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
rresponders, and performance criteria that allow
industry to adapt the technology to the specific need
and improve where necessary.
Selected Papers
Workshop Objectives.
Bryant, R. A.
What We Know About Particulates Resulting From Fires.
Mulholland, G. W.
NIST Fire Fighter Technology Program Overview.
Bryner, N. P.
