Test Procedures cont'd

DOE-STD-1167-2003

of the airflow and the moment that the aerosol penetration reaches values of

0.05 percent, 0.1 percent, and 1 percent. The test operator then should restore

the flow of air to the supplied-air suit, while the suit tester remains standing

still with his arms hanging downward along his sides breathing normally until

the aerosol penetration returns to the value occurring before the flow of air

was terminated.

For supplied-air suits equipped with an escape feature, the supplied-air suit

shall be tested with the flow of air stopped as the suit tester uses the escape

feature while standing still with his arms hanging downward along his sides.

The test operator should observe the increase in penetration of the aerosol

into the helmet of the supplied-air suit, and record the time between the

termination of airflow and the moment that the aerosol penetration reached

the value of 0.05 percent, 0.1 percent and 1 percent or 3 minutes, whichever

is first achieved. The test operator then should restore the flow of air to the

supplied-air suit and the suit tester should remain standing still with his arms

hanging downward along his sides and breathe normally until the aerosol

penetration returns to the value occurring before the flow of air was

terminated.

12.2.6 Determine the average of the peak aerosol penetration values that occurred

during each of the exercises listed in 12.2.2, and record these average peak

penetration values.

12.2.7 Using the values determined in 12.2.6, calculate the average peak penetration

for all exercises carried out by each suit tester.

12.2.8 If required, repeat 12.2.2 through 12.2.7 for maximum and minimum rates of

airflow and length of breathing air hose (if more than one length of hose is

used to connect the supplied-air suit to the supply manifold) specified by the

DOE contractor.

12.2.9 Repeat 12.2.1 through 12.2.8 for each of the suit testers.

12.2.10 If the supplied-air suit is reusable or a part of it is laundered; a reused or

laundered supplied-air suit or part submitted by the DOE contractor should

also be tested in accordance with 12.2.1 through 12.2.9.

12.2.11 The suit should be acceptable in regard to providing respiratory protection if

the average peak aerosol penetration into the helmet of the supplied-air suit

of each test subject does not exceed 0.02 percent for any individual exercise

or does not exceed 0.01 percent for all exercises. This should be true for all

values of the rate of airflow and hose length into the supplied-air suit ranging

from the minimum value to the maximum value specified by the DOE

contractor. For assigned protection factors in excess of 10,000, the values of

0.02 and 0.01 percent aerosol penetration shall be adjusted in proportion. For

example, for a protection factor of 20,000, the value of peak penetration for

any exercise should be 0.01% and for all exercises 0.005%.