Требования и методы испытаний средств индивидуальной защиты органов дыхания и зрения пожарных в российских и европейских стандартах

Abstract

Due to the specifics of firefighting work, a significant amount of requirements is applied for compressed air breathing apparatuses. Many various test methodologies included in Russian national and European standards were developed to assess breathing apparatuses and their components. Such requirements and test methodologies in the abovementioned standards are, to a certain extent, similar; e.g., the requirement for technical variables, their values, and verification methods as the variables are based on the physiology of human breathing. Requirements and test methods for the ergonomics of products are similar as well. However, there are some differences in requirements and test methods stipulated in the Russian and European standards. It is primarily the climatic design of compressed air-breathing apparatuses and their components, for instance, the front parts. The requirements for the values of subzero temperatures at which climatic tests for breathing apparatuses are conducted are stricter in Russian standards, which is primarily caused by the climatic conditions on the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time, European standards apply stricter requirements for the resistance of compressed air breathing apparatuses and their front parts to the impact of hazardous factors of fire, mainly thermal factors (exposure to open flame). The flame temperature during tests under the European standard is 100 °С higher. However, European standards contain no requirements for resistance to certain mechanical impacts, e.g., vibration. There is a difference in the structural design of the test equipment applied. It can be concluded that most of the requirements and test methods for compressed air breathing apparatuses contained in Russian and European standards are similar. A more thorough analysis to make conclusions regarding the applicability of European requirements and methods for compressed air breathing apparatuses produced in Russia is possible on the basis of comparative tests.