N.M. Admin. Code § 20.3.4.460

Current through Register Vol. 36, No. 1, January 14, 2025

Section 20.3.4.460 - APPENDIX A - PROTECTION FACTORS FOR RESPIRATORS

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.

Configuration (air purifying respirators only)	Operating Mode	Assigned 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

(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.

B. Air-Line Respirators (Atmosphere Supplying).

Configuration (air-line respirators only)	Operating Mode	Assigned 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.)

(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).

C. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus "SCBA" (Atmosphere Supplying).

Configuration (SCBA respirators only)	Operating Mode	Assigned 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.)

(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.

D. Combination Respirators.

Configuration (combination respirators only)	Operating 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.

N.M. Admin. Code § 20.3.4.460

20.3.4.460 NMAC - Rp, 20.3.4.460 NMAC, 4/30/2009