A novel method for designing and fabricating low-cost facepiece prototypes

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brown DW ; Joe PS ; Lungu CT ; Shum PC
• Description:
  In 2010, NIOSH published new digital headform models based on their recently updated fit test panel. The new panel, based on the 2000 census to better represent the modern workforce, created 2 additional sizes: Short/Wide and Long/Narrow. While collecting the anthropometric data that comprised the panel, additional three-dimensional data was collected on a subset of the subjects. Within each sizing category, five individuals' three-dimensional data were used to create the new headform models. While NIOSH has recommended a switch to a five size system for designing respirators, little has been done in assessing the potential benefits of this change. With commercially available elastomeric facepieces available in only 3 or 4 size systems, it was necessary to develop the facepieces to enable testing. This study aims to develop a method for designing and fabricating elastomeric facepieces tailored to the new headform designs for use in fit testing studies. This novel method used computed tomography of a solid silicone facepiece and a number of computer aided design programs (VolView, ParaView, MEGG3D and RapidForm XOR) to develop a facepiece model to accommodate the Short/Wide headform. The generated model was given a physical form by means of three-dimensional printing using stereolithography (SLA). The printed model was then used to create a silicone mold from which elastomeric prototypes can be cast. The prototype facepieces were cast in 2 types of silicone for use in future fit testing. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Laboratories Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-purifying-respirators Anthropometry Equipment-design Equipment-reliability Face-masks Laboratory-testing Performance-capability Personal-protective-equipment Respirators Respiratory-equipment Testing-equipment

  More +
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044009
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2014 Oct; 11(10):665-671
• Contact Point Address:
  Claudiu T. Lungu, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
• Email:
  clungu@uab.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Performing Organization:
  University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b90de924356a14b07ce31ad08631b953a0d6c7145e3d85d91dec52f7ad815778442f8eb3d32b6608f5a6489f7723e8d8ee34b5b89471e92673af47bdb8ed105f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199865/cdc_199865_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 639.56 KB ]