ASTM F1154-99a(2004)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation:F1154–99a (Reapproved 2004)
Standard Practices for
Qualitatively Evaluating the Comfort, Fit, Function, and
Integrity of Chemical-Protective Suit Ensembles
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1154; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) 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
inindustrialsettings,hazardouswastesitecleanup,andemergencyresponse.Asaconsequence,users
are faced with a variety of commercial products and generally depend on manufacturer sales
informationtodecidewhichprotectivesuitsareappropriatefortheirownapplication.Otherprotective
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 Thesepracticesapplytoalltypesofchemical-protective
protective suit ensembles to determine the suitability of the
suits and auxiliary protective equipment including, but not
ensembleinaworkenvironmentonthebasisofitscomfort,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 brackets are given for
1.1.2 Option B is a manned work task scenario intended to
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 F23 on
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Protective Clothing and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F23.30 on
Chemicals. priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Current edition approved January 1, 2004. Published February 2004. Originally
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific safety
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as F1154–99a. DOI:
precautions are given in Section 7.
10.1520/F1154-99AR04.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1154–99a (2004)
2. Referenced Documents sorbed molecules in the material, and (3) desorption of the
molecules from the opposite (collection side) surface of the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
material.
F1052 Test Method for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective
3.1.8 protective clothing material, n—any material or com-
Suits
binationofmaterialsusedinanitemofclothingforthepurpose
F1359 Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resistance of
of isolating parts of the wearer’s body from direct contact with
Protective Clothing or Protective Ensembles Under a
a hazardous chemical.
Shower Spray While on a Mannequin
3.1.9 splash-protective suit—a one or multi-piece garment
2.2 OSHA Specifications:
which is constructed of protective clothing materials, designed
29 CFR Part 1910.25 Portable Wood Ladders
and configured to protect the wearer’s torso, head, arms, and
29 CFR Part 1910.26 Portable Metal Ladders
legs against liquid splashes of hazardous chemicals.
3.1.10 totally encapsulating chemical-protective suit—afull
3. Terminology
body garment that is constructed of protective clothing mate-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
rials; covers the wearer’s torso, head, arms, and legs; may
3.1.1 chemical-protective suit ensemble, n—the combina-
cover the wearer’s hands and feet with permanently or tightly
tion of a chemical-protective suit (totally encapsulating,
attached gloves and boots, completely encloses the wearer by
splash-protective) with the wearer’s respiratory protective
itself or in combination with the wearer’s respiratory equip-
equipment,gloves,boots,communicationssystem,andcooling
ment, gloves, and boots.
device, or some combination of those.
3.1.2 degradation, n—thedeleteriouschangeinoneormore
4. Summary of Practices
physical properties of a protective clothing material due to
4.1 In Option A, the integrity of the chemical-protective
surface contact with a chemical.
suit, its materials and scams, are evaluated by subjecting the
3.1.3 hazardous chemical—any solid, liquid, gas, or mix-
protective ensemble to a manned exercise scenario. The suit is
ture thereof that can potentially cause harm to the human body
inspectedpriortoandaftertheseriesofexercisestoassessany
through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption.
changes in the garment’s integrity.
3.1.4 overall gas penetration resistance, n,—theintegrityof
4.2 InOptionB,thefunctionofthechemical-protectivesuit
a totally encapsulating chemical protective suit to resist the
ensemble is evaluated by observing the ability of a test subject
inwardleakageofgaseswhenexposedtoahazardouschemical
to perform routine work tasks while wearing the protective
environment.
ensemble.As in ProcedureA, the suit is inspected prior to and
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Forthepurposeofthispractice,overall
after the series of tasks to assess changes in the garment’s
gas penetration resistance is demonstrated by the limited flow
integrity.
of a gas under pressure from the inside of an inflated totally
4.3 For each option, the fit and comfort of the chemical-
encapsulating chemical protective suit at a prescribed pressure
protective suit ensemble are assessed by measuring the test
and time interval.
subject’s body dimensions and mass, and the dimensions and
3.1.5 overall liquid penetration resistance, n—the integrity
mass of the ensemble. These measurements can be qualita-
of a chemical protective suit to resist the inward leakage of
tively used to evaluate fit and comfort by relating test subject
liquids when exposed to a hazardous chemical environment.
and ensemble measurements to test subject responses follow-
3.1.5.1 Discussion—Forthepurposeofthispractice,overall
ing each test.
liquid penetration resistance is demonstrated by the absence of
liquidontheinsideofachemicalprotectivesuitwhenexposed
5. Significance and Use
to a liquid spray at a prescribed flow rate, orientation of liquid
5.1 These practices establish standard procedures designed
contact, and time interval.
