Mehes, Tomislav

850 Marlborough Drive
Sudbury, ON
P3A 3E9
Canada

The CSA Technical Committee for Compressed Breathing Air has recently updated Standard z180.1.  The committee recommended significant revisions to the Compressed Breathing Air standard in part of reflect industry standards, as well as to bring clarity and consistency.  They proposed to move aspects relating to respirators into the Z94.4 standard, to use definitions that are common to both standards and to reference rather than paraphrase other standards as appropriate.  The inclusion of ambient air blowers eliminates the confusion around the application of the standard to this type of respirator.  Substantial additions to the Appendices were included to provide guidance materials for those who design, select, install, commission, operate and maintain compressed breathing air systems.  Background materials were also collected and filed for future reference by the technical committee.  The results of the ballot should be known in time for this conference.

A Re-write Committee is currently reviewing the Selection, Use and Care of Respirators standard Z94.4.  The introduction of an Internet-based Collaborative Tool has provided a new dimension in communication for the Re-write Committee.  Several issues previously addressed by sub-committees relating to Medical Surveillance, Fit-Testing Protocols and SCBA Cylinders have been revisited, as well as those items deferred by the Z180.1 committee.  In addition, harmonization has received significant attention.  A progress report on this standard will be premature at this conference, but an overview of the issues being raised will be possible.