ASTM F1154-99a

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Designation: F 1154 – 99a
Standard Practices for
Qualitatively Evaluating the Comfort, Fit, Function, and
Integrity of Chemical-Protective Suit Ensembles
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1154; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Workers involved in the production, use, storage, maintenance, and transportation of chemicals can
be exposed to numerous substances capable of causing harm upon contact with the human body. The
deleterious effects of these chemicals can range from acute trauma, such as dermatitis or burns, to
chronic degenerative disease, such as cancer or pulmonary fibrosis. Since engineering controls may
not eliminate all possible exposures, attention is often given to reducing the potential for direct skin
contact through the use of protective clothing that resists degradation, penetration, and permeation.
Chemical-protective clothing ensembles range from outfits of gloves, boots, and coveralls to
totally-encapsulating chemical-protective suits employing self-contained or airline-supplied, or both,
breathing apparatus. The ensemble of a chemical-protective suit in combination with gloves, boots, a
breathing apparatus, and other auxiliary protective equipment can provide maximum protection to
wearers in situations when no contact with hazardous chemicals is permitted. Chemical-protective
suits are often selected on the basis of material chemical resistance, but equally important are the
comfort, fit, functionality, and overall integrity of the suit allowing the wearer to safely carry out his
or her assigned tasks. Few standards, if any, apply to the design and manufacture of chemical-
protective suits. Additionally, protective suit designs vary depending on different end use applications
in industrial settings, hazardous waste site clean up, and emergency response. As a consequence, users
are faced with a variety of commercial products and generally depend on manufacturer sales
information to decide which protective suits are appropriate for their own application. Other protective
equipment such as gloves, boots, respiratory protective equipment, communications systems, and
cooling devices must also be selected and integrated with the chemical-protective suit to provide an
ensemble with adequate protection.
This standard is intended to provide standardized methods for qualitatively evaluating the comfort,
fit, function, and integrity of chemical-protective suit ensembles. It may also be used by protective
clothing manufacturers to assess current or proposed suit designs.
1. Scope suited test subject to perform tasks that may be encountered on
a routine basis in a typical work environment.
1.1 These practices are intended for evaluating chemical-
1.2 These practices apply to all types of chemical-protective
protective suit ensembles to determine the suitability of the
suits and auxiliary protective equipment including, but not
ensemble in a work environment on the basis of its comfort, fit,
limited to, splash-protective suits, totally encapsulating
function, and integrity.
chemical-protective suits, and gas-tight, totally encapsulating
1.1.1 Option A is a manned exercise scenario intended to
chemical-protective suits.
test the strength and durability of the garment material and
1.3 The values as stated in inch-pound units are to be
seams.
regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are given
1.1.2 Option B is a manned work task scenario intended to
for information only.
determine human factor characteristics and the ability of the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-23 on
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Protective Clothing and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F23.60 on
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Ensemble Performance.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific safety
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1999. Published March 1999. Originally
precautions are given in Section 7.
published as F 1154 – 88. Last previous edition F 1154 – 98.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1154 – 99a
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.8 protective clothing material, n—any material or com-
bination of materials used in an item of clothing for the purpose
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of isolating parts of the wearer’s body from direct contact with
F 1052 Practice for Pressure Testing of Gas-Tight Totally
a hazardous chemical.
Encapsulating Chemical Protective Suits
3.1.9 splash-protective suit—a one or multi-piece garment
F 1359 Practice for Determining the Liquid-Tight Integrity
which is constructed of protective clothing materials, designed
of Chemical Protective Suits or Ensembles Under Static
and configured to protect the wearer’s torso, head, arms, and
Conditions
legs against liquid splashes of hazardous chemicals.
