Overview of DHS, NIST/OLES, NIJ and IAB PPE Efforts

8th Annual Technologies For Critical Incident

Preparedness ConferenceSeptember 6, 2006

Office of Law Enforcement StandardsNational Institute of Standards and Technology

Establish performancestandards and equipment

testing programs forcritical equipment

• Program began in 1999 with initial funding provided by NIJ

• Enhance public safety by promulgating standards for CBRNE protective equipment that ensure minimum performance, quality, reliability and interoperability;

• Disseminate standards and subsequent performance evaluations to the public safety community to help them make informed equipment purchases and to guide manufacturers, developers, and the test and evaluation community to ensure product compliance; and

• Link equipment certification and compliance with minimum performance standards to Federal equipment grants programs.

CBRNE Protective and Operational Equipment CBRNE Protective and Operational Equipment Standards DevelopmentStandards Development Program GoalsProgram Goals

The Interagency Board for EquipmentStandardization and Interoperability

(IAB)

The Interagency Board for EquipmentThe Interagency Board for EquipmentStandardization and InteroperabilityStandardization and Interoperability

(IAB)(IAB)Standardized

Equipment List (SEL)

Items essential forresponding to CBRNE

incidents

StandardizedStandardizedEquipment List Equipment List

(SEL)(SEL)Items essential forItems essential for

responding to responding to CBRNE CBRNE incidentsincidents

IAB PPOE SubGroup Mission

To address the issues of personal protective and operational equipment standardization and interoperability and make recommendations for PPE and Operational Equipment based upon threat assessment, operational requirements, and job functions

““Most commodity SubGroups have realizedMost commodity SubGroups have realizedthatthat equipment that falls in the individualequipment that falls in the individual

equipment categories will not provideequipment categories will not providesuitable levels of field performance.suitable levels of field performance.””

1999 IAB Annual Re1999 IAB Annual Reportport

"It is critical that compatibilityissues of equipment areaddressed now, through

nationally recognizedstandards, before the advent

of multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional WMD incidents.“

1999 IAB Annual Report

"It is critical that compatibility"It is critical that compatibilityissues of equipment areissues of equipment areaddressed now, throughaddressed now, through

nationally recognizednationally recognizedstandards, before the adventstandards, before the advent

of multiof multi--agency, multiagency, multi--jurisdictional WMD incidents.jurisdictional WMD incidents.““

1999 IAB Annual Report1999 IAB Annual Report

SELObjective

EvaluationsIndependentPerformance

Testing

PerformanceStandards

TSWGTSWGSBCCOMSBCCOM

TEAM FORMED TO TACKLE TOP PRIORITY:TEAM FORMED TO TACKLE TOP PRIORITY:TEAM FORMED TO TACKLE TOP PRIORITY:

STANDARDS FORCBRN RESPIRATORY DEVICES

STANDARDS FORSTANDARDS FORCBRN RESPIRATORY DEVICESCBRN RESPIRATORY DEVICES

FBIFBIFBI

RespiratoryRespiratoryProtectionProtectionEquipmentEquipment

OperationalOperationalEquipmentEquipment Protective EquipmentProtective Equipment

DecontaminationDecontamination

CommunicationsCommunicationsEquipment Equipment interfacesinterfacesCompendiaCompendia

Detection EquipmentDetection Equipment

CBRNE Protective and Operational Equipment CBRNE Protective and Operational Equipment Standards DevelopmentStandards Development ProgramProgram

Equipment Functional AreasEquipment Functional Areas

Technical Challenges

• Insufficient knowledge about threats and exposure limits

• Existing military equipment not suited for First Responder mission

• Existing commercial equipment untested against WMD

• Existing military equipment untested against Toxic Industrial Chemicals

• Urgency

Standards Development Process

EstablishPerformance

Levels

EstablishPerformance

LevelsBenchmarkAvailable

Equipment

BenchmarkAvailable

Equipment

Review &ValidateStandard &

Test Methods

Review &ValidateStandard &

Test Methods

Identify & CertifyTest Labs.

Identify & CertifyTest Labs.

DevelopUser Guidance & Tng

DevelopUser Guidance & Tng

Maintain/UpdateStandard & Database

Maintain/UpdateStandard & Database

Determine•Equipment Use

•Operational Factors

• End Points

Determine•Equipment Use

•Operational Factors

• End Points

Search ExistingStandards and Test Methods**Identify SDO

Search ExistingStandards and Test Methods**Identify SDO

DraftStandard &

Test Methods

DraftStandard &

Test Methods

Requirements Development Standards Development & Research

Test Method Validation

Conformity Assessment Program

Public CommentPublic Comment

Revise & IssueStandard

Revise & IssueStandard

ConductConformity Testing

ConductConformity Testing

AnalyzeHazardsAnalyzeHazards

Adoption byDHS

Adoption byDHS

Conduct ResearchConduct

Research

PPOE ProjectsPPOE Projects

DHS Standards PPE ProjectsDHS Standards PPE Projects

Facemask Leakage Study

Detection Equipment Standards

Permeation Through Nonporous Barrier Polymers

Development of Verification Method for Gas Mask Fit Test

ECBC Support to NIOSH Respiratory Standards

NIOSH Development of CBRN Respiratory Protection Equipment Standards

DHS Standards PPOE ProjectsDHS Standards PPOE Projects

Radiation Protection Ensemble Test Methods Test Method for Microclimate Cooling Systems

