This British Standard specifies requirements for personal protective ensembles intended to be used during rescue, evacuation, escape, hazard containment, decontamination and similar associated activities by first responders, fire, ambulance, police and associated civilian agencies and workers, for protection during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) events.
This standard covers a variety of ensembles intended to provide a range of levels of protection against chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals and materials, biological agents and contamination by radioactive particles. It is assumed that an equivalent amount of protection from radioactive particles will be provided as a result of the protection that is provided from particulate chemical agents.
This standard does not cover ensembles intended to provide protection from irradiation by ionizing radiation, i.e. beta and gamma radiation, and for which no currently available chemical protective clothing will necessarily offer significant protection. Nor does it cover blast or heat protection from a nuclear device.
This standard is not necessarily appropriate for responders to releases from establishments where the nature of the hazardous material is known in advance and where the establishment has emergency plans that include provision of appropriate PPE.
NOTE 1 Ensembles conforming to this standard might be suitable for use in situations other than those involving the specific CBRN agents identified in the standard. Information supplied by the ensemble suppliers or individual component manufacturers will indicate such additional possible performance applications.
Some typical anticipated environments and activities for which the various categories of ensemble could be used are also provided.
This standard identifies categories of ensembles and their associated performance requirements and test methods in order that ensembles can be categorized. This includes both material specific requirements and full ensemble testing.
The performance requirements in this standard might be achieved by ensembles regardless of whether they are of the reusable, limited life or disposable type.
NOTE 2 Ancillary items that might be used with an ensemble (e.g. lifejackets, guns, ballistic vests, hydration systems) and/or their compatibility with the ensembles are not covered by the standard.
This standard also considers compatibility and interface with respiratory protective devices, and application and marking of the equipment, including user information.
Ensembles that conform to this standard are designed to be used with respiratory protective devices. This standard does not identify the specific performance requirements for such respiratory protective devices. However some additional requirements for the respiratory element when it is used as part of the ensemble are included in this standard, for example full system testing.
BS 8468 (all parts), will provide the performance requirements specific to the respiratory devices for protection against CBRN agents to be used in conjunction with the ensembles identified in this standard.
Annex A provides advice and guidance on selection, use, care and maintenance and Annex B provides an informative check list of performance requirements in relation to the Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the PPE Directive [2] in order to assist manufacturers and Notified Bodies in preparing certification against the PPE Directive. Annex C gives requirements for full ensemble system testing for CBRN agents. Annex D gives the test methodology for material swatch testing for CBRN agents. Annex E gives a test methodology for testing permeation resistance to challenge chemicals in droplet form.
