Real-Time Particulate Monitoring: Detecting Respiratory Threats for First Responders. Workshop Proceedings.
Real-Time Particulate Monitoring: Detecting Respiratory
Threats for First Responders. Workshop Proceedings.
(20280 K)
Bryant, R. A.; Butler, K. M.; Vettori, R. L.; Greenberg,
P. S.
NISTIR SP 1051; NIST Special Publication 1051; 105 p.
December 2007.
Real-Time Particulate Monitoring: Detecting Respiratory
Threats for First Responders. Workshop Proceedings. May
3-4, 2007, Gaithersburg, MD, 2007.
Keywords:
first responders; fire fighters; respiratory systems;
health hazards; fire detectors; evaluation; fire
fighting; particulates; dust; exposure; fire hazards;
standards
Abstract:
The overhaul of a fire scene is a stage of firefighting
where respiratory protection is often
disregarded due to the perception of low risk and the
desire to remove the heavy and
cumbersome self-contained breathing apparatus. The need
for alternative options for respiratory
protection that are fitted to the task and environment
has been voiced by the firefighter
community. Choosing the appropriate respiratory
protection for individual events can only be
accomplished with real-time information about the
exposure hazards. Hand-held direct-reading
particulate detectors have been used in other
environmental monitoring applications, and it may
be possible to transfer the technology to meet the needs
of the firefighter.
The workshop on Real-Time Particulate Monitoring held at
the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) on 3-4 May 2007 brought together
members of the fire service,
particulate detector manufacturers, public health
professionals, airborne particulate researchers,
and standards organizations to discuss the need for
better technology to assess the level of
respiratory protection that is required for environments
encountered by first responders. The
program included invited speakers who presented
information on characterization of respiratory
threats during fire overhaul and the need for
respiratory protection, performance needs and
priorities for the fire service application, and
state-of-the-art and recent developments in
particulate detection. After the presentations,
attendees divided into three breakout sessions, and
each group responded to a predetermined set of questions
related to the following topics:
Research Needs, Performance Criteria, Standards, and
Technological Advances.
The consensus of the workshop participants was that
future research is needed to better
understand the health effects of particulates on
firefighters, to better characterize the particulates
present during overhaul, and to better characterize the
response of particulate detectors to the
overhaul environment. Defining performance criteria to
address first responder needs regarding
data telemetry and logging, instrument operation and
data interpretation, and the physical
performance of the instrument were also areas of
consensus. The group also felt that developing
standards for the physical performance of the instrument
was important and that data telemetry
and logging would benefit from developing technology.
The consensus resulting from workshop discussions is
expected to provide a strong foundation
for the development of new tools to aid firefighters in
selecting the appropriate respiratory
protection, standard testing protocols to insure that
equipment meets the needs of first
responders, and performance criteria that allow industry
to adapt the technology to the specific
need and improve where necessary.
Selected Papers
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899