for qualitatively evaluating the performance characteristics of
3.1.6 penetration, n—in a protective clothing material or
chemical-protective suit ensembles in terms of comfort, fit,
item, the process by which a solid, liquid, or gas moves
function, and overall integrity.
through closures, seams, interstices, and pinholes or other
5.2 These practices are suitable for both end users and
imperfections on a non-molecular level.
manufacturers to evaluate chemical-protective suit ensemble
3.1.7 permeation, n—the process by which a chemical
performance characteristics.
moves through a protective clothing material on a molecular
5.2.1 End users may use these practices to qualitatively
level.
determine how well specific chemical-protective suits and
3.1.7.1 Discussion—Permeation involves the following: (1)
ensemble components (gloves, boots, breathing apparatus,
sorption of molecules of the chemical into the contacted
communications systems, and cooling devices) meet their
(challenge side) surface of the material, (2) diffusion of the
particular application.
5.2.2 Manufacturers of chemical-protective clothing and
equipment may use these practices to determine the qualitative
performance characteristics in existing or proposed chemical-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
protective suit and equipment designs.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
5.3 Procedure A permits a qualitative evaluation of
the ASTM website.
chemical-protective suit integrity (materials, seams, and com-
The Code of Federal Regulations is available from the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20401. ponents) by subjecting the protective ensemble to a manned
F1154–99a (2004)
exercise routine. Option B permits a qualitative evaluation of other should have quick-connect connections. The type of
chemical-protective suit ensemble function. Each procedure connection shall be documented in the report.
can be used to assess chemical-protective suit ensemble 6.9 Ladder—Nine-foot [2.7-m] or longer ladder (the ladder
comfort and fit by relating test subject responses and by should be supported by at least one assistant and used in
comparing the dimensions and weights of both the test subject accordance with 29 CFR 1910.25 and 29 CFR 1910.26).
and suit. 6.10 Tape Measures—Any non-rigid tape measure suitable
for measuring human body dimensions, or anthropometer,
NOTE 1—The accumulation of suit and human subject dimension data
(with graduations of ⁄16 in. [1 mm]); a second rigid standard
may eventually be used by manufacturers or end users in standards to
tape measure for measuring dimensions up to 8 ft [2.4 m].
improve the sizing of chemical-protective suits and the integration of
6.11 Weight Scales—Human weighing scales with a range
ensemble components in protective ensembles.
of 0 to 300 lb [0 to 136 kg].
5.4 The use of these practices is for qualitative purposes
6.12 Thermometer—A standard thermometer or other tem-
only.Ingeneral,resultsfromuseofthesepracticesononetype
peraturemeasuringdevicecapableofmeasuringenvironmental
ensemble may not be comparable to other test results on a
temperatures ranging from −20 to 120°F [–28.5 to 49.2°C].
different ensemble due to the subjective nature of test results.
6.13 Wet Bulb Thermometer or Hygrometer—Any device
5.5 These practices are not intended to assess heat stress
capableofmakingmeasurementsfordeterminingenvironmen-
resulting from wearing a chemical-protective suit ensemble,
tal relative humidities.
although thermal comfort of the suit ensemble may be subjec-
tively evaluated. 7. Safety Precautions
5.6 Endusersandmanufacturersofchemical-protectivesuit
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
requestofthetestsubject,orindicationsofshortnessofbreath,
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,
experiencedintheuseofprotectiveclothing,andwellhydrated
6.1 Fiberboard Boxes—Four standard shipping containers
3 3 3
before performing these tests.
of not less than 1.5 ft [0.03 m ] and not exceeding 2 ft [0.06
7.4 Emergency equipment, such as drinking containers
m ] and filled with a non-hazardous material weighing 20 lb
filled with cold water and liquids such as fruit juices, etc., to
[9.1 kg]. The container shall be packed in such a way as to
replace body fluids, should be readily accessible at the test
preclude any internal movement or shifting of the mass.
area.
6.2 Drum—A standard 55-gal [208-L] drum that is filled
7.5 Theselectionofbreathingapparatusandotherensemble
with 200 lb [90 kg] of a non-hazardous material.
equipment shall take into account the length of the test and the
6.3 Handtruck—A standard, commercial grade handtruck
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,thatmaybeverticallymountedinsuchamannerto
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
thesameheightasthetestsubject).Thevalvehandleshouldbe
following:
a minimum of 7 in. [1179 625 mm] in diameter and a
8.1.1 Type of item (totally en
...