Collection of SANS standards in electronic format (PDF)
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I agree with the above
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Compulsory Specification for
Breathing apparatus
Published by Government Notice No. R. 370 (Government Gazette 25040)
of 20 March 2003
ICS 13.340.30
VC 8073:2003
Ed. 1
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
16 No. 25040 GOVERNMENT GI\ZETIE, 20 MARCH 2003
No. R. 370 20 March 2003
STANDARDS ACT, 1993
COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR BREATHING APPARATUS
I, Alexander Erwin, Minister of Trade and Industry, hereby under Section 22 of the Standards Act,
1993 (Act No. 29 of 1993), and on the recommendation of the Council of the South African
Bureau of Standards, withdraw the compulsory specification for breathing apparatus as published
by Government Notice No. R2250 (Government Gazette No. 12751) of 21 September 1990. and
declare the specification for breathing apparatus as set out in the Schedule to be a compulsory
specification, with effect from the date two (2) months after the date of publication of this notice.
A. ERWIN
Minister of Trade and Industry
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
STAATSKOERANT. 20 MAART 2003 No.25040 17
SCHEDULE
COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR BREATHING APPARATUS
1 Scope
1.1 This specification covers the following types of breathing apparatus for personal respiratory protection:
a) self-contained open-circuit compressed-air type;
b) fresh-air hose for use with full face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly;
c) compressed-air line with full face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly;
d) compressed-air line or powered fresh-air hose, incorporating hood for abrasive blasting;
e) closed-circuit type;
f) compressed oxygen type;
g) closed-circuit type that comprises
1) a compressed oxygen type, or
2) chemical oxygen type;
h) escape type;
i) closed-circuit compressed oxygen type for special use;
j) powered fresh-air hose, incorporating hood;
k) compressed-air line, incorporating hood;
I) open-circuit compressed-air type with full mask or mouthpiece; and
m) open-circuit compressed-air type, incorporating hood.
1.2 This specification covers the design classification of breathing apparatus and the environments in which
these devices are to be used.
1.3 This specification also covers the following details:
a) connections between gas cylinder valves and gas cylinders;
b) threaded connections between the gas cylinder valve and the pressure reducer for devices that contain
oxYgen;
c) oxygen and nitrogen or breathable air; and
d) dimensions and tolerances for connections.
1.4 This specification does not cover self-contained self-rescue apparatus of the type covered in
SASS 1737:2001, Body-worn escape typebreathing apparatus.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
18 NO.25040 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20 MARCH 2003
1.5 This specification does not cover devices intended for use in diving applications.
2 Definitions
For the purposes of this specification, the following definitions apply:
2.1
breathing apparatus
device intended to supply the wearer with a source of breathable air which is isolated from the wearer's
immediate environment
2.2
closed-circuit escape breathing apparatus
apparatus that allows the wearer to rebreathe exhaled air after carbon dioxide concentration has been
effectively reduced and oxygen concentration has been enriched. Is used either with a full face mask or with
a mouthpiece and noseclip. Is primarily intended to be used for escape from hazardous atmospheres
2.3
closed-circult self-contained breathing apparatus
apparatus that allows the wearer to rebreathe exhaled air after carbon dioxide concentration has been
effectively reduced and the oxygen concentration has been enriched. Is used either with a full face mask or
with a mouthpiece and noseclip
2.4
compressed-air line apparatus
apparatus that supplies the wearer with air from a source of compressed air
2.5
escape breathing apparatus
simple short-duration self-contained apparatus intended primarily to be used for escape from hazardous
atmospheres
2.6
fresh-air hose apparatus
apparatus that supplies the wearer with air drawn from a fresh air source with or without the assistance of a
blower
2.7
open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus
apparatus in which compressed air, carried in cylinders, is fed through a demand valve and a breathing tube
to a full mask and exhaled air passes through a non-return valve to the atmosphere
2.8
respirator
device worn over the nose or mouth (or both), intended to protect the wearer from contaminated air by
filtering the outside air before it is inhaled
3 Requirements
3.1 General requirements
A breathing apparatus shall be so designed and constructed that it can supply the wearer with a source of
breathable air which is clean, at the desired temperature and is isolated from the wearer's immediate
environment.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
STAATSKOERANT, 20 MAART 2003 No.25040 19
3.2 Inhalation air temperature
In all the standards referred to in 3.3, where reference is made to the temperature of the inhaled gas when
the breathing apparatus is tested at a flow rate of 35 ~/min, the temperature of the inhaled gas shall not
exceed 75°C (not 60 °C as given in 5.16.5 of SASS EN 401:1993, Respiratory protective devices for self-
rescue - Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus - Chemical oxygen (K02J escape apparatus -
Requirements, testing, marking, and in 6.17.5 of SASS EN 1061:1996, Respiratory protective devices for
self-rescue - Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus - Chemical oxygen (NaCIOJJ escape
apparatus - Requirements, testing, marking).
