Arizona Administrative Code
Title 9 - HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 7 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - RADIATION CONTROL
Article 4 - STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION
Appendix A - Assigned Protection Factors for Respirators[a]

a These assigned protection factors apply only in a respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of this Article. They are applicable only to airborne radiological hazards and may not be appropriate if chemical or other respiratory hazards exist instead of, or in addition to, radioactive hazards. A licensee shall comply with Department of Labor regulations, regarding selection and use of respirators for those circumstances.

Radioactive contaminants for which the concentration values in Table 1, Column 3 of Appendix B are based on internal dose due to inhalation may, in addition, present external exposure hazards at higher concentrations. Under these circumstances, limitations on occupancy may have to be governed by external dose limits.

b A licensee shall equip air purifying respirators of APF<100 with particulate filters that are at least 95 percent efficient. The licensee shall equip air purifying respirators of APF=100 with particulate filters that are at least 99 percent efficient. The licensee shall equip air purifying respirators of APF>100 with particulate filters that are at least 99.97 percent efficient.

c A licensee may apply to the Commission for the use of an APF greater than 1 for sorbent cartridges as protection against airborne radioactive gases and vapors, similar to radioiodine.

d A Licensee may permit an individual to use this type of respirator if the individual has not been medically screened or fit tested on the device, provided that no credit is taken for use of these respirators in estimation of intake or dose. It is also recognized that it is difficult to perform an effective positive or negative pressure pre-use user seal check on this type of device. All other respiratory protection program requirements listed in 10 CFR 20.1703, January 2000 Edition, and published January 1, 2000, apply and are incorporated by reference and available for review at the Department and Secretary of State. This incorporation by reference contains no future editions or amendments. There is no assigned protection factor for these devices. However, a licensee may use an APF equal to 10 if the licensee can demonstrate a fit factor of at least 100 by use of a validated or evaluated, qualitative or quantitative fit test.

e Under-chin type only. No distinction is made in this appendix between elastomeric half-masks with replaceable cartridges and those designed with the filter medium as an integral part of the face piece (disposable or reusable disposable). Both types are acceptable as long as the seal area of the latter contains some substantial type of seal-enhancing material, such as rubber or plastic, two or more suspension straps are adjustable, the filter medium is at least 95 percent efficient, and all other requirements of this Article are met.

f The assigned protection factors for gases and vapors are not applicable to radioactive contaminants that present an absorption or submersion hazard. For tritium oxide vapor, approximately one-third of the intake occurs by absorption through the skin so that an overall protection factor of 3 is appropriate when atmosphere-supplying respirators are used to protect against tritium oxide. Exposure to radioactive noble gases is not considered a significant respiratory hazard and protective actions for these contaminants should be based on external (submersion) dose considerations.

g No NIOSH approval schedule is currently available for atmosphere supplying suits. This equipment may be used in an acceptable respiratory protection program as long as all the other minimum program requirements, with the exception of fit testing, are met. The minimum program requirements are provided in 10 CFR 20.1703.

h The licensee shall implement institutional controls to assure that these devices are not used in areas immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).

i This type of respirator may be used as an emergency device in unknown concentrations for protection against inhalation hazards. External radiation hazards and other limitations to permitted exposure such as skin absorption shall be taken into account in these circumstances. This device may not be used by any individual who experiences perceptible outward leakage of breathing gas while wearing the device.