1986: Standard on Respiratory Protection Equipment for Tactical and Technical Operations

Help keep law enforcement and tactical operations response personnel safe with NFPA 1986, Standard on Respiratory Protection Equipment for Tactical and Technical Operations.

NFPA 1986 is vital for anyone responsible for the safety of personnel engaged in law enforcement, tactical operations, confined space rescue, disaster response, or similar challenges. It specifies the minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing, and certification of new compressed breathing air open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and compressed breathing air combination open-circuit SCBA, including the supplied air respirators (SARs) that are also known as “combination SCBA/SARs.” Requirements also cover the replacement parts, components, and accessories for these respirators.

New for the 2023 edition of NFPA 1986, Standard on Respiratory Protection Equipment for Tactical and Technical Operations:

• The cold temperature exposure conditions language has been revised for consistency with NFPA 1987, Standard on Combination Unit Respirator Systems for Tactical and Technical Operations.
• Various test methods, including chemical challenges, have been updated and clarified.
• The defined terms breathing air cylinder and cylinder have been replaced with breathing air pressure vessel throughout the standard.

Chapters also address the following:

• Certification and recertification, manufacturers’ quality assurance, safety alerts, and recall systems
• Labeling and information
• Design requirements, including optional HUD design requirements and optional Rapid Intervention Crew/Company Universal Air Connection (RIC UAC) design requirements
• Performance requirements; airflow, environmental temperature, vibration resistance, corrosion resistance, etc.
• Test methods
• Annexes with explanatory material and a surrogate cylinder preparation procedure

NFPA 1986, Standard on Respiratory Protection Equipment for Tactical and Technical Operations, is essential for law enforcement and tactical operations, as well as equipment manufacturers, certifying authorities, purchasers, and authorities having jurisdiction.

Help provide respiratory protection of emergency services personnel in law enforcement, tactical operations, confined space rescue, and other emergency response in atmospheres that are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) with NFPA 1986.