3.3 Particular requirements
3.3.1 Respiratory protective devices shall comply with the following standards:
a) SASS EN 132: 1998, Respiratory protective devices - Definitions of terms and pictograms;
b) SASS EN 133: 1990, Respiratory protective devices - Classification;
c) SASS EN 134:1998, Respiratory protective devices - Nomenclature of components; and
d) SASS EN 135:1998, Respiratory protective devices - List of equivalent terms.
3.3.2 Self-contained open-circuit compressed-air breathing apparatus shall comply with SASS EN 137:1993,
Respiratory protective devices - Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus -
Requirements, testing, marking.
3.3.3 Fresh-air hose breathing apparatus shall comply with SASS EN 138:1994, Respiratory protective
devices - Fresh air hose breathing apparatus for use with full face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly
- Requirements, testing, marking.
3.3.4 Compressed-air line breathing apparatus shall comply with SASS EN 139:1994, Respiratory
protective devices - Compressed air line breathing apparatus for use with a full face mask, half mask
or a mouthpiece assembly - Requirements, testing, marking, and with SASS EN 270:1994, Respiratory
protective devices - Compressed air line breathing apparatus incorporating a hood - Requirements, testing,
marking.
3.3.5 Gas cylinder valves shall comply with SASS EN 144-1:1991, Respiratory protective devices - Gas
cylinder valves - Thread connection for insert connector, and with SASS EN 144-2:1998, Respiratory
protective devices - Gas cylinder valves - Outlet connections.
3.3.6 Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus, compressed oxygen type, shall comply with SASS
EN 145:1997, Respiratory protective devices - Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus
compressed oxygen or compressed oxygen-nitrogen type - Requirements, testing, marking, and with SASS
EN 145-2:1992, Respiratory protective devices - Self-contained closed-circuit compressed oxygen breathing
apparatus for special use - Safety requirements, testing, marking. .
3.3.7 Powered fresh-air hose breathing apparatus shall comply with SASS EN 269:1994, Respiratory
protective devices - Powered fresh air hose breathing apparatus incorporating a hood - Requirements,
testing, marking.
3.3.8 Compressed-air line or powered fresh-air hose breathing apparatus (for use in abrasive blasting
operations ) shall comply with SASS EN 271:1995, Respiratory protective devices - Compressed air line or
powered fresh air hose breathing apparatus incorporating a hood for use in abrasive blasting operations -
Requirements, testing, marking.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
This standard may only be used and printed by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.
20 No.25040 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20 MARCH 2003
3.3.9 Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus (escape type) shall complywith SABS EN 400:1993,
Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue - Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus -
Compressed oxygen escape apparatus - Requirements, testing, marking, and with SASS EN 401:1993,
Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue - Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus
Chemical oxygen (KOz) escape apparatus - Requirements, testing, marking, and with SABS EN 1061:1996,
Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue - Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus - Chemical
oxygen (NaCIO:J escape apparatus - Requirements, testing, marking.
3.3.10 Self-contained open-circuit breathing apparatus (escape type) shall comply with SASS EN 402:1993,
Respiratory protective devices for escape - Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus
with full face mask or mouthpiece assembly - Requirements, testing, marking, and with SASS EN
1146:1997, Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue - Self-contained open-circUit compressed air
breathing apparatus incorporating a hood (compressed air escape apparatus with hood) - Requirements,
testing, marking.
