Request for Comments and Scientific Information

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is working to develop appropriate standards and test procedures for respiratory protective devices (RPD) used to protect workers in hazardous environments. NIOSH has initiated a program to update or create portions of Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 84 (42 CFR Part 84) to promote improved performance and reliability of air-fed ensembles (AFE).

The concept paper that will be presented at the September 17, 2009 public meeting is available though this web site at the link below. Comments on this concept paper will be accepted through October 19, 2009. Reference Docket Number 148A for all submissions related to this topic. Interested persons or organizations are invited to participate in this process by submitting written views, arguments, recommendations, and scientific data. Comments are invited on any topic related to this concept paper.

Additional documents related to the development of an AFE performance standard are included in Docket Number 148, referenced below. A NIOSH public meeting, held on December 2, 2008, discussed the development plan for the creation of a subpart to 42 CFR Part 84 to address air-fed ensemble performance requirements. Stakeholder feedback accumulated as a result of public meetings will be considered in the conceptual development of performance requirements and test methods. NIOSH has strategically determined that adoption of all future respirator standards will be accomplished in a modular fashion using the informal rulemaking process resulting in a revised 42 CFR Part 84; thus, the new AFE performance standard will be adopted using this process.

Official comments provided to Docket Number 148A relating to the proposed Draft Concept for Air-fed Ensembles, August 25, 2009, shall be evaluated and be considered in developing the next draft concept and throughout the informal rulemaking process.

Draft Concept Paper; Air-fed Ensembles; August 25, 2009	Proposed Concept: Air-fed Ensembles (AFE) Standard (115.23kb; 12 pages)
Supporting Materials	Development Plan for Air-fed Ensembles Performance Requirements Docket 148
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Public Comment Period

Written comments on the document and resource information will be accepted through October 19, 2009 in accordance with the instructions below. All material submitted to NIOSH should reference Docket Number NIOSH-148A. All electronic comments should be formatted as Microsoft Word and make reference to docket number NIOSH-148A.

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on October 19, 2009

To submit comments regarding this draft publication, please use one of these options:

• Send NIOSH comments using this online form
  
  
• Send comments by email.
  
  
• Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
  
  
• Send by Mail to:
  NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
  Robert A. Taft Lab.
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

NIOSH Draft Documents for Public Review