This British Standard specifies requirements for personal protective ensembles intended to be used during rescue, evacuation, escape, hazard containment, decontamination and similar associated activities by first responders, fire, ambulance, police and associated civilian agencies and workers, for protection during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) events.
This standard covers a variety of ensembles intended to provide a range of levels of protection against chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals and materials, biological agents and contamination by radioactive particles. It is assumed that an equivalent amount of protection from radioactive particles will be provided as a result of the protection that is provided from particulate chemical agents.
This standard does not cover ensembles intended to provide protection from irradiation by ionizing radiation, i.e. beta and gamma radiation, and for which no currently available chemical protective clothing will necessarily offer significant protection. Nor does it cover blast or heat protection from a nuclear device.
This standard is not necessarily appropriate for responders to releases from establishments where the nature of the hazardous material is known in advance and where the establishment has emergency plans that include provision of appropriate PPE.
NOTE 1 Ensembles conforming to this standard might be suitable for use in situations other than those involving the specific CBRN agents identified in the standard. Information supplied by the ensemble suppliers or individual component manufacturers will indicate such additional possible performance applications.
Some typical anticipated environments and activities for which the various categories of ensemble could be used are also provided.
This standard identifies categories of ensembles and their associated performance requirements and test methods in order that ensembles can be...