The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) proposes to establish total inward leakage (TIL) requirements under 42 CFR Part 84 for half-mask air-purifying particulate respirators, including both elastomeric facepiece and filtering facepiece types. The proposed new requirements specify TIL minimum performance requirements and testing to be conducted by NIOSH and respirator manufacturers to demonstrate that these respirators, when selected and used correctly, provide effective respiratory protection to intended users against toxic dusts, mists, fumes, fibers, and biological and infectious aerosols (e.g. influenza A(H5N1), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) corona virus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis).

NIOSH published a proposed rule on total inward leakage Requirements for Respirators on October 30, 2009 and requested comments on this proposed rule on or before December 29, 2009 (74 FR 56141). On November 18, 2009, NIOSH announced a public meeting on the proposed rule to be held on December 3, 2009 (74 FR 59501).

This docket collects the public comments related to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Information submitted to the docket will be considered in the context of developing a Final Rule to establish TIL requirements for half-mask respirators approved under Subpart K of 42 CFR Part 84.

Information on the development of concepts that led to this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be found in NIOSH Docket number 036 .

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