CBRN Respirator Standards Development

Closed-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

To Protect Emergency Responders Against CBRN Agents

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), along with the U.S. Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM), and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) are continuing their efforts to develop appropriate standards and test procedures for all classes of respirators that will provide respiratory protection from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) agents inhalation hazards. A standards development effort has been initiated for the development of a CBRN standard for Closed-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

Public Comments regarding requirements for consideration in the Closed-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Concept Development should be provided to the NIOSH Docket Office:

NIOSH Docket Office
Robert A. Taft Laboratories
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226

Telephone: (513) 533-8303
Fax: (513) 533-8285
Email: nioshdocket@cdc.gov

Concept Papers

Links to concept papers will be posted on this page so interested stakeholders can follow the progress of the standards development efforts.

• Reevaluation of NIOSH limitations on and precaution for safe use of positive-pressure closed-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus – January, 2008 (Docket 0123)
• Concept Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN), Full Facepiece, Closed-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)– November 4, 2005
• Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece, Closed-Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)– June 20, 2005 (Reference Docket 039)
• Concept for CBRN Full Facepiece, Closed Circuit, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)– October 30, 2004