SCBA Chemical Suits

Emergency responders should have a thorough knowledge of corrosive materials. After flammable liquids and gases, corrosives are the most frequently encountered hazardous material. Responders should have proper chemical protective equipment and SCBA to deal safely with corrosive materials. Firelighter turnouts will not provide protection from corrosives. The most common exposures are contact with the hands and feet, and inhalation of the vapors. Make sure that the chemical suits chosen for use are compatible with the corrosive material. No suit will protect you from chemicals indefinitely they all have breakthrough times. Make sure personnel are rotated to avoid prolonged exposure, and make sure they do not contact the material unless absolutely necessary. Safety should be your primary concern. 

B Pressure-demand full facepiece SCBA or pressure-demand supplied-air respirator with escape SCBA Chemically-resistant clothing, such as one-piece disposable suit or overalls and long-sleeved jackets The same level of respiratory protection but less skin protection... 

Assist with the removal of your chemical suit, leaving in place your SCBA or APR (the PARR will come off with the suit). You may be required to sit for this part of the process (Figure SI.17). 

Level A protection should be worn when the highest level of respiratory, skin, eye, and mucous membrane protection is needed. This level consists of a fully-encapsulated, vapor-tight, chemical-resistant suit, chemical-resistant boots with steel toe and shank, chemical-resistant inner/outer gloves, coveralls, hard hat, and self-contained (positive pressure) and SCBA. 

Personal Protective Equipment Phosgene is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant, and contact with the liquid will cause frostbite. Respiratory protection requires positive-pressure-demand, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), while skin protection requires chemical-protective clothing since phosgene gas can cause skin irritation and burns. NIOSH recommends protective suits from Responder (Kappler Co.), Tychem 10000 TM (DuPont Co.) or Teflon (DuPont Co.). 

Fire Tabun reacts with steam and water to produce toxic and corrosive vapors. Any personnel not fighting a fire of sarin should immediately be evacuated from the area. Respiratory protection is required (positive pressure, full face piece, NIOSH-approved SCBA will be worn). When response personnel respond to handle rescue or reconnaissance, they will wear Level A protection that should be worn when the highest level of respiratory, skin, eye, and mucous membrane protection is needed. This level consists of a fully-encapsulated, vapor-tight, chemical-resistant suit, chemical-resistant boots with steel toe and shank, chemical-resistant inner/outer gloves (butyl rubber glove M3 and M4 Norton, chemical protective glove set), coveralls, hard hat, and self-contained (positive pressure) breathing apparatus (SCBA). 

Fully Encapsulating Suits Chemical protective suits that are designed to offer full body protection, including SCBA, are gas tight, and meet the design criteria as outlined in NFPA Standard 1991. 

Fully Encapsulating Suit (FES) Sometimes referred to as a Moon Suit, personal protective clothing diat provides complete skin, eye, and respiratory proteetion, and includes positive-pressure SCBA. The reader should refer to Chapter 2 for detailed discussions. Refer to Protective Materials. Fumes Solid particles formed by the condensation of vaporized solids, usually molten metals. Particles are much smaller than dusts with typical size ranges between 0.01 and 1.0 microns. Functional Group An atom or group of atoms, bound together chemically, that has an unpaired electron, which when it attaches itself to the hydrocarbon backbone, imparts special properties to the new compound thus formed. 

Vapor-protective suit (meets NFPA 1991) pressure-demand, full-face SCBA inner chemical-resistant gloves chemical-resistant safety boots two-way radio communication... 

PHOTO 20.20 (a, b, c, and cl) The vapor-proof zipper of the Level A suit shown in two views, from a distance and up close. The flap that overlays this zipper is secured by Velcro (c), and then ideally tapped with chemically resistance tape, or in this case, duck tape (d). Since the suit is vapor proof, air exhaled from the SCBA would remain within the suit and expand the suit at some point, the increased pressure would rupture the suit. This is prevented by one-way valves that allow gas (expired air) to exit the suit but prevents any outside atmosphere from entering the suit. Pictures of one valve from both outside and inside the suit (Photos 20.21 and 20.22) are provided. (Author s personal photos taken at Lakehurst, N.J. Naval Air Station. Thanks to Len Dotson, photographer and member of New Jersey Task Force 1 who spent a good deal of time serving as photographer and photographic advisor, and Sergeant Daniel Mitten of New Jersey Task Force 1 of the New Jersey State Police.)... 

Level A provides maximal protection against vapors and liquids. It includes a fully encapsulating, chemical-resistant suit, gloves and boots, and a pressure-demand, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCB A) or a pressure-demand supplied air respirator (air hose) and escape SCBA. 

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