The assigned protection factors specified in this section apply only in a respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of this part. They are applicable only to airborne radiological hazards and may not be appropriate to circumstances when chemical or other respiratory hazards exist instead of, or in addition to, radioactive hazards. Selection and use of respirators for such circumstances shall also comply with department of labor regulations. Radioactive contaminants for which the concentration values in column 3 of table I of 20.3.4.461 NMAC are based on internal dose due to inhalation may, in addition, present external exposure hazards at higher concentrations. Under these circumstances, limitations on occupancy may have to be governed by external dose limits.
A. Air Purifying Respirators.
- (1) The assigned protection factors apply for protection against particulate only.
- (2) Air purifying respirators with APF <100 shall be equipped with particulate filters that are at least 95 percent efficient. Air purifying respirators with APF = 100 shall be equipped with particulate filters that are at least 99 percent efficient. Air purifying respirators with APFs >100 shall be equipped with particulate filters that are at least 99.97 percent efficient.
- (3) The licensee may apply to the department for the use of an APF greater than 1 for sorbent cartridges as protection against airborne radioactive gases and vapors (e.g., radioiodine).
- (4) Special requirements and indications for filtering facepiece disposable respirators. Licensees may permit individuals to use this type of respirator who have not been medically screened or fit tested on the device provided that no credit is taken for their use in estimating intake or dose. It is also recognized that it is difficult to perform an effective positive or negative pressure pre-use user seal check on this type of device. All other respiratory protection program requirements listed in 20.3.4.423 NMAC apply. An assigned protection factor has not been assigned for these devices. However, an APF equal to 10 may be used if the licensee can demonstrate a fit factor of at least 100 by use of a validated or evaluated, qualitative or quantitative fit test.
- (5) Special requirements and indications for half facepiece, negative pressure respirators. The requirements in this paragraph apply to the under-chin configuration only. No distinction is made in this section between elastomeric half-masks with replaceable cartridges and those designed with the filter medium as an integral part of the facepiece (e.g., disposable or reusable disposable). Both types are acceptable so long as the seal area of the latter contains some substantial type of seal-enhancing material such as rubber or plastic, the two or more suspension straps are adjustable, the filter medium is at least 95 percent efficient and all other requirements of this part are met.
Configuration (air purifying respirators only) 0B0BOperating Mode 1B1BAssigned Protection Factors Filtering facepiece disposable. (Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.) Negative Pressure (Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.) Facepiece, half (Refer to paragraph (5) of this subsection.) Negative Pressure 10 Facepiece, full Negative Pressure 100 Facepiece, half Power air-purifying respirators 50 Facepiece, full Power air-purifying respirators 1000 Helmet/hood Power air-purifying respirators 1000 Facepiece, loose-fitting Power air-purifying respirators 25
Configuration
(air purifying respirators only)
Filtering facepiece disposable.
(Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
Negative Pressure
(Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
Facepiece, half
(Refer to paragraph (5) of this subsection.)
Negative Pressure
10
Facepiece, full
Negative Pressure
100
Facepiece, half
Power air-purifying respirators
50
Facepiece, full
Power air-purifying respirators
1000
Helmet/hood
Power air-purifying respirators
1000
Facepiece, loose-fitting
Power air-purifying respirators
25
B. Air-Line Respirators (Atmosphere Supplying).
- (1) The assigned protection factors apply for protection against particulate, gases and vapors.
- (2) The assigned protection factors for gases and vapors are not applicable to radioactive contaminants that present an absorption or submersion hazard. For tritium oxide vapor, approximately one-third of the intake occurs by absorption through the skin so that an overall protection factor of 3 is appropriate when atmosphere-supplying respirators are used to protect against tritium oxide. Exposure to radioactive noble gases is not considered a significant respiratory hazard, and protective actions for these contaminants should be based on external (submersion) dose considerations.
- (3) Special requirements and indications for suits. No national institute for occupational safety and health (NIOSH) approval schedule is currently available for atmosphere supplying suits. This equipment may be used in an acceptable respiratory protection program as long as all the other minimum program requirements, with the exception of fit testing, are met (see 20.3.4.423 NMAC).
Configuration (air-line respirators only) 2B2BOperating Mode 3B3BAssigned Protection Factors Facepiece, half Demand 10 Facepiece, half Continuous Flow 50 Facepiece, half Pressure Demand 50 Facepiece, full Demand 100 Facepiece, full Continuous Flow 1000 Facepiece, full Pressure Demand 1000 Helmet/hood Continuous 1000 Facepiece, loose-fitting Continuous 25 Suit Continuous (Refer to Paragraph (3) of this subsection.)
Configuration
(air-line respirators only)
Facepiece, half
Demand
10
Facepiece, half
Continuous Flow
50
Facepiece, half
Pressure Demand
50
Facepiece, full
Demand
100
Facepiece, full
Continuous Flow
1000
Facepiece, full
Pressure Demand
1000
Helmet/hood
Continuous
1000
Facepiece, loose-fitting
Continuous
25
Suit
Continuous
(Refer to Paragraph (3) of this subsection.)
C. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus “SCBA” (Atmosphere Supplying).
- (1) The assigned protection factors apply for protection against particulate, gases and vapors.
- (2) The assigned protection factors for gases and vapors are not applicable to radioactive contaminants that present an absorption or submersion hazard. For tritium oxide vapor, approximately one-third of the intake occurs by absorption through the skin so that an overall protection factor of 3 is appropriate when atmosphere-supplying respirators are used to protect against tritium oxide. Exposure to radioactive noble gases is not considered a significant respiratory hazard, and protective actions for these contaminants should be based on external (submersion) dose considerations.
- (3) Special requirements and indications for demand and demand-recirculating self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The licensee should implement institutional controls to assure that these devices are not used in areas immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).
- (4) Special requirements and indications for pressure demand and positive pressure recirculating self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). This type of respirator may be used as an emergency device in unknown concentrations for protection against inhalation hazards. External radiation hazards and other limitations to permitted exposure such as skin absorption shall be taken into account in these circumstances. This device may not be used by any individual who experiences perceptible outward leakage of breathing gas while wearing the device.
Configuration (SCBA respirators only) 4B4BOperating Mode 5B5BAssigned Protection Factors Facepiece, full Demand 100 (Refer to Paragraph (3) of this subsection.) Facepiece, full Pressure Demand 10,000 (Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.) Facepiece, full Demand-Recirculating 100 (Refer to Paragraph (3) of this subsection.) Facepiece, full Positive Pressure Recirculating 10,000 (Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
Configuration
(SCBA respirators only)
Facepiece, full
Demand
100 (Refer to Paragraph (3) of this subsection.)
Facepiece, full
Pressure Demand
10,000 (Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
Facepiece, full
Demand-Recirculating
100 (Refer to Paragraph (3) of this subsection.)
Facepiece, full
Positive Pressure Recirculating
10,000 (Refer to Paragraph (4) of this subsection.)
D. Combination Respirators.
Configuration (combination respirators only) 6B6BOperating Mode and Assigned Protection Factors Any combination of air-purifying and atmosphere-supplying respirators Assigned protection factor for type and mode of operation as listed above.
Configuration
(combination respirators only)
Any combination of air-purifying and atmosphere-supplying respirators
Assigned protection factor for type and mode of operation as listed above.