Technologies for the Next Generation Closed-Circuit Escape Respirators

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fernando R
• Description:
  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) is leading an effort to develop the next generation of self-escape breathing apparatus for egress from confined spaces in emergency scenarios. A backpack style closed-circuit mine escape respirator design was one configuration explored as part of the research imperative directed by the 2006 MINER Act. Stakeholder feedback from MSHA and at the NIOSH Breathing Air Supply Partnership Meeting indicated a smaller belt worn unit that does not sacrifice performance is desirable. This paper outlines some further technology advancements that may be investigated toward developing such a small-sized respirator. Technologies being considered are novel chemicals for improved carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption and oxygen (O2) production, eliminating a dedicated CO2 scrubber by incorporating its function in the spaces of the respirator's breathing loop and storing O2 in a liquid form with long standby capabilities. When these technologies are applied to a future design, there is the possibility of having an escape respirator that can be belt worn and capable of being certified to 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 84 standards, including sub-part O for escape purposes including mine escape. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carbon Dioxide Confined Spaces Emergencies Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Oxygen Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Carbon Dioxide Confined Spaces Emergency Equipment Exposure Levels Respirator Research Respirators Respiratory Equipment Respiratory Protective Equipment Risk Factors SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

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• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Minnesota ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052022
• Citation:
  2018 SME Annual Meeting, February 25-28, 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, preprint 18-099. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2018 Feb; :1-3
• Contact Point Address:
  R. Fernando, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon dioxide (CAS RN 124-38-9) ; Oxygen (CAS RN 7782-44-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  2018 SME Annual Meeting, February 25-28, 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, preprint 18-099
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:15f2d38d9fc8564418667c47de947886a31a1791335e4bc46c9c3da0c903a5abc0bd0936ee0890ad1e81da79bed194ff68814411bc5b6c9416959a1b5251f1da
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211644/cdc_211644_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 185.74 KB ]