Evaluation of the vapor-protection capabilities of the M17 respirator/hood assembly on the USAF ground-crew chemical defense ensemble. Interim report, 21 March-2 June 1988

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7065658

Scott, W R; Simpson, R E

The hood used with the M17 respirator on the regulation United States Air Force (USAF) ground-crew chemical defense ensemble (CDE) may have deficiencies, both in construction and usage, in its ability to protect the neck from chemical agent vapors. The purpose of this study was to quantify vapor penetration under the hood skirt to the neck and measure the effect of this vapor penetration on vapor carry-through into the Toxic Free Area (TFA) of the Survivable Collective Protection Shelter Contamination Control Area (SCPS-2B CCA) facility at Brooks AFB, Texas. Test subjects, wearing the regulation ground-crew CDE, performed light exercises in a simulant vapor (methyl salicylate). Vapor concentrations were measured at the neck with Tenax tubes and in the SCPS-2B with sequential impingers. When the hood skirt was worn outside the CDE jacket, the standard configuration, the mean simulant vapor level at the neck was 29.6% of the outside vapor concentration. Placing the hood skirt underneath the CDE jacket resulted in an 87% decrease in the neck vapor concentrations and a 50% reduction in TFA vapor carry-through.

• Research Organization: Krug International, San Antonio, TX (USA). Technology Services Div.
• OSTI ID: 7065658
• Report Number(s): AD-A-220970/8/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450000* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense
AVIATION PERSONNEL
CHEMICAL WARFARE
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
CLOTHING
DOCUMENT TYPES
MILITARY PERSONNEL
MILITARY STRATEGY
PERSONNEL
PHYSICAL PROTECTION
PHYSICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
PROGRESS REPORT
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESPIRATORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WARFARE
WEAPONS