2.2 OSHA Specifications:
3.1.10 totally encapsulating chemical-protective suit—a full
29 CFR, Part 1910.25 Portable Wood Ladders
body garment that is constructed of protective clothing mate-
29 CFR, Part 1910.26 Portable Metal Ladders
rials; covers the wearer’s torso, head, arms, and legs; may
3. Terminology cover the wearer’s hands and feet with permanently or tightly
attached gloves and boots, completely encloses the wearer by
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
itself or in combination with the wearer’s respiratory equip-
3.1.1 chemical-protective suit ensemble, n—the combina-
ment, gloves, and boots.
tion of a chemical-protective suit (totally encapsulating,
splash-protective) with the wearer’s respiratory protective
4. Summary of Practices
equipment, gloves, boots, communications system, and cooling
4.1 In Option A, the integrity of the chemical-protective
device, or some combination of those.
suit, its materials and scams, are evaluated by subjecting the
3.1.2 degradation, n—the deleterious change in one or more
protective ensemble to a manned exercise scenario. The suit is
physical properties of a protective clothing material due to
inspected prior to and after the series of exercises to assess any
surface contact with a chemical.
changes in the garment’s integrity.
3.1.3 hazardous chemical—any solid, liquid, gas, or mix-
4.2 In Option B, the function of the chemical-protective suit
ture thereof that can potentially cause harm to the human body
ensemble is evaluated by observing the ability of a test subject
through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption.
to perform routine work tasks while wearing the protective
3.1.4 overall gas penetration resistance, n,—the integrity of
ensemble. As in Procedure A, the suit is inspected prior to and
a totally encapsulating chemical protective suit to resist the
after the series of tasks to assess changes in the garment’s
inward leakage of gases when exposed to a hazardous chemical
integrity.
environment.
4.3 For each option, the fit and comfort of the chemical-
3.1.4.1 Discussion—For the purpose of this practice, overall
protective suit ensemble are assessed by measuring the test
gas penetration resistance is demonstrated by the limited flow
subject’s body dimensions and mass, and the dimensions and
of a gas under pressure from the inside of an inflated totally
mass of the ensemble. These measurements can be qualita-
encapsulating chemical protective suit at a prescribed pressure
tively used to evaluate fit and comfort by relating test subject
and time interval.
and ensemble measurements to test subject responses follow-
3.1.5 overall liquid penetration resistance, n—the integrity
ing each test.
of a chemical protective suit to resist the inward leakage of
liquids when exposed to a hazardous chemical environment.
5. Significance and Use
3.1.5.1 Discussion—For the purpose of this practice, overall
5.1 These practices establish standard procedures designed
liquid penetration resistance is demonstrated by the absence of
for qualitatively evaluating the performance characteristics of
liquid on the inside of a chemical protective suit when exposed
chemical-protective suit ensembles in terms of comfort, fit,
to a liquid spray at a prescribed flow rate, orientation of liquid
function, and overall integrity.
contact, and time interval.
5.2 These practices are suitable for both end users and
3.1.6 penetration, n—in a protective clothing material or
manufacturers to evaluate chemical-protective suit ensemble
item, the process by which a solid, liquid, or gas moves
performance characteristics.
through closures, seams, interstices, and pinholes or other
5.2.1 End users may use these practices to qualitatively
imperfections on a non-molecular level.
determine how well specific chemical-protective suits and
3.1.7 permeation, n—the process by which a chemical
ensemble components (gloves, boots, breathing apparatus,
moves through a protective clothing material on a molecular
communications systems, and cooling devices) meet their
level.
particular application.
3.1.7.1 Discussion—Permeation involves the following: (1)
5.2.2 Manufacturers of chemical-protective clothing and
sorption of molecules of the chemical into the contacted
equipment may use these practices to determine the qualitative
(challenge side) surface of the material, (2) diffusion of the
performance characteristics in existing or proposed chemical-
sorbed molecules in the material, and (3) desorption of the
protective suit and equipment designs.
molecules from the opposite (collection side) surface of the
5.3 Procedure A permits a qualitative evaluation of
material.
chemical-protective suit integrity (materials, seams, and com-
ponents) by subjecting the protective ensemble to a manned
exercise routine. Option B permits a qualitative evaluation of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
chemical-protective suit ensemble function. Each procedure
The Code of Federal Regulations is available from the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20401. can be used to assess chemical-protective suit ensemble
F 1154 – 99a
comfort and fit by relating test subject responses and by 6.9 Ladder—Nine-foot (2.7-m) or longer ladder (the ladder
comparing the dimensions and weights of both the test subject should be supported by at least one assistant and used in
and suit. accordance with 29 CFR 1910.25 and 1910.26).
