Although the unexpected is expected in the emergency-services world, there are two truths: 1) No two situations are the same; and 2) Never approach any situation lightly.
On any given day, a hazmat unit can be called into action in potentially harmful conditions, risking exposure to toxic chemicals, poisonous gases and deadly biological agents. As such, hazmat professionals rely on their hazmat suits to protect them so they can perform confidently and without worrying about coming into contact with these dangerous elements. Since no two situations are the same, it’s crucial to understand the exact capabilities of a suit’s protection.
Level A & B
The NFPA has created hazmat suit standards so that those who use the products know exactly how different suits are designed to keep them safe in the hot zone. Although NFPA standards exist for the benefit of the users, they’re also used by manufacturers for development of hazmat suits. There are several different categories of hazmat suits, but for our purposes, it’s helpful to concentrate on two:
- Level A suits, which provide maximum respiratory and skin protection
- Level B suits, which provide lesser respiratory protection but maximum skin protection
Since not all situations require extreme protection against the unknown, Level B suits can offer a lower cost option for use in scenarios with known hazards. Departments can save money by avoiding use of a significantly more expensive Level A suit when it’s not needed.
In the case of Level B protective equipment, there are two NFPA standards that a user should look for: NFPA 1994 Class 2 (Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents) and NFPA 1992 (Liquid Splash-Protective Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies). These standards ensure that a user will be protected in a wide range of situations.
Let’s be clear: In today’s economy, cutting back on expenses and settling for less is commonplace, but it has no place in the emergency service industry. Just because a Level B suit can be selected to save money, it does not mean users must compromise on the level of necessary protection. A Level B suit that’s dual-certified to NFPA 1994 Class 2 and NFPA 1992 is often the best option for the best price, and offers an enhanced level of protection for many different scenarios.
Let’s take a closer look at NFPA 1994 and 1992 to better understand what you get when using Level B equipment certified to these standards.
NFPA 1992
NFPA standards represent the highest protection for hazmat suits because of the strict requirements products must follow to become compliant. When a hazmat suit is certified to one of the many NFPA standards, it means that it has gone through hundreds of performance tests following a set of guidelines that have been developed from more than a century of research and experience in the field.
When performing in the hot zone, it’s important to be focused on the mission at hand, not the suit’s protection level. NFPA 1992 establishes the requirement for chemical liquid splash protection when no chemical vapor hazards exist. To be certified to NFPA 1992, the suit goes through rigorous tests to ascertain if it will stay intact and work properly when put in action. The suit material and seams are tested for chemical permeation against seven different chemicals, and the ensemble only passes if the rate of permeation does not exceed the maximum allowable amount within an hour.
NFPA 1992 is one of the lesser used standards, because many hazmat teams concern themselves with vapor-capable protection when responding to spills. However, it’s beneficial to look for certified NFPA 1992 protection if your department is concerned with liquid chemical exposure.
Note: NFPA 1992 is not limited to hazmat suits. The same tests are performed to ensure that gloves and footwear are protected from liquid-splash exposure. Gloves and footwear are also tested for impact and compression resistance, putting them through the same puncture, abrasion and cold weather tests. On top of that, footwear is also tested for bending resistance and slip resistance.
NFPA 1992 is designed to protect the user against liquid chemical splash, but does not ensure protection from gaseous chemicals; this can be observed through its typical configuration, which is an open-faced coverall featuring a loose-fitting, bungee-style interface to the SCBA mask and bottle on the back. Although this design provides essential protection against liquid splashes, the user is vulnerable to airborne hazards if the suit is certified to NFPA 1992 only.
NFPA 1994 Class 2
The NFPA 1994 standard defines design, testing and performance requirements for protective garments used by first responders in a terrorist incident involving chemical and biological dangers. There were originally four classes of protection defined with this standard, but in the most recent edition (2007), Class 1 was removed and incorporated into the NFPA 1991 standard (Vapor Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies). As a result, Class 2 became the highest level of protection within the NFPA 1994 standard.
A suit that is certified to the NFPA 1994 Class 2 standard is used when the agent or threat has been identified and the actual release has subsided. Similar to NFPA 1992 ensembles, NFPA 1994 Class 2 protects responders from direct contact with liquid chemicals. However, unlike NFPA 1992 ensembles, a suit certified to NFPA 1994 is tested for protection against gaseous chemicals as well.
NFPA 1994 protective garments are similar in configuration to NFPA 1992 but can also be configured as a fully encapsulated suit with the SCBA and mask on the inside of the hood. In this way, 1994 Class 2 suits are similar to the design of NFPA 1991 configured suits.
Dual Certification
When a suit is certified to both NFPA 1992 and 1994 standards, it enhances the suit’s usability because it’s acceptable in more situations and will offer more protection than suits that only offer a single certification. Having one suit for dual purposes also requires less storage space, logistics and training associated with the management of two separate products.
As can be seen by the test requirements, the NFPA 1994 Class 2 and NFPA 1992 standards are very similar in nature. Both ensure users that they will be protected from chemical contact, address physical properties of the materials, and are used in similar situations. However, it has been a common practice for Level B hazmat suits to only feature the liquid splash protection offered by NFPA 1992, or even no certification at all. This leaves a severe gap in the protection level of the suit. To put it simply, high-level skin protection was often compromised, mostly due to the decision to save a few dollars.
Believe it or not, many hazmat professionals who inappropriately use these suits create a false sense of security by applying tape to critical areas for sealing mask/suit and glove/suit interfaces. Users commonly wrap duct tape around them to block obvious chemical passageways. This goes against NFPA standardized protection.
Thankfully, there are now some suits on the market that offer certification to both standards–ideal for situations that don’t require a Level A suit, but do call for liquid splash and gas chemical protection.
The suits that offer dual certification feature a tightly sealed mask interface using a gasket to connect the mask to the hood. The rim of the mask fits flush against a rubber lining built into the suit’s hood, stopping gases from flowing into the suit. Not only does this improve the suit’s ability to protect the user, but it also gives the user more visibility and a greater range of motion.
A Final Word
No two situations are the same, and never approach a situation lightly. These two universal truths have shaped the capabilities of hazmat teams and the engineering of hazmat technology. The NFPA has taken this mantra and created equipment standards so emergency personnel do not need to concern themselves with anything other than the task at hand.
With that being said, it’s imperative for hazmat teams to understand the requirements of these standards. Having this understanding not only improves your safety when responding to hazmat calls, but gives you peace of mind in the hot zone. The bottom line: When you truly understand your suit’s capabilities, you can be sure you’re fully protected, and concentrate on the incident, not on your equipment.
