated with incorrectly maintained, contaminated or damaged flame-resistant garments. The first edition of NFPA 2113 was issued in 2001.

The five re-adopted standards were:

• NFPA 1951 - Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Operations (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1997, this standard answers the need for personal protective equipment for fire and emergency services personnel operating at technical rescue incidents involving building or structural collapse, vehicle accidents, confined spaces, trench cave-ins, scaffolding collapses, high angle climbing accidents and similar incidents. The first edition of NFPA 1951 was issued in July 2001.

• NFPA 1971 - Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1973, this standard establishes minimum levels of protection for firefighting personnel assigned to fire department operations including, but not limited to, structural fire fighting, proximity fire fighting, rescue, emergency medical and other emergency first responder functions. The first edition of NFPA 1971 was issued in 1975.

• NFPA 1981 - Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1975, this standard specifies the minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing and certification of open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and combination open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus and supplied air respirators (SCBA/SAR) for the respiratory protection of fire and emergency responders where unknown, immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH), or potentially IDLH atmospheres exist. The first edition of NFPA 1981 was issued in 1981.

• NFPA 1991 - Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies (2005 Edition). Based on work begun in 1986, NFPA 1991 specifies the minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing and certification of vapor-protective ensembles and individual protective elements for chemical vapor protection for fire and emergency service personnel. Additional optional criteria are provided for ensembles and individual protective elements that provide protection for chemical flash fire escape, liquefied gas, chemical and biological warfare agents and chemical and biological terrorism incidents. The first edition of NFPA 1991 was issued in 1990.

• NFPA 1994 - Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents (2007 Edition). Based on work begun in 1998, NFPA 1994 specifies the minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing and certification of protective ensembles for fire and emergency services personnel operating at domestic terrorism incidents involving dual-use industrial chemicals, chemical terrorism agents or biological terrorism agents. The intent is that the ensembles would be available in quantity, easily donned and used, and designed for single exposure use. The first edition of NFPA 1994 was issued in 2001.

"The adoption of these NFPA standards sets requirements that help those manufacturing and purchasing this necessary equipment as well as those who depend on this equipment for their personal safety," said Bert M. Coursey, director of DHS Office of Standards.

In addition to the most recent adoptions, DHS already made use of several NFPA standards, including:

• NFPA 1851 - Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protective Ensembles (2001 Edition). The document specifies minimum selection, care and maintenance requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles, and the individual ensemble elements that include coats, trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear and interface components that are compliant with NFPA 1971. This first edition of NFPA 1851, issued in 2001, was developed to be a companion document for NFPA 1971.

• NFPA 1975 - Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services. (2004 Edition). Based on work begun in 1975, this standard specifies requirements for the design, performance, testing and certification of non-primary protective station/work uniforms and the individual garments comprising station/work uniforms. The document sets requirements for fire and emergency services personnel station/work uniforms that will not contribute to burn injury severity. The first edition of NFPA 1975 was issued in 1985.

• NFPA 1992 - Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies (2005 Edition). Based on work begun in 1985, NFPA 1992 specifies minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing, documentation and certification for liquid splash-protective ensembles, ensemble elements and protective clothing used by emergency response personnel during hazardous materials incidents. The first edition of NFPA 1992 was issued in 1990.

• NFPA 1999 - Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations (2003 Edition). Based on work begun in 1990, NFPA 1999 specifies the minimum documentation, design, performance, testing and certification requirements for new single-use and new multiple-use emergency medical protective clothing, including garments, gloves, footwear and face protection devices used by fire and emergency services personnel during emergency medical operations. The purpose of the standard is to establish a minimum level of protection from contact with blood and body fluid-borne pathogens for personnel performing patient care during emergency medical operations. The first edition of NFPA 1999 was issued in 1992.

• NFPA 1976 - Standard on Protective Ensemble for Proximity Fire Fighting. NFPA incorporated NFPA 1976, which was previously adopted by DHS, into the 2007 edition of NFPA 1971.

• NFPA 1852 - Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) (2002 Edition). NFPA 1852 establishes procedures as part of a program to provide care and maintenance for open-circuit SCBA and combination SCBA/SAR in order to reduce the safety risks and potential health risks associated with poorly maintained, contaminated or damaged SCBA. NFPA 1852 was first issued in 2002.

All NFPA safety codes and standards are developed through a process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).