June 3, 2002: Interspiro Spiromatic SCBA First Approved Under New NIOSH CBRN Standard for First Responders
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced on May 31, 2002 the first CBRN- approved SCBA: the Spiromatic 9030, 6630 and 4530 SCBAs produced by Interspiro, Inc. of Pleasant Prairie, CT. The NIOSH web site highlights this accomplishment: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/interspup.html
NIOSH developed this new standard in response to growing concerns about potential homeland terrorist attacks using chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents. The initial focus is on protecting emergency workers in this high-threat environment. NIOSH released this standard on December 28, 2001 and invited suppliers to submit products for approval in late January, 2002.
NIOSH enlisted the participation of DOD (SBCCOM), NFPA, IAFF, IAFC and ISEA along with others from the fire and rescue industry in the development of appropriate test agents and conditions. The NIOSH web site at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/scbasite.html describes the resulting new CBRN standard.
The initial phase of the NIOSH CBRN program focuses on the evaluation of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA): SCBA provide the highest level of protection, are in common use by the first responder community and remain the only respirator design NIOSH-approved for use in IDLH (immediately dangerous to life and health) environments.
NIOSH specified two live agent tests to represent the most challenging hazard exposures: Mustard (HD), a corrosive blistering agent, and Sarin (GB), a highly invasive nerve agent. NIOSH based the test exposure concentrations for both agents upon reasonable peak dispersal models, while basing the allowable concentrations inside the SCBA mask upon established human toxicological data.
By any measure, the NIOSH CBRN standard presents a very challenging test: the protection factor requirements are very high, and agents like Sarin will invade any crack or crevice in an SCBA design. Mustard poses the added danger of attacking polymers and other organic materials, some which of which are commonly used in respirator designs. In addition, NIOSH requires not just one test with each agent, but three—to be sure that any SCBA that passes really passes.
Since January, some SCBA manufacturers have submitted test articles and some have not. Though Interspiro was not the first to submit, as of May 31st, these Interspiro SCBAs are the only SCBAs that can be labeled “CBRN Approved”. Interspiro has also submitted the Spiromatic-S version SCBA for CBRN approval. That approval is pending with further tests.
Interspiro first delivered the original Spiromatic SCBA design, now CBRN Approved, to US customers in 1985. Based upon these results, this classic SCBA design is still very much “state of the art” in so many ways. As you look to select new SCBAs for your department, and yourself, keep the CBRN approvals in mind: Why would anyone buy a non-CBRN SCBA, when there are better, more capable SCBA available? Please contact our local distributor, or contact us directly, for more information:
Interspiro, Inc. 31 Business Park Drive, Branford, CT 06405
Phone: (203) 481-3899 Fax: (203) 483-1879