Document dqnBY45Xb3ppQ61Y1bv9VzJR

rtttacnmeiaj. <SffpQHJ> E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company INCOft^eftATCO Haskell Laboratory for Toxicology ano Industrial Medicine Elkton Road, Newark, Delaware 19711 CENTRAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT bcc: J. R. Martin - ER S . W. Dixon* *Without attachment. BOD-144 2 September 14, 1982 Mr. R. T. Stringer Marketing Manager Robertshaw Controls Company 333 North Euclid Way Anaheim, CA 92803 Dear Bob: Thank you so much for your call about the Robertshaw Air Capsule. Enclosed is a copy of Brooks Air Force Base Report SAM-TR-80-43 you requested. We look forward to receiving a report from you that would contain: __ Your recommendations concerning the degree of strenuous'activity that could be safely undertaken while wearing the present models of the Air Capsules. * The status of new developments for the Air Capsule that would increase their protection during emergency use. When received, I would like to pass this information on to the management of the many Du Pont sites that have purchased the Air Capsule. Sincerely yours LFP/dar Attachment L. F. Percival Consultant Industrial Hygiene 6 SAL 000046258 CONTROLS COMPANY Lite Support Produets Marketing Group 333 N. Euclid Way, Anaheim, CA 92303 Telephone (714) S35-8151 Cable Address--Robertshaw Attachment II _ September 24, 1982 Mr. L. F. Percival, Consultant E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Haskell Laboratory for Toxicology and Industrial Medicine Elkton Road Newark, DE 19711 Dear Lance: Received your September 14 letter with copy of Brooks AFB ASM document. It was the document that our Engineering Department had not received from Brooks as of this date, even though we are working on a development program with them. With regard to your two comnents in paragraph two of your letter, it should be pointed out that the NIOSH testing performed on our Air Capsule is based principally on a medium to heavy work load of approximately 40 LPM. This is basically pointed out in Title 30, Paragraph 11.85-10, entitled "Service Time Test, Open Circuit Apparatus," which refers to Para. 11.85-3, para.(b). Man tests were also conducted using the Air Capsule and included: walking at 3 miles per hour; climbing a vertical treadmill; carrying a 45-pound weight; and crawling on hands and kne.es. As you will note in the Brooks AFB report, under medium to heavy work load conditions there was very little trouble by the user. Under severe work load conditions, such as gasping for breath when climbing a ladder or running, some troubles were encoun tered. In other words, the use of the Air Capsule for the application concerned was marginal when used too far from the "safe" tunnel area. Based on the Air Force evaluation and evaluations run for du Pont, we have had two programs going with regard to an Air Capsule improvement program. A. We are in the throes of having a 5-minute Air Capsule configuration evaluated by the Air Force, utilizing a demand valve in the hood in lieu of its present constant flow feature. Becuase this is a demand system we are using coils with increased volume to get the 5-minute duration. In this specific design it will allow the user to inhale as much air as he demands through the demand valve and still maintain sufficient supply in the coils for a 5-minute duration. Air Force tests and evaluations regarding this unit are slowly progressing. B. During the last year we have also been working with your Dr. Olguin with regard to increasing the protection factor to a minimum of 2000 on the Air Capsule design. We are also improving the operation of the Air Capsule so that it will not go negative under heavy working conditions. We are anticipating protection factors well above 2000 and, indeed, approaching protection factors now seen only in positive pressure demand SCBA type units. We have been successful with programs performed at your Antioch facility and are presently in the throes of making additional models for submittal to NIOSH, NASA, and yourself for approval. 7 r::i L. 000046229 CONTROLS COMPANY ___ . Industrial Instrumentation Division Mr. L. F. Percival (du Pont) 2- September 24, 1982 The fact that we went to a higher positive pressure in our hood on the Air Capsule threw us into a different category of Title 30, which has slowed us down. We believe we have this licked at this time, and should be submitting samples to NIOSH, NASA and yourself by January, 1983. Within the next two weeks the writer will contact you with regard to comnents you may have regarding this letter. Please do not hesitate to contact me prior to that time if additional information is desired immediately. Yours truly : nd Marketing Manager Al... OOOO 8 Attachment III Clarification and Comments on the Robertshaw Company Letter RE: Second paragraph of Attachment II - Title 30, Paragraph 11.85-10 and 11.84-3 are copied below: $ 11.85-10 Service time test; open-circuit apparatus. (a) Service time will be measured as described in S 11.85-3. (b) The open-circuit apparatus will be classified according to the length of time it supplies air or oxygen to the breathing machine. (c) The service time obtained on this test will be used to classify the opencircuit apparatus in accordance with s 11.53. S 11.85.3 Breathing bag test. (a) Breathing bags will be tested in an air atmosphere saturated with gasoline vapor at room temperature ( 24o-30eC./75e,-85F. ) for a continuous period of twice the rated time of the apparatus (except for apparatus for escape only where the test period shall be the rated time of the apparatus). (b) The bag will be operated during this test by a breathing machine with 24 respirations per minute and a minute-volume of 40 liters. (c) A breathing machine cam with a work rate of 622 kg-m./min. will be used. (d) The air within the bag(s) shall not contain more than.100 parts per million of gasoline vapor at the end of the test. saj. 00004 6261 9 X These tests do not really address the question of oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide buildup for the wearer during heavy work. Assuming that the vapor pressure of gasoline approximates that of n-octane, the passing of the gasoline test in 511.85-3 above loosely suggests a protection factor in the 130 range. The man tests in the last sentence of the 2nd paragraph are also part of Title 30. They are copied below for a 5-minute unit: Test 1 - walk @ 3 mph for 5 minutes Test 2 - walk @ 1 ft. per sec. on a 15 slope treadmill for 1 minute - walk @ 3 mph for 1 minute - walk 1 ft. per sec. on a 15 slope treadmill for 1 minute - walk @ 2 mph for 2 minutes Test 3 walk @.3 mph for 1 minute pull a 40 lb. wt. 5 feet 15 times in 1 lie on side for 1 minute lie on back for 1 minute crawl on hands and knees for 1 minute minute Test 4 - walk at 1 ft. per sec. on a 15 slope treadmill for 1 minute - walk $ 3 mph for 1 minute - pull a 40 lb. wt. 5 feet 30 times in 2 minutes - run @ 6 mph for 1 minute Some aspects of test number 4 would approach some increased exertion typical of a "running escape." However, these tests are run in normal room air, so protection factors are not determined. RE: 3rd Paragraph of Attachment 2 - This paragraph refers to the Robertshaw Company's assessment of the Brooks Air Force Base study. Enclosed is the actual abstract of the report from which the reader may draw his own conclusions. o <-i I 0000-16262 10