Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Compressed Breathing Gas Containers; Request for Information

In October 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a special permit to the Digital Wave Corporation, allowing the company to extend the service life of certain carbon-fiber reinforced aluminum-lined cylinders. Some stakeholders, including respirator and cylinder manufacturers, have expressed concern to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about the safety of cylinders extended beyond the manufacturers’ stated service life. NIOSH sought information about the potential effect of the special permit, as it may relate to the safety of self-contained breathing apparatus respirators approved by NIOSH for use in U.S. workplaces.

To view the notice and related materials, visit https://www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2018-0093 in the search field and click “Search.”