Jun 01, 2007

Two proposed new standards currently being developed by ASTM International Committee F23 on Protective Clothing will each contribute to the safety of protective clothing. Interested parties are invited to participate in the development of both proposed standards, which are WK14247, Specification for Air-Fed Protective Ensembles and WK14442, Antimicrobial Activity of Textiles Following Multiple Launderings with Bleach.
 
Committee F23 will meet Jan. 29-31, 2008, during the January Committee Week in Tampa, Fla. For membership or meeting information, contact Stephen Mawn, manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9726; smawn@astm.org).

WK14247, Specification for Air-Fed Protective Ensembles
 
Subcommittee F23.30 on Chemicals invites users and manufacturers of air-fed protective ensembles to participate in the development of a proposed new standard WK14247. This proposed specification would establish design, performance, documentation, labeling and certification requirements for protective ensembles that rely on principal air supply to the wearer via an air line or air filtered directly into the ensemble.
 
Air-fed protective ensembles include clothing and equipment items needed for dermal and respiratory protection, including protective suits, gloves, footwear and eye/face protection. However, unlike other protective ensembles, air-fed ensembles do not use respiratory protective devices such as self-contained breathing apparatus, air-purifying respirators and supplied air respirators.
  
Despite their use in a variety of applications, performance criteria and specifications for air-fed protective ensembles do not currently exist. The objective of WK14247 is to develop specifications for air-fed protective ensembles that address both inhalation and dermal performance criteria. The proposed specification will combine National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health certification criteria for respirators with separate criteria for suit, glove, footwear and eye/face protection items, materials and components. WK14247 will also provide detailed labeling and certification requirements.
 
ASTM International and the NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory have an approved memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation involving the determination of performance requirements and development of test methods, product specifications, practices, guides and terminology related to worker and emergency responder protective clothing and equipment. NPPTL conducts NIOSH’s longstanding program for testing and approving respirators. NPPTL is currently working to establish respirator certification criteria for air-fed protective ensembles under the Code of Federal Regulations. While the respirator certification criteria will be the responsibility of NPPTL, the proposed ASTM specification will incorporate the physical performance and design criteria for air-fed protective ensembles. In addition, the proposed specification will include certification criteria that will require ensembles to be approved to the NIOSH respirator requirements before certification to the ASTM specification can be obtained.
 
NPPTL staff play an active role on Committee F23 and its related committees. Angie Shepherd, general engineer with NPPTL, will chair the task group developing the specification. For further technical information, contact Angie M. Shepherd (phone: 412/386-5245; dlq0@cdc.gov).

WK14442, Antimicrobial Activity of Textiles Following Launderings with Bleach
 
Antimicrobial treatments often are applied to textiles to impart durable efficacy, reducing the survival and growth of microorganisms on the textile. A proposed new ASTM standard, WK14442, under the jurisdiction of F23’s biological subcommittee, F23.40, would ensure these antimicrobial agents would continue to work throughout a garment’s life span.
 
“Over the last 10 years, the industry has developed many antimicrobial solutions for textiles from a variety of different technologies,” says Tom Tantillo, director of development, Milliken & Co. Workwear Fabrics, and F23.40 member. “These solutions are often deficient in two very important areas: 1) durability over the life span of the product, and 2) compatibility with industrial laundry processing.”
 
Tantillo says that the development of more durable antimicrobials, as well as those that are compatible with high pH conditions and small amounts of caustic chlorine bleach, has created a need to show effective performance of the life of a product under conditions that are typical in actual use. WK14442 would propose testing antimicrobial efficacy after 25, 50 and 75 standard washes. There would be two types of wash standards, one for industrial use and one for home use; both would incorporate the use of bleach as an option to simulate the treatment that is typically found in most industrial laundries.
 
Performance textile suppliers, industrial laundries, security and emergency personnel, trade organizations, consumer groups and other end users are among those who would be able to use WK14442 to assure that the products they manufacture, distribute and use are effective for durable protection against microbial growth on their textile products.
 
Subcommittee F23.40 welcomes participation in the development of WK14442. “We believe the participation of those interested in durable antimicrobials for textile products and in raising the bar for performance standards will be necessary for the successful creation of this standard,” says Travis Greer, senior business developer, Milliken and Company, and F23.40 member.

For further technical information, contact Thomas Tantillo, Milliken and Company Workwear Fabrics, Spartanburg, S.C. (phone: 864/503-6435; Tom.Tantillo@Milliken.com).

Release #7707