6.10 Tape Measures—Any non-rigid tape measure suitable
NOTE 1—The accumulation of suit and human subject dimension data
for measuring human body dimensions, or anthropometer,
may eventually be used by manufacturers or end users in standards to
(with graduations of ⁄16 in. (1 mm)); a second rigid standard
improve the sizing of chemical-protective suits and the integration of
tape measure for measuring dimensions up to 8 ft (2.4 m).
ensemble components in protective ensembles.
6.11 Weight Scales—Human weighing scales with a range
5.4 The use of these practices is for qualitative purposes
of 0 to 300 lbs (0 to 136 kg).
only. In general, results from use of these practices on one type
6.12 Thermometer—A standard thermometer or other tem-
ensemble may not be comparable to other test results on a
perature measuring device capable of measuring environmental
different ensemble due to the subjective nature of test results.
temperatures ranging from −20 to 120°F (−28.5 to 49.2°C).
5.5 These practices are not intended to assess heat stress 6.13 Wet Bulb Thermometer or Hygrometer—Any device
resulting from wearing a chemical-protective suit ensemble,
capable of making measurements for determining environmen-
although thermal comfort of the suit ensemble may be subjec- tal relative humidities.
tively evaluated.
7. Safety Precautions
5.6 End users and manufacturers of chemical-protective suit
7.1 A safety monitor shall be present during all testing
ensembles should consider these practices to be minimum
specified in this test method. The safety monitor shall continu-
procedures for evaluating protective ensemble performance
ously observe the condition of the test subject.
characteristics. Users of these practices may wish to consider
7.2 Testing shall be stopped and the subject removed from
additional tests and procedure that relate directly to their
the protective ensemble for any of the following reasons:
particular application. Each facility performing these practices
request of the test subject, or indications of shortness of breath,
should establish its own criteria for assessing acceptable
difficulty in breathing, fatigue, flushed face, profuse sweating,
ensemble performance.
erratic movements, coughing, nausea, or cramps in the test
subject.
6. Apparatus
7.3 Test subjects should be in good physical condition,
6.1 Fiberboard Boxes—Four standard shipping containers
experienced in the use of protective clothing, and well hydrated
3 3 3
of not less than 1.5 ft (0.03 m ) and not exceeding 2 ft (0.06
before performing these tests.
m ) and filled with a non-hazardous material weighing 20 lbs
7.4 Emergency equipment, such as drinking containers
(9.1 kg). The container shall be packed in such a way as to
filled with cold water and liquids such as fruit juices, etc., to
preclude any internal movement or shifting of the mass.
replace body fluids, should be readily accessible at the test
6.2 Drum—A standard 55-gal (208-L) drum that is filled
area.
with 200 lb (90 kg) of a non-hazardous material.
7.5 The selection of breathing apparatus and other ensemble
6.3 Handtruck—A standard, commercial grade handtruck equipment shall take into account the length of the test and the
burden on the test subject.
that is typically employed for the transportation of 55-gal
(208-L) drums.
8. Procedures
6.4 Valve—Any standard handwheel valve, or similar rep-
8.1 Select the chemical-protective suit and ensemble com-
resentation, that may be vertically mounted in such a manner to
ponents to be used during test. Record applicable suit/
provide actuation in the overhead position (placed at least at
equipment data for each item including, but not limited to the
the same height as the test subject). The valve handle should be
following:
a minimum of 7 in. (1179 6 25 mm) in diameter and a
8.1.1 Type of item (totally encapsulating chemical-
maximum of 8 in. (203 mm) in diameter.
protective suit, splash-protective suit, breathing apparatus,
6.5 Wren
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