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Featured Projects
Focus Area:
Protection
Project Cost:
$1.965M
Project Duration:
18 Months (In Progress)
Performer:
Intertek and International Personnel Protection
Deliverable:
Standardized Testing Procedures and Methodologies
End User:
5th Special Forces Group
75th Ranger Regiment
57th Sapper Company
National Guard Bureau – Civil Support Teams
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Description:
This effort will develop new testing standards and procedures for closed-circuit self contained breathing apparatuses (CC-SCBA) (a.k.a. rebreathers) and combination CC SCBA with powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) systems for use in emergency response and CBRN operations.
Operational Impact:
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) currently has no certification standards for CC-SCBA or for combination CC-SCBA/PAPR systems. NFPA certification is commonly used as selection criteria and authorization for use of commercial personal protective equipment (PPE). Lack of NFPA standards delays acquisition of these transformative/disruptive technologies on anything but an ad hoc basis. Developing these new standardized testing procedures for submission will reduce the time that it would normally take for NFPA to develop them internally, elevate the certification among competing NFPA priorities, and give DoD a leading voice in their development. Once new certification standards are approved, DoD may rapidly acquire commercial respirators with NFPA certification.
Transition:
IWTSD will submit final deliverables to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) for adjudication and proposal of new certification standards.
