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Design Specifications for Respiratory Breathing Devices for Firefighters.

PB267463

Publication Date	1975
Personal Author	Burgess, W. A.; Sidor, R.; Peterson, N.; Buchanan, P.; Clougherty, E.
Page Count	86
Abstract	The desired protective factor for self-contained breathing apparatus used in the fire service is proposed at 100 based on a series of tests with a personal air sampler which revealed maximum air concentrations of carbon monoxide of approximately 20,000 PPM during fire fighting episodes. A series of 74 incidents was studied using a combustible gas detector modified to be specific for carbon monoxide. The data are recorded on a cassette recorder using a voltage to frequency converter. A study of the respiratory minute volume during active work while wearing open-circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus indicated a median value of 60 liters per minute and 70 liters for the 80 per centile group. If the device is to have a service life of 30 minutes, the stored air capacity must be 1800 liters, and 2100 liters for the median and 80 percentile values respectively.
Keywords	Fire fighting Breathing apparatus Design standards Gas detectors Carbon monoxide Respirators Protection Fire departments Occupational safety and health
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	95D - Human Factors Engineering 43D - Police, Fire, & Emergency Services 57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine
Corporate Authors	Harvard School Of Public Health, Boston, Mass.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio.; Boston Fire Dept., Mass.
Supplemental Notes	Prepared in cooperation with Boston Fire Dept., Mass.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	197718
Contract Number	PHS-HSM-99-72-21

Design Specifications for Respiratory Breathing Devices for Firefighters.

Design Specifications for Respiratory Breathing Devices for Firefighters.
PB267463

Publication Date	1975
Personal Author	Burgess, W. A.; Sidor, R.; Peterson, N.; Buchanan, P.; Clougherty, E.
Page Count	86
Abstract	The desired protective factor for self-contained breathing apparatus used in the fire service is proposed at 100 based on a series of tests with a personal air sampler which revealed maximum air concentrations of carbon monoxide of approximately 20,000 PPM during fire fighting episodes. A series of 74 incidents was studied using a combustible gas detector modified to be specific for carbon monoxide. The data are recorded on a cassette recorder using a voltage to frequency converter. A study of the respiratory minute volume during active work while wearing open-circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus indicated a median value of 60 liters per minute and 70 liters for the 80 per centile group. If the device is to have a service life of 30 minutes, the stored air capacity must be 1800 liters, and 2100 liters for the median and 80 percentile values respectively.
Keywords	Fire fighting Breathing apparatus Design standards Gas detectors Carbon monoxide Respirators Protection Fire departments Occupational safety and health
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	95D - Human Factors Engineering 43D - Police, Fire, & Emergency Services 57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine
Corporate Authors	Harvard School Of Public Health, Boston, Mass.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio.; Boston Fire Dept., Mass.
Supplemental Notes	Prepared in cooperation with Boston Fire Dept., Mass.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	197718
Contract Number	PHS-HSM-99-72-21