Changes to Respirator Certification Procedures

Letter to All Respirator Manufacturers

June 18, 2015

Subject: Changes to Respirator Certification Procedures

In response to stakeholder recommendations, the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) intends to make the following changes to the respirator certification program:

• To expedite the issuance of the final approval, final approval letters and labels will be emailed to the applicant
• Due to the newly instituted annual product audit fees, the “default-to-test” program will be discontinued
• Due to feedback received from approval holders, the monthly replacement report will be discontinued

Unless we receive expressed concerns, these proposals will go into effect on October 1, 2015.

Additionally, NPPTL requests manufacturer input on the Standard Application Procedures (SAP). A three phase update program has been initiated. The first phase, which incorporates the revised fee information, was implemented on May 15, 2015. The second phase will incorporate chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) respirator and closed-circuit escape respirator (CCER) application information. The target date for publication is on or before September 1, 2015. The final phase of the update, which is targeted for publication by the end of the year, will incorporate stakeholder recommendations. Please submit your recommendations to me at dchirdon@cdc.gov no later than August 31, 2015.

Sincerely yours,

David Chirdon
Chief, Conformity Verification and Standards Development Branch

Letter [PDF - 220 KB]