ARLINGTON, Va. (Oct. 6, 2003) - The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has published the first American National Standard for air-purifying respiratory protective smoke escape devices (RPEDs), a type of personal protection commonly called a "smoke hood."

ANSI/ISEA 110-2003 American National Standard for Air-Purifying Respiratory Protective Smoke Escape Devices provides design guidance to RPED manufacturers in the form of a detailed set of performance requirements and testing procedures. The new standard also represents a minimum requirement for purchase specifications. Key sections of the 61-page standard cover certification, labeling, design, performance, conditioning and testing requirements. Twenty drawings and two tables amplify the text.

RPEDs are intended for use by persons escaping from fire-generated products of combustion. They provide head, eye and respiratory protection from particulate matter, eye irritants, carbon monoxide and other toxic gases commonly produced by structural fire. The new standard specifies an RPED with a 15-minute service life.

"Many consumers concerned about having time to escape during building fires have bought RPEDs in the last several years," said ISEA president Dan Shipp. "They have also been popular with operators of hotels, apartments, office buildings, hospitals and other large structures that house many people, but have limited escape routes in the event of a fire.

"Until now, there's been no US standard for the performance of these devices. With ANSI/ISEA 110, RPEDs will be tested and certified, and consumers can look for the label that verifies that a manufacturer complies with the standard," he added.

In developing the new standard, ISEA members that make RPEDs expanded upon requirements in existing European, Australian and Japanese RPED standards to include testing criteria and detailed test methods to meet third-party certification requirements. Members of ISEA's RPED Group are Aearo Co.; Bacou-Dalloz/Survivair, Inc.; Brookdale Systems International, Inc.; Draeger Safety, Inc.;  3M Company; Mine Safety Appliances Co.; North Safety Products, and Scott Health and Safety.

ANSI/ISEA 110-2003 is available from ISEA. The single-copy cost is $52 ($27 for ISEA member companies). Discounted rates for bulk orders are offered.  For additional information, contact Cristine Fargo, ISEA manager of standards programs, or call 703-525-1695.

Order ANSI/ISEA 110-2003

Download the February 2006 errata sheet for the first printing of ANSI/ISEA 110-2003.