Evaluation & Definition of Requirements for Microclimate Cooling Systems

Develop CWA Simulants & Test Methods for PPEEmergency Responder Protection Against TIC/TIMsLaw Enforcement Advanced Protection (LEAP)

DHS Standards PPOE ProjectsDHS Standards PPOE Projects

Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) Technology

Testing and Measurement Methodology for Indoor Localization & User Guide

* Development of Bomb Suit Standard1st Responder Decontamination Standards

Thermal Exposure Measurement Method for 1st

Responder LocatorsThermal Imaging Standards

Urban Search and Rescue Robot Standards

NIJ and OLES PPOE ProjectsNIJ and OLES PPOE Projects

Law Enforcement PPE Standards

Helmet Standards

* Development of Bomb Suit StandardBallistic Resistant Body Armor

Extremity Protection

Bomb Disposal Robot Standards

PPE Standards - Observations

• PPE standards have evolved in response to needs, primarily accidents

• Increasing level of PPE related activities

• Standards development

• Technology/equipment development

• PPE needs articulated by others beyond the traditional “first responders”

• Proliferation of PPE

• Integrated Chem/Bio protection proposed for use in other types of PPE

Compounding Factors

• Is it “CBRNE terrorist threats” or “terrorist or criminal activity, natural causes or accident” all hazard approach

• Boundaries are blurring

• Fire fighters and EMS needing ballistic protection

• Law Enforcement needing chemical and thermal/flash fire protection

• Interoperability and compatibility

• Training, operational procedures and logistic impacts of PPE decisions

CBRNE PPE Standards Pre-9/11

Existing standards provided protection against TICs and TIMswith limited chemical warfare agent protection

• NFPA 1991: Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies (Chem/bio option)

• NFPA 1994: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Chemical/Biological Terrorism Incidents (chem/bio protection)

• NFPA 1981: Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services (not cert for CWA)

• NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting (no chem/bio protection)

• NFPA 1999: Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations (blood and body fluid borne pathogens)

• NFPA 1951: Standard on Protective Ensemble for USAR Operations (chemical splash and blood borne pathogens)

First DHS PPE Standards

CBRNE PPE Standards Five Years Post 9/11

• Protection against TICs and TIMs, chemical warfare and biological agents, and radiological contamination

• NIOSH CBRN Respiratory Protection Equipment Standards

• Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and retrofit

• Air Purifying Respirator (APR)

• Escape Masks

• Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)

• Level A, B, C and NIOSH PPE Standards

CBRNE PPE Standards Five Years Post 9/11

• NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting

• NFPA 1981: Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services (CBRN)

• NFPA 1991: Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies (CBRN protection)

• NFPA 1994: Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents (Revised)

• New test methods developed

• Linked to Federal grant programs

Emerging Standards – Near Term

• NIOSH CBRN Closed Circuit Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

• Calibration standard for quantitative mask fit test

• Bomb Suit standard

• Law Enforcement Advanced Protection (LEAP)

• NFPA 1951: Standard on Protective Ensemble for USAR Operations (proposed integrated CB protection)

• NFPA 1999: Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations (proposed integrated CB protection)

Observation:

• PPE standards are not one size fits all

• Performance standards and associated test methods, by their very nature have inherent capabilities and limitations

• The proliferation of standards with integrated chem/bio protection underscores the need to address specific mission requirements associated with PPE

• Need suite of standards to offer appropriate match of protection with operational requirements

But that is not all…

Multiple systems and capabilities are being incorporated into PPE ensembles

• Integrated chem/bio protection

• Hydration

• Communications

• Sensors

• Physiological status monitors

• Ballistic protection

• Weapons systems

The Result:

• The “Swiss Army Knife” approach to PPE – or is it?

• Systems integration is essential

• Interfaces and gaps

• Equipment add-ons

• Other equipment issues: detectors, communication, etc.

• Operational Concerns

• Audible alarms

• Heat stress

What has Changed?

• Precedent established that mission/operational requirements merit dedicated PPE standards

• Law enforcement community does not currently have dedicated chem/bio PPE standard

• Law enforcement community’s increasing awareness of need for dedicated standard

• SDO interest in developing law enforcement PPE standards

Development of PPE Standards That:

• Ensure compatibility and interoperability

• Meet user’s needs

• Provide supporting documentation and guidance

• Incorporate appropriate level of conformity assessment

• Provide increased level of protection to meet users’ operational concerns

Office of Law Enforcement Office of Law Enforcement StandardsStandards

at theat the

National Institute of Standards and National Institute of Standards and TechnologyTechnology

Building 220, Room B208, Gaithersburg, MD 20899Building 220, Room B208, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(301) 975(301) 975--2757 (voice)2757 (voice)(301) 948(301) 948--0978 (fax)0978 (fax)

http://www.eeel.nist.gov/oleshttp://www.eeel.nist.gov/oles

Phil Mattson Contact InformationPhil Mattson Contact Information

NIST Office of Law Enforcement StandardsNIST Office of Law Enforcement Standardsteltel: 301.975.3396: 301.975.3396fax: 301.948.0978fax: 301.948.0978Philip.mattson@nist.govPhilip.mattson@nist.gov

Department of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Homeland Securityteltel: 202.254.5861: 202.254.5861Philip.mattson@dhs.govPhilip.mattson@dhs.gov

Parting Thought“Whether or not gas will be employed in the

future is a matter of conjecture, but the effect is so deadly to the unprepared that we can

never afford to neglect the question.”

General John J. Pershing