Information Notice No.80-19 – NIOSH Recall of Recirculating-Mode (Closed Circuit) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (Rebreather)

                                                            SSINS: 6870    
                                                            Accession No.: 
                                                            8002280674     

                                UNITED STATES
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 
                                     
                                May 6, 1980  

                                                  IE Information No. 80-19 

NIOSH RECALL OF RECIRCULATING-MODE (CLOSED CIRCUIT) SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING
APPARATUS (REBREATHER) 

The NRC has been informed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety 
and Health (NIOSH), the agency that tests and certifies respirators, that 
some of the NIOSH-certified respiratory protective equipment that NRC 
licensees use might have been modified by the manufacturer without approval 
by NIOSH. NIOSH considers such modified equipment not to be certified, even 
though it might bear their test and certification label. 

The equipment in question is the BioPak 30P and 60P, NIOSH 
test-and-certification numbers TC-13F-84 and TC-13F-85, respectively. The 
BioPak 30P and 60P are respectively 30-minute and 60-minute, closed-circuit,
recirculating-mode, self-contained breathing apparatuses (rebreathers), 
manufactured by BioMarine Industries, Inc. Our information leads us to 
believe that NRC licensees have purchased only the 60P equipment. 

NIOSH has issued a "stop-sales-and-recall"  order to the manufacturer for 
this equipment. Licensees who have such equipment should check with the 
manufacturer to determine what action to take to assure that their equipment
is in certified status. 

The manufacturer's address and telephone number are: 

          BioMarine Industries Inc.
          45 Great Valley Corporate Center 
          Malvern, PA 19355 

          Tel: (215) 647-7200