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Minimum protection factors for respiratory protective devices for firefighters
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|January 1, 1977
Summary
Firefighters face dangerous carbon monoxide levels, often exceeding 500 ppm. This study proposes a minimum protection factor of 100 for breathing apparatus based on measured exposure data.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Environmental Monitoring
- Fire Science
Background:
- Structural firefighting presents significant inhalation hazards.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen (O2) are critical atmospheric components during fires.
- Previous exposure data for firefighters in structural fires is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify carbon monoxide and oxygen concentrations experienced by firefighters during structural fires.
- To establish evidence-based recommendations for respiratory protective equipment.
Main Methods:
- Personal air samplers were utilized by 72 firefighters during 1329 minutes of structural fire incidents.
- Continuous monitoring of carbon monoxide and oxygen levels was performed.
Main Results:
- Carbon monoxide concentrations exceeded 500 ppm for approximately 29% of the total sampling time.
- Maximum CO concentrations reached 27,000 ppm, with 10% of fires exceeding 5500 ppm.
- Oxygen levels dropped below 18% in only a small fraction of the monitored periods.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of elevated carbon monoxide necessitates robust respiratory protection.
- A minimum protection factor of 100 for breathing apparatus is recommended for structural firefighting.
- Findings support the need for advanced respiratory safety standards in firefighting operations.