NFPA 1953

Abstract

This standard shall specify the minimum design, performance, testing, and certification requirements for protective clothing and equipment items, including dry suit, dry suit gloves and dry suit footwear designed to provide limited protection from physical, environmental and certain chemical and biological hazards that are listed herein for emergency services personnel during contaminated water dive operations. <br>This standard shall specify requirements for protective clothing and protective equipment used during operations in contaminated water dive operations. <br>This standard shall not specify requirements for protective clothing and protective equipment used during operations in surface water, swift water, tidal water, surf, and ice. <br>This standard shall not specify requirements for protective clothing and protective equipment for any other technical rescue operation, any fire-fighting operations, or any hazardous materials emergencies. <br>This standard shall specify requirements for any accessories or enhancements built into, attached to, or sold with contaminated water dive operations protective clothing and equipment by the protective clothing and equipment manufacturer for later attachment, and shall be tested with the protective clothing and equipment with the accessories and enhancements installed or attached, as specified in 4.3.9.4, to assure the performance and functions of the contaminated water dive operations protective clothing and equipment. <br>This standard shall not be construed as addressing all of the safety concerns associated with the use of compliant contaminated water dive operations protective clothing and equipment. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use compliant contaminated water dive operations protective clothing and equipment to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. <br>This standard shall not be construed as addressing all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with the use of this standard by testing facilities. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use this standard to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use of this standard for designing, manufacturing, and testing. <br>Certification of contaminated water dive operations protective clothing and equipment to the requirements of this standard shall not preclude certification to additional appropriate standards where the protective clothing or equipment meets all the applicable requirements of each standard. <br>Nothing herein shall restrict any jurisdiction or manufacturer from exceeding these minimum requirements. <br><strong>Purpose</strong>. <br>The purpose of this standard shall be to establish minimum levels of protection for emergency services personnel assigned to or involved in performing search and rescue activities in and below the surface of contaminated water. <br>Controlled laboratory tests used to determine compliance with the performance requirements of this standard shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations to which emergency services personnel might be exposed. <br>This standard is not intended as a detailed manufacturing or purchase specification, but shall be permitted to be referenced in purchase specifications as minimum requirements.