(FFPE) with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Rescue

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
This report provides the Incident Commander with an understanding of the protection afforded
by standard firefighter protective ensembles (FFPE) and the associated risks involved if the
ensemble is worn while performing rescue operations at the scene of a terrorist incident
involving the use of military chemical warfare agents. FFPE, as discussed in this report, consists
of standard turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
This report supersedes the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM)
Domestic Preparedness Report titled Guidelines for Incident Commander’s Use of Firefighter
Protective Ensemble (FFPE) with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Rescue
Operations During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident dated August 1999.
This report updates the previously conducted analysis, based on the newly published chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) standards and input from the fire service. Although
this report provides hazard awareness for performing quick rescue in chemical agent
contamination using FFPE with SCBA, this protective equipment provides less chemical
protection than is required for certification under existing CBRN standards, including the
NIOSH CBRN Standard for Self-Contained Breathing Respirators (SCBA) for Emergency
Workers in Terrorist Attacks, and NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for
Chemical/Biological Terrorism Incidents.
When firefighters use FFPE with SCBA to perform quick rescue under the operational
restrictions in this report, they are subject to greater risk of chemical effects than they are if
they use protective equipment fully certified under existing CBRN standards. SBCCOM
recommends that fire departments obtain CBRN-certified chemical protective equipment for use
in hazardous chemical operations. When available, CBRN–certified chemical protective
equipment should be worn instead of turnout gear, in operations involving hazardous chemicals.
This report addresses situations when firefighters are not aware that a chemical agent hazard
exists, or when certified chemical protective equipment is not available at the emergency scene.
For these situations, this report gives operational restrictions, which limit potential exposure
times for firefighters, who are wearing FFPE with SCBA, while they perform initial
reconnaissance of the scene and quick rescue of living victims. This report also describes the
chemical effects that firefighters possibly will experience as a result of chemical exposures
occurring during these restricted operations.
Background
Under the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Legislation (Fiscal Year 1997 Defense
Authorization Bill, Public Law 104-201, Sep 1996) the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological
Chemical Command (SBCCOM) conducted an assessment of the protection afforded by standard
FFPE, when used in responding to a terrorist act using military chemical warfare agents.
The SBCCOM Improved Response Program (IRP) conducted the initial assessment of FFPE in
order to answer questions from the fire community regarding the risks associated with
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