scope:

This standard shall specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for utility technical rescue protective, rescue and recovery technical rescue protective, and chemicals, biological agents, and radiological particulate [also known as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) technical rescue] ensembles and the individual ensemble elements, including garments, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components, that are compliant with NFPA1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents.

This standard shall also specify requirements for urban search and rescue (USAR) operation protective ensembles, ensemble elements, clothing, and equipment certified as compliant with the 2001 edition of NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents.

This standard shall not specify requirements for other organizational programs such as appropriate use of technical rescue protective ensembles for training, operations, or infection control, because these programs are under the jurisdiction of other NFPA standards.

This standard shall not apply to protective ensembles or protective clothing that is compliant with NFPA1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting; NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting; NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor- Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies; NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies; NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents; and NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations.

This standard shall not be construed as addressing all the safety concerns associated with the use of compliant protective ensembles or ensemble elements. The persons and organizations that use compliant protective ensembles or ensemble elements shall be responsible for establishing safety and health practices and for determining the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

This standard shall not be construed as addressing all the safety concerns, if any, associated with the use of this standard by testing or repair facilities. The persons and organizations that use this standard shall be responsible for conducting testing of protective ensembles or ensemble elements to establish safety and health practices and for determining the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to using this standard for any designing, manufacturing, and testing.

Nothing herein shall restrict any jurisdiction from exceeding these minimum requirements.

Purpose.

The purpose of this standard shall be to establish a program for utility technical rescue, rescue and recovery technical rescue, and CBRN technical rescue protective ensembles and ensemble elements to reduce the safety risks and potential health risks associated with poorly maintained, contaminated, or damaged protective ensembles and ensemble elements.

The purpose of this standard shall also be to establish basic criteria for selection, inspection, cleaning, decontamination, repair, storage, and retirement of utility technical rescue, rescue and recovery technical rescue, and CBRN technical rescue protective ensembles and ensemble elements.